Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Abundance: Uncommon; at least 59 records in 13 counties, 5 in Kentucky and 8 in Tennessee (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during spring (20 records) and fall (38 records); occasional during winter (1 documented record and 1 undocumented record); photograph (see link below).

Regional High Count: 20 (22 September 2002; Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

Information on Records:

8 and/or 9 May 1954 (2) "Legion Lake" near Livingston, Overton County, Tennessee (observers unspecified [TOS members]; Anonymous 1954), a Spring Bird Count record.

23 October 1983 (1) Casey Creek, Adair County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1984a).

7 May 1984 (1) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1984c).

26–28 September 1984 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1985a).

18 April 1985 (2) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1985c).

25 August 1985 (1) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1986a).

4 May 1988 (x) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 1993).

26 July 1988 (1) Macedonia Pond, White County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman).

29 April 1989 (c. 15) Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky ([KOS members]; Stamm 1989c).

1 & 18 October 1989 (1) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1990a).

24 July 1990 (2) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 1993).

16 October 1990 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes] unpublished data).

19 April 1991 (4) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Michael G. Beykirsch; Stedman 1993).

19 September 1991 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Stamm 1992a).

29 June 1993 (1) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr. [notes]; Monroe and Stamm 1993c).

26 October 1997 (1) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

14 April 1998 (1) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Fekel 1998c).

26 August 1998 (4) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

21 October 1998 (1 [plus 1 Sterna sp.]) Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Michael A. Sanders, Graham S. Kash).

3 May 1999 (17) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Stedman 2006-2010).

24 April/11 May 2001 (1/1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

28–29 July 2001 (1) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (David Chaffin, Stephen J. Stedman).

8/10 August 2001 (1/2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

4 September 2001 (x) X, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky (David L. Roemer unpublished data).

11 May 2002 (1) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Ginger K. Ensor et al.; Casteel 2002c), a Spring Bird Count record.

17/26 August 2002 (1/2) Fishing Creek/Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2003a [first record only]).

22 September 2002 (20) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2003a).

16 November 2002 (2) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton et al. [Somerset Bird Club members]; Busroe 2003a).

9 April 2003 (1) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Thomas M. Saya).

24 April 2003 (1) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

27 September 2003 (6) Corbin Bend Rd., Green River Wildlife Management Area, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton, Linda McClendon et al. [Somerset Bird Club members] unpublished data).

17 April 2004 (3) Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman).

26 April/9 May 2004 (5/2) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

8 September 2004 (x) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Janie C. Finch).

8 September 2004 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

13 October 2004 (1) Macedonia Pond, White County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman; Casteel 2005a).

12/23 April/5 May 2005 (2/1/4) Fishing Creek Recreation Area/Fishing Creek Recreation Area/Pulaski County Park, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

21 August 2005 (1) Cumberland River near mouth of Indian Creek, Smith County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Winston A. Walden).

29 August 2005 (3) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

24 September 2005 (4) Lake Cumberland, Russell County, Kentucky ([KOS members]; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006a [mentioned under Common Tern]).

19/29 April 2006 (1/3) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

4 August 2006 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2007a).

27 August 2006 (8) lake at Tompkinsville City Park, Monroe County, Kentucky (Stephen J. Stedman photo, Winston A. Walden; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2007a).

27/29 August 2006 (5/2) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

11 October 2006 (2) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

25 October 2007 (an unspecified portion of c. 80 Sterna sp.) Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky (Aaron Hulsey; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2008a).

19 July/26 August 2008 (4/2) Plum Point, Green River backwaters, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

6 September 2008 (1) Green River Wildlife Management Area, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

13 April 2009 (6) Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

1/15 May 2009 (12/2) Lake Cumberland State Resort Park/Rowena Rd., Russell County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton unpublished data).

26 July 2009 (1) lake at Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, Van Buren County, Tennessee (David F. Vogt).

30 August 2009 (6) across Cumberland River from mouth of Indian Creek, Jackson County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman).

6 September 2009 (2) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton).

16 October 2009 (1) lake at Cane Creek Park, Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman).

16 November 2009  (several) "gull roost" near Mason's Island, Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky (David L. Roemer).

14 April 2010 (2) Floating Mill Recreation Area, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman unpubl. data).

18 August 2010 (4) Lake Tansi, Cumberland County, Tennessee (Edmund K. LeGrand photo).

10 April 2011 (1) Center Hill Lake, DeKalb County, Tennessee (Melina Welton).

Out-of-Season Records (brackets [ ] indicate a record unsupported by details): 

18 February 1998 (1) Barren River Reservoir, Barren/Allen counties, Kentucky (David L. Roemer; Busroe 1998b).

[16 December 2009 (1) Lake Tansi, Cumberland County, Tennessee (David Chaffin), an eBird record (but with no details, so the sighting is not accepted as valid, though that status could easily be changed if the observer amended the eBird checklist).]

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring: 9 April 2003 (Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman, Thomas M. Saya; but see also Out-of-Season Records)–15 May 2009 (Russell County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

    Fall: 29 June 1993 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Jackie B. Elmore, Sr.)–16 November 2002 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton et al.) and 16 November 2009 (Barren County, Kentucky; David L. Roemer; but see also Out-of-Season Records).

    Note: Regional dates of earliest reported spring arrival and latest reported spring departure, as well as earliest reported fall arrival and latest reported fall departure, for the migration seasons 2002–2011 follow:

* But see also Out-of-Season Records.

Habitat: Bodies of open water of all sizes, but most likely to be attracted to the larger, impounded lakes of the Region.

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Remarks: The tern with the largest number of Regional records (58+), the Forster's is, however, not quite the most widely distributed tern of the Region, that honor going to the Black Tern, which has been sighted in more counties (14) than the Forster's (13).  Typically the latest departing tern during fall, the Forster's is the only tern to be recorded during winter in the Region.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited