Results of Point Counts Conducted in the Obed Wild and Scenic River, Morgan County, Tennessee—Data Collected by Barbara H. Stedman
Two sets of point counts have been conducted in the Obed Wild and Scenic River. During each breeding season from 1998 to 2003, a set of 50 points was surveyed for 5 minutes at each plot. During each breeding season from 2004 to 2006, a set of 30 points was surveyed for 10 minutes at each plot. The locations of about half of the plots of the 30-point set overlap with locations of plots from the 50-point set.
Data from the 1998–2002 seasons and descriptions of each of 50 point counts conducted in the Obed Wild and Scenic River (National Park Service) are also presented in the following source (available for $15 [plus $2 postage] from Stephen and Barbara Stedman, 2675 Lakeland Dr., Cookeville, TN 38506):
Stedman,
S. J., and B. H. Stedman. 2002. Notes on the Birds of the Big South
Fork National
River and Recreation Area and Obed National Wild and
Scenic River.
Privately printed, Cookeville, Tennessee, 146 + viii pp.
Data from the 1998-2003 seasons are also presented and discussed in the following source:
Stedman, B. H., and S.
J. Stedman. 2005. Point Count Surveys of Breeding Birds in the Obed
Wild and Scenic River. Migrant 76
(1): 1–9.
In the aftermath of the southern pine beetle outbreak of 1999–2002, the population of Pine Warblers in the park was down considerably in 2003, but the Blue-headed Vireo population was up considerably. In 2003 woodpeckers, except for Hairy Woodpecker, seemed not to have increased much as a result of vastly increased nesting substrate and, presumably, food resources following the beetle outbreak. Shrub-scrub species like Prairie Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat actually decreased in 2003, although it initially seemed more likely they would increase as a result of the opening up of the forest following beetle damage; during 2004, 2005, and 2006 numbers of these shrub-scrub specialists remained low.
Results from the 30-point set appear to reflect many of the findings from the larger 50-point set, but results from the 30-point set are not yet robust enough to judge whether that is, in fact, actually the case. Comparison of the two sets of data is now somewhat inadvisable and may remain so unless this set is continued in the future.
2004–2006 (Results of 30-point Set [10 minutes per point])
| Species |
Year |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |||||||
| Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | |
| Canada Goose | -- | -- | 2 | 14 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Wood Duck | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Mallard | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Ruffed Grouse | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Wild Turkey | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Northern Bobwhite | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Great Blue Heron | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Green Heron | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Black Vulture | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 8 | ||||||
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Cooper's Hawk | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Killdeer | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| American Woodcock | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Rock Pigeon | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Mourning Dove | 15 | 39 | 15 | 41 | 20 | 29 | ||||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 6 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 13 | ||||||
| Black-billed Cuckoo | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Great Horned Owl | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Barred Owl | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Chuck-will's-widow | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Chimney Swift | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Ruby-thr. Hummingbird | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Belted Kingfisher | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 1 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 13 | ||||||
| Downy Woodpecker | 9 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| Hairy Woodpecker | 8 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | ||||||
| Northern Flicker | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Pileated Woodpecker | 13 | 17 | 10 | 18 | 10 | 16 | ||||||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | ||||||
| Acadian Flycatcher | 14 | 35 | 16 | 28 | 17 | 33 | ||||||
| Eastern Phoebe | 12 | 15 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | ||||||
| Great Crest. Flycatcher | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Eastern Kingbird | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| White-eyed Vireo | 6 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 2 | 4 | ||||||
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | ||||||
| Blue-headed Vireo | 19 | 40 | 23 | 51 | 26 | 40 | ||||||
| Red-eyed Vireo | 30 | 89 | 28 | 67 | 29 | 58 | ||||||
| Blue Jay | 17 | 38 | 19 | 37 | 22 | 39 | ||||||
| American Crow | 12 | 38 | 20 | 60 | 13 | 53 | ||||||
| Purple Martin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Tree Swallow | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| N. Rough-w. Swallow | 5 | 10 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 7 | ||||||
| Barn Swallow | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Carolina Chickadee | 15 | 32 | 17 | 32 | 16 | 29 | ||||||
| Tufted Titmouse | 16 | 32 | 19 | 33 | 21 | 35 | ||||||
| White-breast. Nuthatch | 12 | 24 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 16 | ||||||
| Carolina Wren | 21 | 68 | 24 | 59 | 26 | 64 | ||||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 5 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 8 | ||||||
| Eastern Bluebird | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Wood Thrush | 19 | 33 | 24 | 39 | 19 | 36 | ||||||
| American Robin | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Gray Catbird | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Northern Mockingbird | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Brown Thrasher | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| European Starling | 1 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Cedar Waxwing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Northern Parula | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | ||||||
| Black-thr. Green Warbler | 11 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 9 | ||||||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | 12 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 6 | ||||||
| Pine Warbler | 8 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 10 | ||||||
| Prairie Warbler | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Cerulean Warbler | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Black-and-white Warbler | 15 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 12 | ||||||
| Worm-eating Warbler | 13 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 11 | ||||||
| Swainson's Warbler | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Ovenbird | 14 | 27 | 17 | 27 | 18 | 30 | ||||||
| Louisiana Waterthrush | 11 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 8 | 13 | ||||||
| Kentucky Warbler | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | ||||||
| Common Yellowthroat | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Hooded Warbler | 24 | 50 | 25 | 43 | 25 | 39 | ||||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| Eastern Towhee | 9 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 10 | 18 | ||||||
| Chipping Sparrow | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Field Sparrow | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Song Sparrow | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Summer Tanager | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Scarlet Tanager | 26 | 53 | 22 | 37 | 16 | 20 | ||||||
| Northern Cardinal | 19 | 53 | 23 | 67 | 22 | 53 | ||||||
| Blue Grosbeak | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Indigo Bunting | 18 | 46 | 14 | 35 | 11 | 18 | ||||||
| Red-winged Blackbird | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | ||||||
| Eastern Meadowlark | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Common Grackle | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| American Goldfinch | 3 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 15 | ||||||
| Total Species | 65 | 72 | 71 | |||||||||
| Year | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
1998–2003 (Results of 50-point Set [5 minutes per point])
| Species |
Year |
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |||||||
| Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | Stops | Inds. | |
| Wood Duck | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Ruffed Grouse | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wild Turkey | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
| Northern Bobwhite | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Great Blue Heron | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Green Heron | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Black Vulture | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Turkey Vulture | 2 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Osprey | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 3 | 4 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 6 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 2 |
| Killdeer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| American Woodcock | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Mourning Dove | 8 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 20 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Great Horned Owl | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Barred Owl | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Chimney Swift | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Ruby-thr. Hummingbird | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Belted Kingfisher | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 6 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 17 |
| Northern Flicker | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 20 | 24 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 29 | 17 | 23 | 18 | 21 |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Acadian Flycatcher | 25 | 39 | 23 | 60 | 26 | 51 | 22 | 42 | 19 | 31 | 21 | 35 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 10 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Great Crest. Flycatcher | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Eastern Kingbird | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| White-eyed Vireo | 7 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
| Yellow-throated Vireo | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Blue-headed Vireo | 12 | 14 | 22 | 30 | 18 | 22 | 27 | 40 | 26 | 41 | 35 | 64 |
| Red-eyed Vireo | 50 | 162 | 49 | 226 | 49 | 169 | 49 | 154 | 46 | 119 | 47 | 124 |
| Blue Jay | 20 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 17 | 32 | 17 | 35 | 15 | 26 | 22 | 44 |
| American Crow | 35 | 61 | 19 | 36 | 18 | 37 | 17 | 47 | 15 | 37 | 19 | 46 |
| Purple Martin | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | -- | -- |
| N. Rough-w. Swallow | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Barn Swallow | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Carolina Chickadee | 32 | 57 | 23 | 41 | 22 | 36 | 21 | 39 | 14 | 28 | 18 | 35 |
| Tufted Titmouse | 31 | 51 | 26 | 39 | 26 | 43 | 22 | 33 | 22 | 41 | 16 | 30 |
| White-breast. Nuthatch | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 11 | 18 | 8 | 13 |
| Carolina Wren | 27 | 34 | 28 | 40 | 24 | 37 | 18 | 25 | 26 | 38 | 29 | 51 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 7 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 6 |
| Eastern Bluebird | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Wood Thrush | 13 | 26 | 14 | 22 | 25 | 32 | 25 | 33 | 23 | 35 | 21 | 33 |
| American Robin | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Gray Catbird | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Brown Thrasher | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 4 | 4 |
| Cedar Waxwing | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 2 | 4 | -- | -- | 1 | 2 |
| Northern Parula | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 8 |
| Black-thr. Green Warbler | 36 | 61 | 23 | 38 | 29 | 36 | 30 | 69 | 23 | 39 | 22 | 36 |
| Yellow-throated Warbler | 16 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 19 | 12 | 13 |
| Pine Warbler | 8 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 4 |
| Prairie Warbler | 9 | 23 | 6 | 19 | 8 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| Cerulean Warbler | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
| Black-and-white Warbler | 32 | 58 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 66 | 18 | 28 | 15 | 23 | 18 | 31 |
| Worm-eating Warbler | 27 | 43 | 20 | 30 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 32 | 22 | 32 | 18 | 29 |
| Swainson's Warbler | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Ovenbird | 35 | 78 | 30 | 56 | 29 | 66 | 22 | 34 | 25 | 50 | 23 | 39 |
| Louisiana Waterthrush | 10 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 17 |
| Kentucky Warbler | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Common Yellowthroat | 7 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Hooded Warbler | 47 | 85 | 34 | 70 | 44 | 79 | 41 | 75 | 38 | 81 | 34 | 50 |
| Yellow-breasted Chat | 8 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Eastern Towhee | 7 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 8 |
| Chipping Sparrow | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Field Sparrow | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Song Sparrow | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Summer Tanager | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Scarlet Tanager | 28 | 36 | 25 | 35 | 28 | 39 | 30 | 46 | 30 | 37 | 27 | 33 |
| Northern Cardinal | 21 | 35 | 17 | 30 | 17 | 31 | 14 | 28 | 19 | 36 | 21 | 48 |
| Blue Grosbeak | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Indigo Bunting | 30 | 55 | 24 | 47 | 30 | 62 | 26 | 65 | 22 | 49 | 19 | 37 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Common Grackle | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| American Goldfinch | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 9 | -- | -- |
| Total Species | 77 | 68 | 64 | 63 | 67 | 64 | ||||||
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
Many personnel working in the Visitor Center, Obed Wild and Scenic River, National Park Service, in Wartburg, Tennessee, during the 1998–2003 breeding seasons provided support to Barbara in the collection of data during those years. Support from that office continued during 2004–2006, but thanks are also due the Inventory and Monitoring Program Office for the Appalachian Highlands for supporting the collection of data by points counts during 2004 and 2005. All OWSR personnel—especially Don Forester, Nancy Keohane, Arthur McDade, Barbara Olmstead, and Amy Williams—are thanked; without their support, this bird-monitoring effort would have been much more difficult to conduct than it was.
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