[Bristol-Birds] successful regional nesting season nears end
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 17:28:43 -0400
The 2013 nesting season is nearing an end but not before we realized a good
and productive year.
Bald Eagle's expanded their nesting in Northeast Tennessee with nests in all
five counties. A
successful eagle nest on John Sevier Reservoir in Hawkins County fledged two
eaglets.
Active Peregrine Falcon nests were confirmed at two Southwest Virginia sites
and a possible third
site had adult birds at an historic location in Northeast Tennessee.
An active Osprey nest below John Sevier Reservoir in Hawkins County was a
nice find. Four nests
were active at Rankin Bottoms on Douglas Lake in Cocke County.
Double-crested Cormorants continued to expand their nesting sites and one
just below Boone Dam
at Kingsport was new.
In early April, an active Peregrine nest site was confirmed in a matter of
minutes at Breaks Interstate Park
in Dickenson County. One young was fledged. National Park Service employees
made confirmation of
adults delivering food to the suspected eyrie on a ledge above Ewing, VA
along the White Rocks natural cliff
face in the Cumberland Gap National Park of Lee County.
Two adult Peregrines were present at a former nest site in Doe River Gorge
near Hampton, TN
in Carter County were a site was believed active in 1946. Adult birds were
at this location last year.
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN
Lee Herndon had a pair at
this
site in 1946, apparently nesting. Peregines were absent as breeders in TN
from
the
late 1940s until restoration efforts succeded in the 1990s, with nesting
documented
in 1997 in the Smokies & at Chattanooga.
Breaks Interstate Park
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/birds/peregrine-falcon/breaks-intersta
te-park.jpg
Nestled on Pine Mountain in Dickenson County and extending into Kentucky,
the Park provides excellent cliff habitat for peregrines, and is thought to
be the last known peregrine nesting location in Virginia prior to the
species' extirpation. A hack program was initiated at the Park in 2007 and
continued in 2008, resulting in the release of a total of 19 chicks. Hacking
was suspended in 2009, however, in response to reports of falcons in the
Park. Falcon sightings included an adult and subadult bird observed perched
side by side, and subadults falcons observed individually or in pairs. This
level of activity sparked hopes that a breeding pair would be formed in
2010, but unfortunately no falcons were documented this year. It is hoped
that surveys in 2011 will definitively establish whether peregrine falcons
are present at the Park.
As the window of opportunity for Peregrine Falcon nesting season comes
to a close in western Virginia, wildlife officials say no successful nests
were
found on mountain cliff faces this year.
During four months -- March thru June -- repeated efforts to located nests
of
the important species met with nest failures or no nests found.
Nests failed at natural cliff faces on Big House Mountain in Rockbridge
County
and at Hawksbill Mountain along the border of Madison and Page counties in
the Shenandoah National Park.
No nest was found at Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson County or at the
White Rocks natural cliff face in Lee County.
Searches by birders and biologist brought much hope in early June when
chicks were believed to be in the area and almost ready to fledge. A
new site was being monitored.
However, official word came today from a state wildlife biologist that no
nest was discovered. The cliff faces of Breaks were searched by state
officials monthly from March into June. There have been encouraging
and interesting observations by those participating in the project. Hopes
were high.
Likewise, hopes were high at the extensive cliff faces of the White Rocks
in Lee County in the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. Park officials
monitored that site again as in recent years and state officials also made a
significant effort to find a nest.
Peregrine were known to be at all four mountain sites. Successful
nesting and nestlings captured and banded have taken place at Hawksbill in
the National Park and last year, for the first time on state property away
from
the park at Big House Mountain. A trail was closed to hiking this year at
Big House Mountain to prevent disturbance of the nesting falcons.
Biologists are not sure what caused the nest failures.
Let's go birding . . .
Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN0's. Until the reintroduction effort, the last documented
sighting in the state of Virginia was at The Towers in Breaks Park. In April
2011, a pair of Peregrine Falcons were again spotted at Towers Overlook
offering hope that members of the species has returned to its historical
nesting spot.
. Wallace,
.
. Your recollection of the facts of the Clinch Mountain WMA release
is accurate.
. While never documented, we believed the horned owls were the
culprits to the
. demise of the early efforts.
.
. Realize that the Clinch Mountain WMA release predated the
micro-transmiters
. available today. I do not know if they will be used, but the use
of a tracking
. device on these birds might give a good information on future
efforts.
.
. Ken Hale
. Bristol, TN
. ----- Original Message -----
. From: Wallace Coffey
. To: Bristol-birds
. Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 7:54 PM
. Subject: [Bristol-Birds] Peregrine Falcons for Southwest Virginia
.
.
. More Peregrine Falcons are arriving in Southwest Virginia this
week as
. wildlife researchers and managers continue to try and restore the
species to
. its traditional breeding range in the Southern Appalachian
Mountains.
.
. The latest effort is focused in Dickenson County at the Breaks
Interstate
. State Park along the Virginia-Kentucky border in one of the most
wild and
. beautiful places in the east. This is a good site because it is
believed that
. peregrines need tall and dominant rock cliffs with no vegetation
cover and
. water nearby such as a river.
.
. As early as 1985 and until 1990 the Virginia Department of Game
and Inland
. Fisheries made significant efforts to introduce Peregrines in
Southwest
. Virginia. Now, more than 20 years after the first releases of
Peregrine in
. Southwest Virginia, we still know very little about the success of
this program
. and the status of the breeding population. Our best guess is that
it has
. failed and the best surveys and research indicates there are no
breeding birds
. in the region. But the effort is not over !
.
. In the last few days, biologists have removed young Peregrines
from a nest on
. an abandoned junk ship anchored in the James River not far from
Newport News.
. The Cape Mendocino is one of 40 such junked ships and, is helping
to restore
. peregrine in Virginia.
. A young falcon pair has successfully mated for the second
straight year
. aboard the Mendocino, in a sheltered little platform just off the
cargo ship's
. elevator shaft, according to a story published by the Associated
Press.
.
. A team of curious scientists descended on the unusual nest
Wednesday to check
. on the birds and to complete the mission.
.
. Biologists placed each of three baby peregrines into a cardboard
carrying
. case, Wednesday, then handed the cases to another scientist waiting
above the
. elevator shaft. Meanwhile, overhead the parents circled and
squawked. Without
. their parents, the youngsters were driven Wednesday to a new,
manmade nest site
. at Breaks Interstate Park.
.
.
. The Breaks Interstate Park area includes a gorge formed by
Russell Fork at
. the northeastern end of Pine Mountain. The gorge has extensive
cliff formations
. including a central pinnacle which was a historic nesting site for
Peregrine
. Falcons. Similar to the New River Gorge this site has extensive
wall cliffs on
. both sides of the main gorge. These formations have horizontal
stratification
. and many crevices and overhangs for nesting. The main cliff is part
of the
. state park with overlooks and trails along the ridge. However, the
height and
. situation of this cliff suggests that it may accommodate both
nesting birds and
. human use. This site is isolated from other concentrations of
cliffs. Within
. the historic mountain range of the Southern Appalachians peregrines
may nest on
. bridges or buildings, this has never been documented and the
population is
. expected to require cliff faces for breeding.
. The majestic Peregrine Falcons, which are the fastest animals on
the planet,
. reaching aerial speeds of more than 200 mph, were nearly wiped out
east of the
. Mississippi River in the 1970s by the lethal insecticide DDT.
.
. They have slowly started to recover -- but not in the mountains
of Virginia.
. Instead, about 18 falcon pairs can be found in coastal Virginia,
including
. nests in Norfolk, Suffolk and Richmond and on the lower Eastern
Shore.
.
. The birds had never lived on the coast before until scientists
artificially
. introduced them there, on bridges and atop platforms, as an
experiment.
.
. "Turns out they established themselves better on the coast than
in the
. mountains," said Mitchell Byrd, professor emeritus at the College
of William
. and Mary, and one of the state's most renowned bird experts.
.
. Byrd guessed that access to ample foodstuffs -- fish, small game
and other
. birds -- was likely the explanation for the coastal attraction,
though "we
. still don't fully understand all this. It's an enigma."
.
. Byrd, who has studied birds and taught about them for more than
50 years,
. accompanied the scientific team Wednesday. He scaled ladders,
jumped between
. ships and climbed through holes to reach the ghost fleet nest.
.
. While birding with Mitchell Byrd in Quarry Bog in Shady Valley,
TN a few
. years ago, he told me of plans to begin introducing peregrines
from the
. coastal areas of Virginia into the mountains of the western part of
the state,
. including Southwest Virginia. He felt that since birds released in
Southwest
. Virginia during earlier efforts were from birds of the Cornell
University
. program of Tom Cade, there might be some reason to believe that
birds which
. were already from successful breeding in Virginia might work well
in the
. mountain. His proposal was to get the birds from the coastal
nesting sites and
. hack them out here.
.
. Ken Hale of Bristol Tennessee, one of my fellow bird banders in
the late
. 1970's and early 1980's had been involved in the first release of
Peregrine
. Falcons in Southwest Virginia while working for the Virginia Game
Commission
. as a wildlife area manager at Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management
Area near
. Saltville. Working with his crews, he used heavy equipment to drag
materials
. up the mountain and construct the tower where the birds would be
"hacked" by
. getting them acclimated to their environment and feeding them
artificially.
.
. Since Ken is still a birder and subscribed to Bristol Birds Net,
I hope he
. finds my recollections and accounts accurate.
. This hack site was located on the massive management area
spanning portions
. of Russell, Smyth, Tazewell and Washington counties. Ken's crew
erected this
. tower just prior to the first and only year of use for this site in
1985. It
. overlooked a long, marshy bowl known as Panther Lick, northwest of
Saltville.
.
. Eventually 6 birds were released and 3 fledged. Unfortunately,
the Clinch
. Mountain site was plagued with Great Horned Owl problems, which
were believed
. to have lead to the premature disappearance of three of the six
young falcons.
. The owls had been so much of a problem that the site was never used
again,
. despite the fact it was near an historical nest location.
.
. This site was one of two that began the hacking program in
Southwest
. Virginia. The other release that year was north of Grayson
Highlands State
. Park on the Mount Rogers Recreation Area of the Jefferson National
Forest. The
. hack box was situated on the tallest of three large outcroppings
approximately
. one half kilometer apart oriented north-south along the crest of a
rocky,
. pastured ridge known as Wilburn Ridge. All three of these rock
outcroppings
. exceeded 1585 meters in elevation and are located less than 3 km
southeast of
. the summit of Mt. Rogers (Virginia's highest point at 1609 m.).
Rocky pasture,
. dense rhododendron thickets, and spruce-fir forest made up the
surrounding
. habitat. This site was used with good success for the first two
years of the
. mountain reintroduction effort beginning in 1985.
.
. In 1988 five Peregrines were released at Mount Rogers and four
fledged. In
. 1989 six released and four fledged. The 1990 effort had eight
released and
. five fledged.
.
. Following the captive release program there have been several
attempts to
. conduct targeted surveys for breeding peregrines. Among others
these include
. aerial surveys of Southwestern Virginia (John Baker, unpublished
memo) and
. other historic sites (Mitchell Byrd, unpublished data) during the
early 1990s,
. ground monitoring of Shenandoah National Park during the late 1980s
and early
. 1990s (Craig Watson, unpublished reports), and continuing in the
late 1990s and
. 2000s (Gubler, pers. Comm.), aerial surveys of many sites across
Western
. Virginia in 2003 (Rick Reynolds 2004). A systematic survey of
available cliff
. sites was needed to address the question of whether there are
unknown and good
. sites in the region.
.
. Dr. Bryan Watts published An investigation of cliffs and
cliff-nesting birds
. in the southern Appalachians with an emphasis on the Peregrine
Falcon. Center
. for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, College of
William and Mary,
. Williamsburg, VA. in 2006. Among other findings he revealed about
nine
. excellent sites in Breaks Interstate Park with about half of them
with good to
. outstanding access.
.
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Breaks Interstate Park and
this new
. concept by Dr. Mitchell Byrd will be just "what the doctor ordered"
for
. Peregrine restoration in Southwest Virginia.
.
. Last year, the CCB used hacking techniques to relocate 28 young
peregrines from productive, yet sometimes perilous, nest sites on the
Coastal Plain and Eastern Shore. Watts explained that the birds were taken
to inland sites such as Shenandoah National Park, the New River Gorge and
Breaks Interstate Park in an attempt to revive the peregrine population in
Virginia's mountains.
Watts said that Virginia's peregrine population is making a comeback, but
that progress is slow and sometimes erratic. The first recorded breeding
pair in Virginia was recorded on Assateague Island in 1982.
At present, all of the 21 known Virginia breeding pairs are nesting on the
Coastal Plain-and all are using man-made structures for nests. Watts said
peregrines in the wild choose natural cliff-side aeries.
.
More recently, Peregrines have been hacked at the Breaks Interstate
Park in Dickenson County where birders from the Buchanan County
Bird Club have, this year, observed Peregrines present in the wild.
In 2010, biologists documented birds at White Rocks in Lee County,
but no nest could be located. We extended our search to Kentucky
wildlife officials and West Virginia sources as well as National Park
Service as the BBC pursued this project.
Many birds have been hacked along the New River gorge on National
Park property since 2007. Park officials reported they believe a pair
is nesting on the cliffs there but the nest had not be located at last
report. A bird hacked from the New River nested in a quarry site not
far away in West Virginia.
All told, 131 peregrines were released from 9 western Virginia sites
from 1985 through 1993, with a 90% success rate.
The House Mountain cliffs have been watched, on and off, by state
officials for nearly 10 years. It had good ledges but too much
vegetation and state biologists earlier thought that to be a problem.
Peregrines had disappeared from most of the nest sites
in the eastern US due to the use of pesticides and chemicals such
as DDT.
. From: <hoyle@xxxxxxxxxx>
. To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
. Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 12:51:50 -0500 (EST)
TN-BIRDLIST,
I am forwarding this report from Keith Watson. He wanted me to reiterate
to anyone interested in trying to locate the Peregrines' nest on Greenbrier
how difficult the terrain is. However, the Peregrines can be observed
fairly consistently from the overlook above the old hack site ( 9 mile
hike). Please contact Keith with any observations.
Dear All,
The following is a summary of the observations and assumptions made
regarding the potential of a newly identified pair of nesting American
Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park, on the cliff faces of the Greenbriar Pinnacle. Following those
sections are a few recommendations regarding the nest confirmation and
subsequent monitoring. If this nest can be confirmed, this will be a
very significant addition to recovery of the Peregrine Falcon in the
Smokies,Tennessee, and the Southern Appalachians.
Status of the American Peregrine Falcon
Although this species has been delisted by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, that is, removed from the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Species, the American Peregrine Falcon remains:
on the Tennessee List of Endangered Species maintained by the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
on the Tennessee Natural Heritage Program's List of Tracked Species.
on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Birds of Conservation Concern
list for each Bird Conservation Region in North America, including the
Appalachian BCR (BCR 28).
on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Birds of Conservation Concern
for each US Fish and Wildlife Service Region
on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Birds of Conservation Concern
for the Nation.
History of the Activity on Greenbriar Pinnacle
1984-1986
13 American Peregrine Falcons were "hacked" from the cliffs on Greenbriar
Pinnacle
2000-2002
Kris Johnson and Susan Hoyle began observing falcon activity in 2000.
Single falcons were observed in February and June of 2001 by Susan Hoyle.
From Susan's notes in 2002, "On Sunday, March 10, 2002 Kristine Johnson and
I watched a pair of Peregrine Falcons soaring and diving around the cliffs
on Greenbrier Pinnacle. They were very close to the old hacking site, but
seemed to be interested in a place to the south and east of there, but not
visible from the ledge on which we stood."
From Susan's notes on May 25, 2002, a pair of birds were observed, one
smaller with adult plumage, the other a tawny brown color but with a bright
yellow cere and worn feathers.
My interpretation of this information suggests the presence of an
adult male and perhaps a sub-adult female.
From Susan's notes, "I suspect they have nested somewhere up there for two
previous seasons (2001-2002)."
2003
March 21, 2003: David and Carol Morris visited the Pinnacle on Friday
March 21st via the Cat Stairs approach. He and Carol got close enough to
determine that there was one large "whitewash" near the center of the
bluffs. Because of time constraints, they could only observe for about 30
minutes and did not see any Peregrine activity.
March 23, 2003: Kris Johnson, Susan Hoyle, Martha Rudolf, Pam Munson, and
Keith Watson hiked up one of the old manways to just under the PInnacle on
Sunday and just past the old Barnes homestead, climbing the slopes to the
cliffs (which the group couldn't see well or often because of trees, steep
slopes, rhododendron). While at the homestead site area, an extensive
whitewash area was observed on one crevice of the rock faces on the more
easterly portions of the Pinnacle (this may be the whitewash area that
David observed, see attached photo). As the group climbed to the general
area, we all heard Peregrine(s)(?) calling, in the vicinity where the
whitewash was thought to be. At least one falcon was observed, and it was
presumably an adult male that was stooping on a Red-tailed Hawk, actively
defending a territory of the eyrie(?). Keith got a good look at it from
beneath and believed it to be an adult male trying aggressively to drive
the hawk away. It stooped out of sight. Better views of the rock faces
were attempted, but the area is rough, steep, and often with thick
rhododendron, and a good way to get there was not found. The group heard
the calls at least three more times while in the area over a period of
about 2.5 hours. These calls were again from a single bird, presumably the
male, but cannot be confirmed. Pam saw one bird in the general area but we
all didn't get to see it. We did not make it to the rock faces.
On our way down, we met with David Morris, the volunteer who has been
watching the pair at Duck Hawk Ridge near Alum Cave. We talked awhile and
he tried to get to the rock faces opposite the direction we took. He did
have a spotting scope with him. He did not make it to the rock faces
either, but here is his report. I've taken the liberty of condensing the
information.
From David:
Because the "whitewash" was such a strong indication of peregrine presence,
I returned on March 23rd. I was able to get closer for a better look at
the bluffs. I ran into Kris Johnson and friends there who were also
looking for the falcons. As a matter of fact they had observed an adult
peregrine chase a Red tail Hawk from the bluff area, clearly territorial
behavior.
After Kris and friends left, I proceeded further up to try and get a better
view of the bluffs. I heard , what was probably a male Peregrine, giving
the creaking call and flying into the bluff area. I lost him in the tree
line and didn't see where he landed. During the next hour and a half I
moved around several times trying to get a better view of the bluffs. I
was unable to confirm a nest site, but realized there are many
possibilities there. I did see another "whitewash" behind a small pine tree
very near the other "whitewash".
After that hour and a half I heard a Peregrine return from my right moving
toward the bluffs giving the creaking call and a return call from the
bluffs, probably the female. This behavior is consistent with a nesting
pair; the territorial protection and the calls that are used when a male
brings food to a nesting female. Given these sightings and behavior, I
think there is a very good possibility that there is a second nesting pair
of Peregrines in the Smokies. We have confirmed that the pair at Little
Duck Hawk Ridge are incubating eggs now, and the likelihood of either of
those birds being is this area , exhibiting these behaviors is extremely
slim.
I will continue to try to confirm a nest site, but this may be impossible
given the terrain. If we can observe young birds in this area in June,
this may help confirm a second pair of nesting Peregrines. I will update
you on any new developments.
End of Reports to date, 2003
Based on the information obtained by both groups, an apparent American
Peregrine Falcon nest does appear to be "active" at the Greenbriar
Pinnacle. If this nest is active and producing young, this will be only
the third nest in all of Tennessee, the other two being at Little Duck Hawk
Ridge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on a railroad bridge
in Chattanooga. However, this probable nest at Greenbriar Pinnacle does
need to be confirmed!!
Historically, approximately 25 eyries have occurred in Tennessee and 4 have
been suggested for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Alsop 1979).
As falcons continue to breed in the mountain eyries, the likelihood of
surviving young to repopulate once occupied eyries or establish new eyries
is increased. I believe the presence of a nest at the Greenbriar Pinnacle
is a result of successful breeding and survival of mountain produced young,
perhaps from the Little Duck Hawk Ridge eyrie.. This is extremely
important to the complete recovery of the American Peregrine Falcon in the
east, as the falcon population in the mountain zone was the only zone not
to have met recovery criteria during the delisting process. So each new
nest, subsequent monitoring and protection are vitally important to the
full recovery of the American Peregrine Falcon first, in the Appalachians ,
and second, for the eastern United States.
Recommendations
It is important to confirm this nest and any reproduction that has or will
take place.
Assuming that to be the case, the issue of regular monitoring may be the
more challenging task, especially at the Greenbriar Pinnacle. David Morris
continues to monitor nesting progress at Duck Hawk Ridge and should be
supported in any way by Park staff or other partners to continue this
effort and additional efforts needed at Greenbriar Pinnacle.
For the meantime, I propose the following:
Nest Confirmation:
Confirmation of this nest presents some unusual challenges in
that the probable location of the eyrie cannot be easily observed from any
close viewing area or platform and there are not trails to the
area from which observations can be made to the probable eyrie .
Confirmation will have to occur through either off trail hiking to the
cliff area and conducting searches or by waiting until young are
expected to fledge and observing flights of the young in the area, perhaps
mid-May and later, if the pair are currently incubating eggs. Kris
Johnson, David Morris, and Keith Watson plan to attempt accessing
the cliff area via the Cat Stairs route and then determine if the cliffs
and eyrie location can be safely located by traversing either the upper or
lower portions of the cliff faces. Keith plans to attempt this on
Thursday, April 3, 2003 if a hiking partner(s) can be found. Subsequent
attempts to the site will be determined following this
reconnaissance. Beyond that, no firm plans have been made. Another
possibility is to hike the Pinnacle Trail to the summit then descend to the
upper portions of the cliff. Suggestions are welcomed from the
Smokies staff if there are other alternatives to confirm this nest.
Nest Monitoring:
Staff in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are encouraged
to establish regular monitoring of this site following confirmation of the
actual nest, and at the Little Duck Hawk Ridge eyrie. These two
nests (if confirmed) represent 2/3 of nesting American Peregrine Falcons in
Tennessee! Recognizing that the staff and budget limitations in the
Smokies will make monitoring these eyries a challenge, other
options do exist and may offer the park opportunities to use outside
assistance from interested parties. The park is encouraged to open
communication with bird conservation partners in the area such as the
Tennessee Ornithological Society, Tennessee Partners in Flight, and USFWS
to explore potential avenues for establishing regular monitoring
of these areas. Other locals partners such as the Smoky Mountain Natural
History Association and Friends of the Smokies are invited to participate
in this effort and may be able to provide some funding to support
the monitoring and protection needs at these sites. Keith Watson is
willing to facilitate some of this dialogue and perform
occasional monitoring duties. Additionally, David Morris has been a
strong supporter of the monitoring program and will continue to support
these efforts. However, a regular and coordinated approach
to monitoring these sites is needed to obtain information on various
aspects of the reproductive cycle of these sites in the park.
For those of you outside the National Park Service on this mailing list, if
you have some positive ideas or suggestions on how to assist the park with
regular monitoring of these eyries, please feel free to contact me and let
me know of your suggestions. I will compile and summarize them and forward
to appropriate personnel in the Smokies and FWS.
Attached are two digital photos taken on March 23, 2003 by Keith Watson
that show the whitewash area from the Greenbriar entrance road and from the
Barnes Homestead site.
(See attached file: DSC01410.JPG)(See attached file: whitewash.jpg)
*******************************************
J. Keith Watson
Migratory Bird Biologist
Division of Migratory Birds
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
160 Zillicoa Street, Suite D
Asheville, NC 28801
828-350-8228 OFFICE
828-258-5330 FAX
Keith_Watson@xxxxxxx
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