One of the best features of this CBC was the large number of migrating Sandhill Cranes observed.  Cranes were noted by observers in six of the seven groups of observers afield on count day, with a total of 357 cranes counted, as follows:

    Another highlight of this count was the large number of species seen in highest ever numbers on the Cookeville CBC.  Thirteen species were detected in record numbers, including 191 Black Vultures, 3 Snow Geese, 28 Gadwalls, 4 American Wigeons, 83 Hooded Mergansers, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 12 Red-shouldered Hawks, 23 Hairy Woodpeckers, 5677 American Crows, 494 Eastern Bluebirds, 136 Northern Mockingbirds, and 18 White-crowned Sparrows.  The high total for bluebird was especially good news.  Two Loggerhead Shrikes were also found during the count, good news for that rapidly declining species.  On the other side of the numbers coin was the absence of any Northern Bobwhites, another species declining in Putnam County.

    The results of the CBC provide a rough gauge of the health of the birdlife within the 15-mile-diamter circle that is surveyed, and in turn suggest the general health of the local environment.   Judging from the results, it is safe to say that the populations of most birds residing in the Cookeville CBC circle are fairly healthy and therefore that the local environment is also probably fairly healthy.  For a few birds that are declining in population numbers, we now have a bit more information that may be used to effect changes that might lead to increases in their populations.

• Results of 2001 Cookeville CBC
• Results of 2000 Cookeville CBC

Key to Field Observers and Feeder Watchers (all from Putnam County, except as noted):

Notes:

    Bold-faced species totals (13) indicate all-time high counts on the Cookeville CBC.  Species totals in parentheses (3) indicate all-time high counts for Putnam Co., Tennessee (these totals are lower than the CBC totals because CBC totals include birds counted in the White Co. part of the CBC circle). No new species were added to the cumulative total of 126 species detected on this CBC during the past 40 years. cw = species noted during count week (11–13 Dec.; 15–17 Dec.) only.

   The Horned Grebes were counted for only the fourth time in the forty-year history of the Cookeville CBC; they were found on the lake at Cane Creek Park (BHS, TMC); see photo below.

   Most of the Black Vultures were counted at a roost on City Lake (SJS et al.).

   One blue morph Snow Goose was observed at Cane Creek Park (BHS, TMC), and two white morph Snow Geese were seen at Boring Pond (WAW, MPO et al.).

   The Blue-winged Teal (documentation provided by MJH), registered for only the second time on the Cookeville CBC, was found at Shipley Farm.

   The Northern Harrier was found on Paragon Rd. (RWS).

   The total of 75 American Kestrels was the highest total since 92 were counted in 1995.

   The Barn Owl, found for the 3rd consecutive year, was at a breeding site south of Cookeville (DLC, KB).

    One of the Loggerhead Shrikes was found on Paragon Rd. (RWS) and the other at Shipley Farm (GKE et al.)

   The Red-breasted Nuthatch was found in the Hillsdale subdivision in south Cookeville (DLC, KB); it represents the only reported sighting within the Upper Cumberland Region this winter—and there were no reports Regionally during Fall 2002.

   The Brown-headed Nuthatches were found at the Cookeville Golf Course, the only known breeding site of this species within the entire Upper Cumberland Region (WAW, MPO et al.).

   The Common Yellowthroat was found on Double Springs Rd., on the extreme western edge of the CBC circle (BHS, TMC).

   The Savannah and White-crowned sparrows were noted at Shipley Farm (GKE, MJH et al.).

Horned Grebes in basic plumage on the lake at Cane Creek Park 13 December 2002; these are probably two of the birds noted the next day during the CBC; photo Stephen J. Stedman.

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