Category Archives: Birds

Invite butterflies into your gardens, yards

Photo by Bryan Stevens Spicebush Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail seeking salts and minerals from the edge of a gravel driveway.

I’m taking a break from the birds for one week to bring you some other things with wings in the form of a pictorial essay on butterflies, which include such families of winged insects as skippers, swallowtails, fritillaries and much more.

Most of these photos were taken at my home on Simerly Creek Road in Hampton, TN. A few were taken in other locations, including South Carolina and Georgia.

Photo by Bryan Stevens White Peacock found on Fripp Island, S.C., in October of 2012. Resident from Argentina north through Central America, Mexico and the West Indies to South Texas and southern Florida. This butterfly migrates and temporarily colonizes to central Texas and coastal South Carolina. It is a rare wanderer to North Carolina, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas.

According to the North American Butterfly Association, there are about 20,000 species of butterflies in the world. About 725 species have occurred in North American north of Mexico, with about 575 of these occurring regularly in the lower 48 states of the United States, and with about 275 species occurring regularly in Canada. Roughly 2,000 species are found in Mexico.

Butterflies are part of the class of Insects in the order Lepidoptera. Moths are also included in this order.

Butterflies are not newcomers to the world of insects. Fossilized butterflies are known to date back to the Eocene epoch, some 40 to 50 million years ago.

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Photo by Bryan Stevens Some butterflies, such as the sulphurs, are known to migrate.

According to NABA, species that move northward each year include Cloudless Sulphur, Little Yellow, Gulf Fritillary, Painted Lady, American Lady, Red Admiral, Common Buckeye, Long-tailed Skipper, Clouded Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Sachem and Ocola Skipper.

In especially good years, one can see Painted Ladies, Cloudless Sulphurs or Clouded Skippers streaming northward along migratory routes. Most years, however, these migrant dispersals are so gradual they don’t attract much notice. During fall trips to coastal South Carolina, I have often noticed hundreds of Cloudless Sulphurs along the edges of the interstate highway system.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A Monarch sips nectar from blooming Ironweed.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Pipevine Swallowtails seeks nectar from zinnia blooms. This butterfly was the most common one found during the recent Roan Mountain Butterfly Count. A total of 236 individual Pipevine Swallowtails, many located on milkweed in the fields at the Dave Miller Homestead at Roan Mountain State Park, were found.

The North American Butterfly Association holds annual Butterfly Count in much the same manner as the Audubon Society conducts annual Christmas Bird Counts. Locally, an Elizabethton Butterfly Count and a Roan Mountain Butterfly Count are conducted every July and August.

Each count is a compilation of all butterflies observed at sites within a 15-mile diameter count circle in a one-day period. The annually published reports provide a tremendous amount of information about the geographical distribution and relative population sizes of the species counted. Comparisons of the results across years can be used to monitor changes in butterfly populations and study the effects of weather and habitat change on North American butterflies.

This year’s first attempt at conducting the 22nd annual Roan Mountain Butterfly Count was rained out. A week later — July 26 — the count was re-scheduled and enjoyed a convergence of good weather and abundant flowers. A total of 764 individual butterflies were counted. The total of 34 species was considered very high for this count, according to compiler Don Holt.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A male Diana Fritillary seeks nectar from a zinnia bloom.

Holt noted that other common species found on this count included Silver-spotted Skipper, Aphrodite Fritillary, Eastern Tailed Blue and Meadow Fritillary. Some exceptional finds included a male Diana Fritillary at the Dave Miller Homestead and a Harvester at Hampton Creek Cove.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Northern Pearly Eye

Photo by Bryan Stevens A Northern Pearly Eye perches on the vertical surface of a concrete step.

Photo by Bryan Stevens The non-native Cabbage White is one of the few butterflies considered an agricultural pest. The butterfly’s caterpillars damage such crops as cabbage, as well as other mustard family plants.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A Northern Checkerspot finds colorful coneflowers a convenient perch.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A Wood Nymph clings to a leaf near a pond.

To attract more butterflies closer to your home, landscape with a variety of flowers and plants. Don’t forget to provide host plants that will feed hungry caterpillars, as well as nectar-rich flowers to feed adult butterflies. Do not use insecticides! You want to welcome these beautiful insects, not kill them.

To learn more, visit this page provided by the Missouri Botanical Garden.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/visit/family-of-attractions/butterfly-house/butterflies-and-plants/butterfly-gardening.aspx

Photo by Bryan Stevens The Least Skipper is one of the smallest of butterflies in the eastern United States.

There are several fun Facebook pages for butterfly enthusiasts. Check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/ButterfliesoftheeasternUnitedStates/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/303259184298/

Photo by Bryan Stevens Red-spotted Purple perches atop a platform provided by a wide poplar leaf.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A Common Buckeye suns itself in a gravel driveway.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Red Admiral in the wetlands along the the Ivy Creek Greenway at George Pierce Park in Suwanee, Ga.

Look for herons along edges of local ponds, rivers

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I enjoyed a recent trip to Atlanta, Ga. The extended weekend visited gave me the opportunity to see some birds I don’t see often at home in Northeast Tennessee, including Brown-headed Nuthatch and Pine Warbler.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A Great Egret resting on a spit of land in a lake at Murphy Candler Park in Brookhaven, Ga.

I observed a Great Egret at Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven, Georgia. Hiking trails around a small lake at this park offer some convenient locations for scanning the lake for wading birds and waterfowl. The egret was the first Great Egret I’ve observed in the Atlanta area.

I had visited this park hoping to find dragonflies, but for the most part struck out on finding these winged insects. I was compensated not only with the egret, but with observations of Double-crested Cormorants, Canada Geese, Mallards, Belted Kingfishers, Cedar Waxwings and Song Sparrows.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A Great Blue Heron moves stealthily through a wetland.

Egrets are members of a family of birds known as Ardeidae, which includes herons, bitterns and egrets. The Great Egret is a very stately, graceful bird with white plumage, long legs and a sharp, yellow bill. It is smaller than the Great Blue Heron. The Great Egret stands 3.3 feet tall and has a wingspan of 52 to 67 inches. On average, however, they weigh only about 2.2 pounds.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A large flock of Great Egrets flies over the Watauga River in Elizabethton.

These egrets nest in large colonies. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the colonial nesting habits of these birds made them particularly vulnerable to humans who slaughtered the birds in the millions to harvest their feathers for use in the fashion industry. The Great Egret and other wading birds were almost decimated in order to decorate fashionable hats for women.

The National Audubon Society was founded in 1905, largely as an effort to combat the unregulated slaughter of birds like Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills. Now, more than a century later, the Great Egret still serves as the official logo for the National Audubon Society. In addition, the Great Egret has rebounded from those dark years. In fact, this bird now ranges as far north as southern Canada in appropriate wetland habitats. During spring and fall migration, Great Egrets also pass through northeast Tennessee. Look for them along rivers, lakes and on small farm ponds.

During visits to favorite birding locations in Elizabethton and Erwin, I have also observed Green Herons and Great Blue Herons.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A young Green Heron rests at the edge of a pond.

The Green Heron can easily be overlooked as it lurks near a stream’s banks or the edges of a pond. This heron is not tall and stately like the Great Egret or Great Blue Heron. The bird is a patient ambush predator capable of remaining motionless for extended periods as it waits for prey to move within reach of its sharp, pointed bill. I’m always flushing these herons from cover before I even realize they are present.

I do get fortunate on occasion, however, and manage to approach a Green Heron without panicking the bird into a hasty flight. If you stand very still and don’t make sudden movements, you can manage to observe this bird from a respectful distance.

Such was the case of a Green Heron that I found stalking the edges of the pond at Erwin Fishery Park. I had my camera, so I snapped some photographs as I watched the heron’s slow, deliberate steps along the pond’s edge. Then, with a lightning-quick motion, the bird lunged its bill into the water and snatched a large tadpole. The heron required a brief time to get the wiggling tadpole positioned. After that technicality was resolved, the heron swallowed the plump tadpole quickly and almost immediately resumed search for more prey.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A Green Heron finesses a captured tadpole in its bill.

The unfortunate tadpole had developed hind legs, which did not prove an obstacle for the bird swallowing it, but still had a tail. Although it was very close to achieving frog-hood, this particular tadpole instead became part of the varied diet of a Green Heron, which can also include fish, crustaceans, insects and even mice. At this same Erwin pond, I once watched another Green Heron patiently stalking and successfully snatching dragonflies that perched on pond vegetation within reach of the bird’s bill.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A Green Heron elevates a shaggy crest of feathers, a behavior often initiated when the bird feels alarmed.

The Green Heron is usually present in Northeast Tennessee from April to October. The bird migrates to Central America for the winter months. A few other herons, including the Great Blue Heron and the Black-crowned Night-Heron, live year-round in the region.

Kingfishers are world-class anglers

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Photo by Bryan Stevens A perched Belted Kingfisher rests between attempts to catch fish along the waterfront at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City.

Fishing is a favorite pastime for many people, who like nothing better than to spend a lazy summer afternoon trying their luck at their favorite fishing spot.

There’s also an angling counterpart among our feathered friends. The Belted Kingfisher’s nature as an angler rules out this bird visiting feeders in the backyard, but that doesn’t mean you’re unlikely to see this bird. With a little strategic effort, an observation of a Belted Kingfisher is fairly easy to obtain, especially during the summer months. If you live near a stream, pond, river or other body of water, you have probably been fortunate enough to observe a Belted Kingfisher as it completes its daily routine.

If you are a fishing enthusiast yourself, you’ve likely shared some favorite fishing holes with this bird. The Belted Kingfisher is patient in its pursuit of fish. The birds prefer to perch on an exposed branch or a wire that overlooks a body of water that offers ample fishing opportunities. The Belted Kingfisher, however, is capable of hovering in place in order to spot and then capture its prey in an impressive plunge and lunge into the water.

Most of my observations of hunting kingfishers have involved the birds in their ambush approach to fishing — perching and diving on the unsuspecting fish. I have on a few occasions, however, also observed kingfishers as they hover over the water in a quest for a meal.

The Belted Kingfisher, like most of its kin, looks to have a head and bill that are slightly too large for the rest of the body. It’s the long, heavy bill that the Belted Kingfisher uses to snatch fish from their watery homes.

A walnut tree with some dead branches overlooking my family’s fish pond is a favorite perching site for visiting Belted Kingfishers. A few Belted Kingfishers become regular visitors almost every spring and summer. In past years, I’ve been delighted by pairs of kingfishers that have brought as many as six of their offspring to hunt around the edges of the pond and creek near my home.

When a Belted Kingfisher does manage to capture a fish — not always a certainty, despite their great skill — the bird will usually fly to a perch where they will beat the fish unconscious before swallowing it. I remember one particular kingfisher that liked to catch fish in the creek and then fly to the corner of the metal garage roof where the bird proceeded to beat senseless the unlucky fish.

Worldwide, there are about 90 species of kingfishers that range in size from the 16-inch-long Laughing Kookaburra of Australia to the tiny African Dwarf Kingfisher, which at four inches in length is smaller than most sparrows. This family of birds is divided into three groupings, the river kingfishers, the tree kingfishers and the water kingfishers.

Despite the name “kingfisher,” not all kingfishers exist on a diet of fish. Some members of the kingfisher family instead prey on other quarry, such as snakes, lizards and insects.

Some interesting common names have been used to identify the world’s kingfishers, including Half-collared Kingfisher, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Silvery Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Cerulean Kingfisher, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Spangled Kookaburra, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Shovel-billed Kookaburra, Lilac Kingfisher, Brown-winged Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, Striped Kingfisher, Lazuli Kingfisher, Ultramarine Kingfisher, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Mewing Kingfisher, Chattering Kingfisher, Glittering Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and Green-and-rufous Kingfisher.

Kingfishers comprise a cosmopolitan family of birds with species present on every continent except Antarctica.

A depiction of Belted KingfisherS painted by John James Audubon.

The three North American kingfishers, however, are exclusively fish-eaters. The Belted Kingfisher, with a range that spans most of the United States, is the only kingfisher encountered by most Americans.

Two others, the Ringed Kingfisher and the Green Kingfisher, are found in Texas and occasionally in other locations near the Mexican border. The Ringed Kingfisher is similar in appearance to the Belted Kingfisher, but is somewhat larger with a rufous-colored belly. The little Green Kingfisher, not quite nine inches long, has the typical kingfisher appearance, but is green rather than blue on its upperparts.

With the Belted Kingfisher, only the female sports a ring of rufous coloration across her breast. She is an exception to the rule that most male birds are more vividly colored than their female companions.

In her book The Folklore of Birds, Laura C. Martin writes that in some accounts the kingfisher, not the dove, was the second bird Noah released from the ark after the Biblical flood. Instead of looking for land, the kingfisher flew too high and the sun scorched the bird’s feathers. After his setback with the raven and now the kingfisher, Noah made the kingfisher remain on the ark’s deck to catch its food from the water.

Halcyon days, a term meaning a period of peaceful quiet, is derived from Greek legend. According to the legend, the god Zeus restrained the storms during the period when the kingfishers nest. The scientific name for the Belted Kingfisher is Megaceryle alcyon, a variation on the term “halcyon.”

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter Belted Kingfisher sits on a wire to scan for fish.

Belted Kingfishers nest by excavating a cavity in a dirt bank, usually near water. The tunnel slopes upward from the entrance, and may extend as far as eight feet into the bank.

Again in Martin’s book, there is an account of a Cherokee legend about how the kingfisher acquired its angling lifestyle. The poor bird wanted to be a waterbird, but lacked the equipment to make a living at fishing. The other animals convened a council and, in pity for the kingfisher’s plight, endowed the bird with its spear-like bill. Since that time, the bird has been known as “king of the fishers.”

The “king of the fishers” is indeed to be envied by human anglers. Although not successful in every attempt, the Belted Kingfisher is certainly exceptional in its pursuit of fish. According to John Eastman in his book, Birds of Lake, Pond and Marsh, the Belted Kingfisher typically captures about 10 fish per day.

If you want to observe this bird for yourself, stake out a pond or section of river. You’re not likely to have to wait for long before you are rewarded with an observation. In my experience, however, the Belted Kingfisher is somewhat shy and wary of humans, so observe from a respectful distance or you’re likely to scare off the bird, which will depart giving its rattling call that sounds so much like the sound of annoyance on its part.

Summer is the season of the swallow

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No matter where you live, you probably don’t have to go far to see one of the members of the swallow family. These graceful, aerodynamic birds are quite familiar to most people. If you spend much time at all outdoors during the summer months, chances are you’ve observed some members of this family.

Overall, it’s been a good year for swallows. It’s usually not too difficult to find five of the six species that are known to make Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia their home from spring to fall. In addition to barn and tree swallows, I have seen purple martins, cliff swallows and northern rough-winged swallows so far this year.

Photo courtesy of Mary Taylor Beierle
A tree swallow peeks inside a nest box at the Beierle home.

Barn swallow and tree swallow are the two members of the family that are probably best known to people. They have adapted to life in both suburban and rural areas, which brings them into frequent contact with people.

These days, the barn swallow is as apt to nest in a parking garage or on an apartment balcony as inside a barn in the countryside. Once young swallows leave the nest, parents will park them on a perch as they continue to feed the still dependent young. Adults fly over nearby fields, foraging for insects that they catch on the wing and deliver back to the waiting, always hungry, young birds.

A freshly mown field is a magnet for swallows. I don’t know how the word spreads so quickly among these birds, but I’ve observed dozens of these birds descending on fields soon after they have been mowed for hay. At times, the birds arrive while the mowing is still taking place, swooping after insects stirred up in the tractor’s wake.

I haven’t observed any bank swallows in the region this year, but these members of the swallow family are rather hit-or-miss in the region. Because of their specialized nesting needs, bank swallows are localized in their distribution and not as widespread as their kin.

Cliff swallows nest beneath many local bridges. These swallows, which at one time nested primarily on rocky cliffs, hence their name, now frequently nest under man-made structures. These swallows make their jug-shaped nests out of mud and clay. These nesting “jugs” are all located in clusters beneath bridges and other structures. It’s a wonder that the parents flying in with food are able to tell their nests apart from the nearby seemingly identical nests of their neighbors.

Photo by Bryan Stevens For such a small bird, the Northern rough-winged Swallow has a long name.

Northern rough-winged swallows are opportunists when it comes to nesting. According to a profile written by Mark Johns with North Carolina Wesleyan College, this small swallow nests near rocky gorges, shale banks, stony road cuts, railroad embankments, gravel pits, eroded margins of streams and other exposed banks of clay, sand or gravel. They will also nest in old kingfisher burrows, protruding drainpipes, crevices in brick or stone structures such as dams, bridges or tunnels, gutters and culverts. Their nests are often built near open water.

The Northern rough-winged swallow ranks as one of the species with the longest common names in North America. It’s name consists of 26 letters and a hyphen, which ranks it one letter below both the Northern beardless-tyrannulet and a recently-created species — the saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow — which each have 27 letters and a hyphen. Formerly known as sharp-tailed sparrow, the species was renamed with “salt marsh” added to distinguish it from a relative, Nelson’s sparrow.

Photo courtesy of Mary Taylor Beierle A male Tree Swallow surveys his territory from atop a nesting box.

Purple martins, which rank as the largest species in the swallow family in North America, are famous for nesting in large colonies. Nesting facilities range from groupings of natural or artificial gourds fashioned into a nesting chamber, as well as large, multi-level condominium dwellings tailored for the specific needs of this communal bird. A colony can consist of several dozen to several hundred pairs of these birds. Only the adult male purple martin shows the iridescent, dark blue-purple plumage that provides the species with its name.

The tree swallow is my favorite, probably because a pair of these birds has nested in my yard for many years. Unlike other swallows, these cavity-nesting birds will readily accept nesting boxes. They compete with Eastern bluebirds for boxes, but the two species usually can work out a truce and settle down to nest in close proximity to each other. The iridescent blue-green male tree swallow, complete with white underparts and a forked tail, is a handsome bird and a welcome addition to the bird population in any yard or garden. Tree swallows enjoy water, so a nearby pond or creek is a boon for attracting these birds.

Photo courtesy of Mary Taylor Beierle Tree swallows readily accept human-provided nesting boxes. They also make delightful neighbors during the summer season.

While only a few swallows range into the United States and Canada, a total of 83 species of swallows can be found worldwide. Some of the common names for these different swallows (and martins) are quite descriptive. A sampling includes white-eyed river martin, square-tailed saw-wing, white-headed saw-wing, grey-rumped swallow, white-backed swallow, banded martin, violet-green swallow, golden swallow, brown-chested martin, brown-bellied swallow, pale-footed swallow, white-bibbed swallow, pearl-breasted swallow, greater striped swallow, mosque swallow, fairy martin and chestnut-collared swallow.

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Several of the photos this week were provided by Mary Taylor Beierle, a resident of Stoney Creek in Carter County. Mary is also the author of the book, “Edmond The Daddy Turkey,” a delightful story about a male turkey who learns how to be a father.

Mary emailed me the photos with a brief note about her visiting swallows. “I am thrilled to have them here as we had never seen them before,” she said. “Good thing I have several bird books so I could identify them.”

To learn more about Mary’s book, visit http://www.amazon.com/Edmond-Daddy-Turkey-Taylor-Beierle/dp/0985986123

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Photo by Bryan Stevens A Barn Swallow perches on a utility wire over a field.

Brown Thrasher’s nesting habits bring this golden-eyed bird into our yards

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Photo by Bryan Stevens
A fledgling Brown Thrasher perches on a ledge inside a garage.

It’s been a banner year for brown thrashers at my home. In recent weeks, these large songbirds have provided plenty of entertainment by bringing their young to the feeders. They especially like the suet feeder. The parent birds work to detach chunks of suet. Once they secure these morsels, the parents feed their hungry young.

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
A Brown Thrasher scans the grass for insect prey.

A few years ago, quite by accident, I came across a brown thrasher nest. I hadn’t gone looking for it. The nest, expertly woven into a thicket of honeysuckle vines, was tucked beneath a sheltering eave of an outdoor storage building. I don’t think anything but a fortunate accident could have ever revealed the nest. I still remember peeking into that tangle of vines and seeing a golden eye staring back. The bird didn’t look in the least pleased that I had accidentally stumbled across her nest.

The otherwise extroverted brown thrasher, which prefers to nest in difficult-to-access, tangled messes, found the cluster of vines a perfect location. I haven’t discovered any thrasher nests this year, but I’ve observed several fledglings when they began visiting the feeders with their parents. For those not familiar with brown thrashers — relatives of the Northern mockingbird — they are known for their feisty and fearless protection of their nest and young.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Brown Thrashers prefer thickets and brushy areas that offer security for these somewhat shy birds.

The brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) belongs to the family of “mimic thrushes,” which provides a label for a group of songbirds capable of imitating the songs of other birds. Mimidae, the Latin root for “mimic,” provides the scientific name for the family, which includes mockingbirds and the New World catbirds, as well as thrashers. The Northern mockingbird is best known for the ability to mimic, but relatives like the gray catbird and brown thrasher are also talented mimics.

The thrasher is a fairly large songbird about 11.5 inches long with a wingspan of 13 inches. Much of the body length comes from the bird’s long tail feathers. A thrasher weighs, however, only about 2.5 ounces.

The brown thrasher is not a picky eater. It’s known to eat everything from berries and nuts to insects and small lizards. It’s also aggressive in defending its nest and young. John James Audubon, a French-American ornithologist, naturalist and painter, painted quite a dramatic scene of a group of brown thrashers valiantly defending a nest from an attacking snake. The painting is so detailed that you have to imagine Audubon based his work on a real-life experience. His work, originally painted in the early decades of the 1800s, still holds up today.

Early American naturalist and artist John James Audubon painted a dramatic scene of Brown Thrashers defending their nest from an attacking snake.

Incidentally, Audubon knew the brown thrasher as the “ferruginous thrush.” Another former common name for this species was “brown thrush.”

This brown thrasher breeds across the United States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. Thrashers withdraw from the northern part of their range in the winter months, spending the season in the southeastern United States.

They are familiar birds in southern gardens. In fact, the brown thrasher is the official state bird of Georgia and also provided the name for Atlanta’s National Hockey League team, the Atlanta Thrashers. The thrasher became Georgia’s state bird due to passage of a Joint Resolution of the Georgia General Assembly in 1970.

The brown thrasher is the only member of the thrasher clan in the eastern United States. In Texas and the western half of the country, however, there are several other species of thrasher, including sage thrasher, long-billed thrasher, Crissal thrasher, curve-billed thrasher, Bendire’s thrasher, California thrasher and Le Conte’s thrasher. Many of these thrashers also occur in Mexico.

These New World birds also occur in the Caribbean, including such species as White-breasted Thrasher, Pearly-eyed Thrasher and Scaly-breasted Thrasher.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A pair of Brown Thrashers perch near a fence at Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in Johnson City.

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Rebecca Howe, who resides in Kent, Ohio, has sent me an email.

“I am blessed to have rose-breasted grosbeaks come to my house each spring,” she wrote. “I watch males arrive first and then females.”

She has recently been seeing young birds arriving at her feeding station.

“Now the birds seem to be leaving,” she noted. “Do they leave their breeding grounds around this time to move south for the winter?”

I thanked Rebecca for sharing about her rose-breasted grosbeak observations in a follow-up email and informed her that different birds depart at different times to go south for the winter. Some birds do not get into a rush to reach their destination, so the start of migration is more of a slow-paced, casual “wandering” that takes them to different locations in a more or less southern direction.

Brown Thrasher visits a suet feeder. The thrasher diet consists of everything from berries and seeds to insects and even small reptiles.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Brown Thrasher visits a suet feeder. The thrasher diet consists of everything from berries and seeds to insects and even small reptiles.

Closer to Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, birds like yellow warbler, Louisiana waterthrush and a few others are known to depart as early as July and August. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are another good example of slow migrants. Those that pushed to the northern limit of their range are probably already heading back. But they are very nomadic. Maybe they could even be described as “restless,” and it is this time of year when I start to get the highest numbers of these little birds.

••••••

I look forward to hearing from readers. Those who wish to ask a question, share an observation or make a comment may reach me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com. Follow me on Facebook to see more bird and nature photos at https://www.facebook.com/ahoodedwarbler

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A pair of Brown Thrashers forage for food on the ground below a feeder.

Feeding birds occasionally brings uninvited guests to the table

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I received a recent email from Flag Pond reader Amanda Austwick with the header, “Bird Feeders Damaged.” I get calls and emails about lots of unusual feeder visitors, but this one sort of stood out from the rest.

In the email, I was asked if I had any idea what would attack a bird feeder in late afternoon in June?

“I’ve heard of bears attacking a feeder in winter,” she wrote. “We do have bears up here, but I haven’t seen any in years.”

The damage to the feeders wasn’t minimal.

“One feeder was completely bent over on the ground,” she wrote.

At the time of the incident, there hadn’t been any rain. As a result, the animal that attacked the feeders left no prints.

I responded to the email with the belief that the animal responsible for the damage was likely a Black Bear.

“It sounds exactly like a bear,” I informed Amanda. “Actually, most of the reports of bears damaging feeders I have heard about have taken place in spring and summer. I suppose if a bear finds your feeder, however, it may be inclined to damage them at any time of the year.”

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Austwick This bear caused considerable damage to the Austwick feeders.

I also pointed out that the bear is actually just feeding on the seed. The damage is a by-product caused by the fact they probably don’t know their own strength.

“I know you will miss your birds, but it would probably be best to stop feeding for a couple of weeks,” I informed Amanda.

I suggested that after the two-week hiatus on feeding the birds that she put the feeders back outdoors but arrange to take them inside during the night.

“I know this first incident took place during the day, but bears are still most often going to visit during the night,” I wrote to her.

Unfortunately, the bear returned before she received my email response. The animal caused even more damage to the feeders, which she was able to document with photographs. A photo that she also emailed to The Erwin Record was even featured on the newspaper’s front page a couple of weeks ago.

Photo Courtesy of Amanda Austwick This Black Bear became a daytime visitor at the Austwick home. There are ways to discourage such visits.

By making the feeders absent for a time and then limiting the availability of the bird seed to daylight hours, perhaps this bear will lose interest and move on. Unfortunately, the attempt to deal with the problem came too late to prevent the bear from causing some property damage.

Residents in Flag Pond and other locations in Unicoi County are certainly not the only people that have to contend with bears.

Every year the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency receives hundreds of calls and complaints concerning black bears. According to TWRA’s website, most of the complaints involve bears raiding garbage containers and bird feeders, as well as feeding on pet food left outdoors.

The website also makes clear it is not TWRA policy to routinely trap and move bears causing these types of problems.

“Due to the relatively large home ranges and mobility of bears, there is no place remote enough in Tennessee to relocate bears where they will not have contact with humans,” the website states. “Secondly, by moving bears often all that is accomplished is just the problem has been moved and not solved.”

According to experts with TWRA, the long-term solution to bears raiding garbage containers, bird feeders and pet food left outdoors is to simply remove the food source and bears most often will go elsewhere.

The website even notes that some people even intentionally feed bears. As often happens, even the best of intentions can go awry.

As a result of the improper storage of garbage, easy availability of bird seed and the direct feeding of bears, animals often become habituated to humans and become a nuisance and a threat to human safety.

Sadly, according to TWRA officials, there are no other alternatives but to destroy bears that become a threat to human safety. The agency spent hundreds of man-hours last year addressing bear-human conflicts and some bears had to be destroyed as a result of irresponsible behavior of people directly and indirectly feeding bears.

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
A Black Bear cub photographed at Cades Cove.

TWRA notes that the fact “Garbage Kills Bears” is irrefutable and urges people to remember that a fed bear is a dead bear. TWRA encourages residents to educate themselves by being “bear aware.” The agency asks all Tennesseans to help keep communities safe by preserving the “wild” nature of bears by following these few simple tips:

• Do not feed bears

• Store garbage in bear-proof containers or in a manner that is inaccessible to bears

• Keep pet food indoors and feed pets in the house or garage

• Do not add food to your compost piles

• Keep cooking grills clean and stored indoors when not in use.

• Do not feed birds between April and January when bears are most active.

I don’t agree, however, with this moratorium. Feeders can be bear-proofed, although it requires effort and expense. I also think that feeders can be taken indoors at night to reduce the chance of attracting bears. I will concede that a determined bear willing to visit feeders during the daylight hours may require that all feeding of birds be curtailed, at least until the animal decides to move to greener pastures.

Black Bears (Ursus americanus) are one of Tennessee’s states treasures. Bears mostly inhabit Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Jefferson, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties along the eastern border of the state. The highest densities of bears reside in the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smokey National Park.

Since the 1970s, the number of bears has significantly increased in Tennessee, according to TWRA. For example, prior to 1980, the annual harvest in the state was usually less than 20 bears. Today the picture could not be more astounding. Since 2004, Tennessee’s annual bear harvest has exceeded 300 animals! In 2009, a harvest of 571 bears in Tennessee set a new state record.

Photo by Waverley Traylor/ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
American black bear at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia.

A key first step to rebuilding Tennessee’s bear population was the establishment of national forests and parks that shelter and protect Tennessee’s sparse bear population.

With careful management and enforcement by TWRA and ecological conditions in their favor, bear populations have responded dramatically. Tennessee’s bear population thrives today largely due to the dedication of the TWRA, CNF, GSMNP, the bear research program at University of Tennessee and the support of Tennessee sportsman license dollars.

Today Tennessee’s wildlife, forest and park service agencies confront new and difficult challenges in managing bear-human conflicts. As human and bear populations increase, and more people move near public lands, bear-human interactions have undoubtedly increased creating potentially dangerous situations for the public and for bears.

TWRA maintains that the primary corrective action to this management dilemma is to simply restrict the access bears have to human foods. Tennessee residents and visitors can support bears by taking steps to ensure that wild bears remain “wild,” by carefully managing sources of human food or garbage that might attract bears.

I’ve had neighbors, too, who have observed bears on their property recently. A few of them have even gotten photographs of the bears. I haven’t seen a bear on my property, but many years ago a bear left prints (and damaged some plants) in my grandfather’s tobacco plot. More recently, I’ve found droppings that I am fairly confident were left by a bear.

The bears aren’t going anywhere, so we will probably be encountering them more often.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A young Eastern Towhee visits a feeder in July. The chance to see young birds is a great reason to offer food during the summer, but some precautions should be taken to minimize uninvited guests.

Annual Carter County Summer Bird Count tallies 116 species

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Members of the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society, known less formally as the Elizabethton Bird Club, conducted the 21st annual Carter County Summer Bird Count on Saturday, June 7.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A total of 231 Song Sparrows, such as the one pictured here, were found during the recent Summer Bird Count.

The 19 observers in six parties logged 58 party hours, plus 5.5 nocturnal party hours. The total of 116 species tallied was slightly above the average of 112. The range for this count has varied between 105 and 121 species.

Observers included Jim Anderson, Rob Armistead, Kevin Brooks, J.G. and Deb Campbell, Harry Lee Farthing, Don Holt, Christy Kendall, Rick Knight, Roy Knispel, Joe McGuiness, Tom McNeil, Cathy Myers, Kathy Noblet, Chris Soto, Bryan Stevens, Kim Stroud, Mary Anna Wheat and John Whinery.

The species list follows:

Canada Goose, 379; Wood Duck, 11; Mallard, 74; Ruffed Grouse, 6; Wild Turkey, 9; Double-crested Cormorant, 1; Great Blue Heron, 25; and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, 3.

Black Vulture, 4; Turkey Vulture, 60; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 2; Cooper’s Hawk, 1; Broad-winged Hawk, 4; Red-tailed Hawk, 4; and American Kestrel, 6.

Killdeer, 6; American Woodcock, 1; Rock Pigeon, 67; Mourning Dove, 111; and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 1.

Eastern Screech-Owl, 3; Barred Owl, 3; Common Nighthawk, 1; Chuck-will’s-widow, 2; and Eastern Whip-poor-will, 13.

Chimney Swift, 96; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 30; Belted Kingfisher, 7; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 15; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 21; Hairy Woodpecker, 6; Northern Flicker, 22; and Pileated Woodpecker, 11.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird was represented by a total of 30 individuals on the recent Summer Bird Count.

Eastern Wood-Pewee, 26; Acadian Flycatcher, 44; Alder Flycatcher, 4; Least Flycatcher, 9; Eastern Phoebe, 38; Great Crested Flycatcher, 4; and Eastern Kingbird, 17.

White-eyed Vireo, 10; Yellow-throated Vireo, 2; Blue-headed Vireo, 54; Red-eyed Vireo, 166; Blue Jay, 91; American Crow, 130; and Common Raven, 6.

Purple Martin, 21; Tree Swallow, 152; Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 36; Cliff Swallow, 295; and Barn Swallow, 159.

Carolina Chickadee, 71; Tufted Titmouse, 72; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 9; White-breasted Nuthatch, 15; Brown Creeper, 1; Carolina Wren, 86; House Wren, 54; and Winter Wren, 8.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 41; Golden-crowned Kinglet, 10; Eastern Bluebird, 48; Veery, 31; Hermit Thrush, 2; Wood Thrush, 56; American Robin, 356; Gray Catbird, 44; N. Mockingbird, 59; Brown Thrasher, 16; European Starling, 607; and Cedar Waxwing, 94.

Ovenbird, 70; Worm-eating Warbler, 14; Louisiana Waterthrush, 4; Golden-winged Warbler, 3; Black-and-white Warbler, 38; Swainson’s Warbler, 3; Kentucky Warbler, 1; Common Yellowthroat, 27; Hooded Warbler, 88; American Redstart, 9; Northern Parula, 15; Magnolia Warbler, 2; Blackburnian Warbler, 14; Yellow Warbler, 5; Chestnut-sided Warbler, 27; Black-throated Blue Warbler, 35; Pine Warbler, 4; Yellow-rumped Warbler, 1; Yellow-throated Warbler, 13; Black-throated Green Warbler, 34; Canada Warbler, 24; and Yellow-breasted Chat, 10.

Eastern Towhee, 120; Chipping Sparrow, 100; Field Sparrow, 37; Vesper Sparrow, 1; Song Sparrow, 231; Dark-eyed Junco, 89; Scarlet Tanager, 27; Northern Cardinal, 157; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 17; Blue Grosbeak, 2; and Indigo Bunting, 181.

Red-winged Blackbird, 69; Eastern Meadowlark, 25; Common Grackle, 95; Brown-headed Cowbird, 39; Orchard Oriole, 7; Baltimore Oriole, 4; House Finch, 28; Red Crossbill, 1; American Goldfinch, 166; and House Sparrow, 128.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
Although waterfowl can be difficult to find in Carter County during the summer months, a total of 11 Wood Ducks were tallied for the Summer Bird Count.

All 116 species found on the count are known or suspected to nest in Carter County, except for the Double-crested Cormorant.

•••••

Hampton resident Barbara Lake emailed me to share some photos of a clutch of eggs in one of her bluebird boxes.

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Lake
A clutch of five Eastern Bluebird eggs in a box at the home of Barbara and Jerry Lake in Hampton.

She actually has two pairs of Eastern Bluebirds nesting in boxes at her home. She has named the bird Blossom and Max, as well as Aliy and Allen. The latter are named for Iditarod and Yukon Quest musher friends.

“I wrote to Aliy and told her I named a bluebird after her, and she is happy about it. So now I have to keep her up to date about what’s going on.”

Some of Barbara’s bluebird boxes are equipped with television cameras, which allows her to monitor activity on a television screen in the comfort of her home.

•••••

Now that it is July, birding sometimes becomes more difficult because of the intense heat, high humidity and other factors. There are still interesting bird observations to make. Many birds are still taking care of young, either in or out of the nest. If you’d like to share an observation, make a comment or ask a question, email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com or post a comment here.

Region’s drab vireos more famous for persistent singing than their appearance

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In some recent columns, I’ve focused on some of the summer songbirds — scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak – with flashy, bright plumages. Not all our summer nesting birds boast such vivid coloration. In fact, one family of songbirds — the vireos — is known for its dull plumage.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A blue-headed vireo sings from a woodland perch.

I’ve had some interesting encounters with vireos in the past few weeks. From early May through mid-June, a male red-eyed vireo sang daily from the woodland near my home. He would commence signing early in the morning and continue through late afternoon. I never saw him, which is not too surprising. Red-eyed vireos lead almost their entire lives in the forest canopy. If you do manage to observe one, you’ll see an olive green bird with white underpart. The red-eyed vireo, known scientifically as Vireo olivaceus, shows a narrow white eyebrow bordered above with black. It also has a grayish crown and the namesake red eye.

At a glance, the vireos would appear related to the wood warblers. Research into vireo DNA, however, has led many experts to contend that vireos are more closely related to crows and shrikes. Like the flycatcher, warbler and hummingbird families, the vireo family is exclusive to the New World. There are about 50 species of vireos. The majority reside in the tropics, but about a dozen species spend their nesting season within the United States.

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter A young red-eyed vireo begs for food, which will bring a prompt response from a nearby parent.

In Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, vireos resident during the summer months include red-eyed, white-eyed, blue-headed, yellow-throated and warbling. Most people are likely unaware of vireos. Although not uncommon, these birds are much more frequently heard than seen. They spend much of their time in the forest canopy or in dense brush. When singing, they can remain at a perch, unmoving, for long periods of time.

On recent woodland walks I have heard the loud scolding calls of red-eyed vireos. This call, given apparently when the vireo is alarmed or irritated, is quite unlike the usual vocalizations produced by this bird. First and foremost, the call is louder than one would think could be produced by a bird that is only about six inches long.

During the summer season, the red-eyed vireo is also one of the most persistent of singing songbirds. Another of its common names is “Preacher Bird,” so called because of its tendency to unceasingly deliver it song. To give you an idea of just how persistently this bird sings, the red-eyed vireo holds the record for singing its song the most times in a single day. Some individuals have been recorded singing the series of emphatic syllables more than 20,000 times in a day. The song is not particularly musical, consisting of whistled phrases, each slightly different and punctuated with brief pauses.

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
A red-eyed vireo sits on its basket-shaped nest.

The red-eyed vireo is still considered one of eastern North America’s most common summer breeding birds. At one time, this bird was probably the most common breeding bird in Eastern woodlands. It is still one of the most widespread, ranging from the Eastern United States into the Northwestern United States and across Canada. In fall, they withdraw to spend the winter in South America.

The term “vireo,” originating in Latin, can be translated into English as “green bird.” It’s an apt description, as many of these small birds are primarily dull green in coloration.

There is an endangered vireo, the black-capped vireo, a bird with a limited breeding range in Texas. Black-capped vireos numbers have dwindled to perilous levels due to the loss of low growing woody cover these birds need for breeding purposes. The cause of the loss of habitat varies, but includes the clearance of land for livestock as well as overgrazing by livestock and deer. In the past, fires regularly opened up such habitats. Due to modern fire control practices, such fires are no longer a natural occurrence. Since this species is already endangered, brown-headed cowbirds have also contributed to the problem since the cowbirds slip their own eggs into the nests of black-capped vireos.

Photo by USFWS The black-capped vireo is the only member of the vireo family in the United States classified as endangered.

Two others, Bell’s vireo and gray vireo, are identified as species of concern on the Audubon Watchlist. This listing spotlights species that may bear intense scrutiny to make certain they don’t become endangered.

Other vireos that can be found in the United States, for at least part of the year, include Philadelphia vireo, plumbeous vireo and Cassin’s vireo. A specialty of Florida is the black-whiskered vireo.

Many species of vireo are also found in the islands of the Caribbean, including Jamaican vireo, Cuban vireo and Puerto Rican vireo. Some of the more colorful common names for vireos include the yellow-green vireo, golden vireo and yellow-winged vireo.

In Central and South America, the vireo family expands to include many birds with common names such as “Shrike-Vireo,” “Greenlet” and “Peppershrike.” Some of the varied species include the lemon-chested greenlet, green shrike-vireo and the black-bellied peppershrike.

Photo by Dave Menke/USFWS A warbling vireo is the most drab member of a family known for its drabness. The warbling vireo’s impressive song, however, reminds many listeners of the song of the gaudy painted bunting.

Known by the scientific name, Vireo gilvus, the warbling vireo is another member of this family of songbirds that can be found in the region. It is named for its distinctive, warbling song. Some experts have likened its song to that of the painted bunting. That must be about all the two birds have in common. In contrast with the gaudy painted bunting, the warbling vireo can quite honestly stake a claim as one of our most drab songbirds. Overall, this is a grayish little bird with a white eyeline that is paler than the rest of its plumage. Its legs are blue-gray in color and this species has a bill that is stout like other vireos and unlike the beaks of most warblers. It’s their plainness that is the most distinctive aspect of their appearance.

Many vireos construct deep cup- or basket-shaped nests, often in the higher branches of tall trees. Male and female share incubation duties and work together to feed their young.

Most vireos feed on insects during their summer stay north of the border. However, during migration they often feed on berries and continue to do so on their wintering grounds. Experts have noted that the white-throated vireo is particularly fond of gumbo-limbo seeds. This tropical tree can be found from southern Florida and Mexico, as well as throughout the Caribbean and in South America in Brazil and Venezuela.

Photo by Jean Potter
The Blue-headed Vireo prefers wooded habitats at higher elevations.

At times, it’s important to use our ears, as well as our eyes, when trying to find birds. That’s particularly true of the vireos. The widespread family can be found in rural areas, as well as suburban settings. Tall stands of trees are one of the essential requirements. So, when you next hear some whistled phrases coming from the treetops, be sure to look up. You may get lucky.

To hear a singing red-eyed vireo, visit the link below to view a video of the bird on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yWCGsMjO_c

First-ever Unicoi County Summer Bird Count tallies 111 species

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Members of the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society conducted the first-ever Unicoi County Summer Bird Count on Saturday, June 14.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A young Eastern Bluebird slowly gains independence after leaving the nest.

Rick Knight, a long-time compiler for the chapter’s seasonal bird counts, organized and launched the count as a means to collect valuable information about the local distribution of birds in an often overlooked county in the region.

Nineteen observers in five parties logged 53 party hours, plus three nocturnal party hours, searching for birds from Flag Pond to Limestone Cove within Unicoi County.

A total of 111 species were tallied during the count by the following observers: Jim Anderson, Rob Armistead, Harry Lee Farthing, Don Holt, Rick Knight, Roy Knispel, Richard Lewis, Vern Maddux, Joe McGuiness, Tom McNeil, Charles Moore, Cathy Myers, Kathy Noblet, Brookie and Jean Potter, Bryan Stevens, Kim Stroud, Gary Wallace and John Whinery.

Species found during the count included:

Canada Goose, 76; Wood Duck, 17; Mallard, 31; Ruffed Grouse,1; Wild Turkey, 29; Great Blue Heron, 12; and Green Heron, 6.

Black Vulture, 3; Turkey Vulture, 28; Bald Eagle, 3 ; Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1; Cooper’s Hawk, 1; Red-shouldered Hawk, 1; Broad-winged Hawk, 3; Red-tailed Hawk, 5; American Kestrel, 2; and Peregrine Falcon, 3.

Killdeer,17; Rock Pigeon, 75; Mourning Dove, 77; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 3; Eastern Screech-Owl, 2; Great Horned Owl, 1; Chuck-will’s-widow, 6; Eastern Whip-poor-will, 3; Chimney Swift, 44; Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 17; and Belted Kingfisher, 4.

Photo Courtesy of Jean Potter
The Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers found during the count indicate that this species is nesting at high-elevation locations in Unicoi County.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, 20; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3; Downy Woodpecker 15; Hairy Woodpecker 5; Northern Flicker, 12; Pileated Woodpecker, 16; Eastern Wood-Pewee 8; Acadian Flycatcher 29; Least Flycatcher 5; Eastern Phoebe, 44; Great Crested Flycatcher, 2; and Eastern Kingbird, 13.

White-eyed Vireo, 1; Yellow-throated Vireo, 1; Blue-headed Vireo, 29; Warbling Vireo, 1; Red-eyed Vireo, 157; Blue Jay, 59; American Crow, 139; Common Raven, 8; Purple Martin, 36; Tree Swallow, 94; Northern Rough-winged Swallow, 68; Cliff Swallow, 64; and Barn Swallow, 139.

Carolina Chickadee, 63; Tufted Titmouse, 47; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 3; White-breasted Nuthatch, 20; Brown Creeper, 1; Carolina Wren, 80; House Wren, 31; Winter Wren, 2; and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 27.

Eastern Bluebird, 46; Veery, 35; Wood Thrush, 37; American Robin, 435; Gray Catbird, 37; Northern Mockingbird, 37; Brown Thrasher, 14; European Starling, 464; and Cedar Waxwing, 71.

Ovenbird, 56; Worm-eating Warbler, 9; Louisiana Waterthrush, 5; Golden-winged Warbler, 1; Black-and-white Warbler, 19; Swainson’s Warbler, 6; Kentucky Warbler, 1; Common Yellowthroat, 2; Hooded Warbler, 78; American Redstart, 8; Northern Parula, 13; Magnolia Warbler, 1; Blackburnian Warbler, 2; Yellow Warbler, 1; Chestnut-sided Warbler, 23; Black-throated Blue Warbler, 20; Yellow-throated Warbler, 4; Prairie Warbler, 7; Black-throated Green Warbler, 30; Canada Warbler, 9; and Yellow-breasted Chat, 5.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A young Chipping Sparrow perches on a barbed wire fence at the Bell Cemetery in Limestone Cove.

Eastern Towhee, 70; Chipping Sparrow, 60; Field Sparrow, 12; Song Sparrow, 214; Dark-eyed Junco, 28; Scarlet Tanager, 20; Northern Cardinal, 138; Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2; Blue Grosbeak, 1; and Indigo Bunting, 197.

Red-winged Blackbird, 101; Eastern Meadowlark, 13; Common Grackle, 94; Brown-headed Cowbird, 34; Orchard Oriole, 1; Baltimore Oriole, 1; House Finch, 8; American Goldfinch, 84; and House Sparrow, 64.

Knight noted that all 111 species found during the count are known or suspected to nest in Unicoi County. For instance, the three Bald Eagles found on the count included an adult bird and two recently fledged young. Eagles have been documented nesting near the Devil’s Looking Glass above the Nolichucky River for the past couple of years.

•••••

During the count, I stayed close to home with the territory of Limestone Cove and the portion of Sciota Road located within Unicoi County. Gary Wallace and John Whinery joined me for several hours of productive birding.

We found some birds I would never have expected to find so close to home, including singing Prairie Warblers and a noisy, scolding Yellow-breasted Chat. On Bean Creek Road near the state line with North Carolina, we also found a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker while walking a section of the Appalachian Trail. This was my first summer sighting of what is normally a winter bird in the region. In recent years, however, a few sapsuckers have started nesting in some of the local mountains.

We also missed some target birds. We checked out every pond we could view in our territory and failed to find a Green Heron.

Summer is also an extremely busy time of year for birds as they go about the business of bringing up a new generation of birds. Most birds have completed spring migration and have settled into locations they will call home for the next few months. During the recent Summer Bird Count in Unicoi County, we saw numerous young birds, ranging from Chipping Sparrows and Eastern Bluebirds to American Robins and Barn Swallows.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A young Barn Swallow perched on a utility line at the Bell Cemetery in Limestone Cove awaits a delivery of food from its parents.

•••••

To ask a question, make a comment or share an observation, email me at ahoodedwarbler@aol.com or leave a remark here at “Our Fine Feathered Friends.”

Other things with wings

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Photo by Bryan Stevens Don’t believe all you hear. Dragonflies and damselflies are harmless to humans. They can’t sting. They can’t sew your lips shut. People have invented many scary names for these winged insects, including “snake killer,” “water witch” and “devil’s darning needle.” Don’t be fooled by the bad press and all the myths. Dragonflies and their kin are some of the world’s most beneficial insects. Pictured, a decorative and illuminating dragonfly owned by a fan of these valuable insects.

I’m taking a hiatus from the birds for one week to bring you some other things with wings in the form of a pictorial essay of dragonflies and damselflies, otherwise known as “odes,” or members of the insect order of Odonata.

I hope you enjoy this diversion. I know I’ve had much fun this spring photographing the odes at the fish pond at my home on Simerly Creek Road in Hampton. I’ve also visited some other locations to find and photograph them, including Erwin Fishery Park in Unicoi County.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
An Eastern Amberwing casts an amber shadow on this rock at the edge of a pond in Erwin, Tennessee. This is one of the smaller dragonflies in the Southern Appalachians. The largest dragonfly to ever live was Meganeura monyi, which lived during the Carboniferous period about 300 million years ago. It resembled and was related to present-day dragonflies. With a wingspan of almost 26 inches, it is one of the largest known flying insect species. Like modern dragonflies, Meganeura monyi was predatory and fed on other insects.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
The Aurora Damselfly is a study in simple elegance. Damselflies are typically weaker flyers than dragonflies.

Photo by Bryan Stevens
A glimpse through the vegetation at one of the pond’s most voracious predators. Dragonflies consume many other species of insects, including some that are considered pests. Pictured is a female Blue Dasher.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Dragonflies and damselflies have been around longer than birds. Scientists estimate that these insects have been flying our skies for 300 million years.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Pictured, a male Ebony Jewelwing displays along the edge of Simerly Creek. Most, but not all, damselflies are fairly small. Megaloprepus caerulatus, which belongs to the Forest Giant family of damselflies, is the world’s largest damselfly. This damselfly inhabits rain forests in Central and South America. It has the greatest wingspan — 7.5 inches for large males — of any living damselfly or dragonfly.

Photo by Bryan Stevens What big eyes they have! Not surprisingly, it’s the better to see you with that has pushed the evolution of the dragonfly eye. A dragonfly’s head is comprised almost entirely of two large, compound eyes. Pictured, a Blue Dasher.

Photo by Bryan Stevens Common Green Darners photographed in early May on Holston Mountain in Elizabethton. At least 5,000 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been documented by scientists. There are probably more yet to be discovered.

Photo by Bryan Stevens There are no vegetarian dragonflies. Adult dragonflies feed on other insects that they catch in flight. Larval dragonflies, called nymphs, are aggressive underwater predators that feed on almost anything they can catch, including tadpoles, small fish, other aquatic insects and even each other. If mosquitoes are a nuisance, be sure to welcome dragonflies. They’re a major predator of mosquitoes. Pictured, a Widow Skimmer perches at the edge of a pond, resting until her next flight to prey on other insects.

Like birds, some species of dragonflies migrate. They may also form swarms — the equivalent of a flock of birds — as they stage their migratory flights.

Photo by Bryan Stevens This empty shell once housed a voracious dragonfly nymph until it emerged as an adult dragonfly.

Photo by Bryan Stevens A Common Whitetail perches by a pond’s edge.

For more information on dragonflies in the Volunteer State, please visit http://www.pbase.com/rconnorsnaturephoto/tennessee_odonata to learn more.

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