Radnor Lake State Natural Area Nashville TN The Natural Area is located in a fast developing and sprawling urban landscape. It is set in a bowl, ringed with hills and ridges, and this makes it what is known to us birders as a prime migrant trap. The birds dont see it so much a trap as an oasis, and Radnor is known far and wide for great birding. The ridges protect the inner area and the ridges are themselves prime habitat. Ganier Ridge to the N.E., named for Albert Ganier, one of the founders of TOS, is certainly prime on a spring morning! The South Cove trail winds around the hills to the south, and is tranquil and uncrowded any day of the week. Several years ago I showed a friend a new bird. We were on the ridge crest of the South Cove Trail, above the lake and away from the parade of "talker -walkers" who take advantage of the beautiful setting for their constitutional. I heard the the vireo with the distinctive "three-eight" twist to it's song, and was able to point out the bird with it's pale yellow throat glowing in the morning sun. My friend and I might not have heard the bird at all if there had been the kind of developement just off the trail that is planned there now. There are six lots adjoining this ridgeline for sale in an upscale developement. If developed there will be the sound of weed eaters and leaf blowers instead of vireos to be heard! . Upscale means expensive and this is the problem. There is a fundraising drive underway - any and all help is needed to secure the purchase price in time before the contract expires. As of today, Monday May 24, we still have almost $80,000 to raise by end date of June 9. The Nashville chapter of TOS has donated $5000 and individuals are giving as they can. If you and /or your group can possibly give to a worthy cause now is the time! TOS at the state level is considering giving from the Conservation Fund and should be encouraged to do so, if there is time for action. The mailing address for contributions is: Friends of Radnor Lake P.O. Box 40324 Nashville TN 37204 Send donations to Friends of Radnor Lake attn. Radnor Glen purchase Please see this web address for an article in todays Tennessean newspaper with more details and a map. http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/05/51779558.shtml? Richard Connors president, NTOS =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ========================================================