Department of English and Communications, Box 5053
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505

sstedman@tntech.edu

Introduction

Summer in the Upper Cumberland Region (Figure 1) witnessed few novel avian events, perhaps suggesting that we are beginning to get a handle on the way things work avifaunistically in these parts (or that we are just not exploring the Region intensively enough).

Weather

    Weather during the season began with a general continuation of the dry conditions that prevailed during most of the previous season.  Thunderstorms such as one occurring 19 June in the Cookeville area occasionally alleviated the dry conditions, but mostly those conditions prevailed during the entire month of June.  Early July saw a continuation of the droughty conditions of June, and dry conditions persisted across much of the Region into late July.  A period of seasonally cool temperatures began 21 July and lasted about a week.

Survey Efforts

    Breeding Bird Surveys, point counts, and other bird-monitoring efforts were continued in the Region this season.  For a look at some of the monitoring results from this season (summarized for some species in the accounts below), click on an appropriate link below:

• Frozen Head State Natural Area Cerulean Warbler Survey 2007
• Point Counts for CERWs in Western Putnam County
• UCR Breeding Bird Survey Data 2007

Onset of the Fall 2007 Migration

    Arrival dates for some fall migrants, especially among the shorebirds, occur as early as July, sometimes even late June; a page with early dates of arrival for migrant species during "fall" 2007 may be viewed at the following link:

• Early and Late Dates of Arrival and Departure for Fall 2007

White County Foray

    Results of the White County Foray (25-28 May 2007), chronologically an event that occurred during the previous season, are discussed in this report when they are relevant to the breeding season; for foray results relevant to the spring migration, see the Spring 2007 UCR Bird Report. A link to the foray results, including numerous maps, is provided below:

• 2007 White County Foray Results

    Of particular interest were foray results pointing to both general and specific changes of the avifauna in White County--and probably in much of the surrounding Region--over the past quarter century.  Recognition of these changes was made possible primarily because an earlier foray was conducted in White County 28-31 May 1982, allowing comparison of the results of the two events.

    The 1982 White County Foray resulted in detection of 8001 individuals of 98 species including 2 migrants, while the 2007 White County Foray resulted in detection of 11284 individuals of 106 species including 4 migrants. Despite somewhat better coverage of the county in 1982 (see next paragraph), substantially fewer individuals and slightly fewer species were recorded then.  It seems safe to say that the slight increase in the number of species recorded and the substantial increase in the number of individuals recorded (and probably the increase in the number of individuals recorded per hour of effort) do not betoken an overall impoverishment of the county's avifauna during the course of twenty-five years.

    Note: the contours of the 38 tracts into which White County was divided during the 1982 White County Foray differed considerably from the contours of the 50 quadrangle-based blocks into which the county was divided in 2007.  Furthermore, coverage of the county was better during the 1982 foray, when 36 of 38 tracts received some coverage, than it was during the 2007 foray, when 37 of 50 blocks received some coverage.  The total hours of effort expended in 1982 was at least 87--probably somewhat more than that, but the exact figure is difficult to compute based on the field cards and other materials submitted by the 1982 participants--while the total hours of effort expended in 2007 was 99.  Because of these differences--some perhaps minor but others probably not so--comparison of the number for each species counted during the 1982 White County Foray with the number for each species counted during the 2007 White County Foray needs to be undertaken with due caution, and many summarizing comments made in the species accounts below about changes in population number for various species in White County--and the surrounding Region--should be viewed as tentative, albeit highly probable.

    Species found during the 1982 foray in White County but not found during the 2007 foray, indicating a likely change in their status in the county--and probably in the Region--were Ruffed Grouse, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Horned Lark, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole.  Except for the lark and Yellow Warbler, all of these are now very uncommon to rare breeders in the Region.  The presence of these five species during the 1982 foray and their absence during the 2007 foray suggest they are all present in even lower density today than they were in 1982.

    Species found during the 2007 foray in White County but not found during the 1982 foray, also indicating a likely change in their status in the county--and probably in the Region--were Mallard, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Great Horned Owl, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, House Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, American Redstart, Henslow's Sparrow, and House Finch.  With a few exceptions--Mallard, Great Horned Owl, Blue-winged Warbler, and American Redstart--these are species that have either undergone a substantial increase in population numbers over the past quarter century or that have newly colonized the Region (or both) during that period. The foray data for most of these species substantially bolster other Regional data collected about them during the past two decades.

    Among species found in White County during each of the two forays, several were found in much greater numbers during 1982 than during 2007, indicating a likely decrease in their population size in the county--and possibly in the surrounding Region--over the course of the quarter-century interval between the forays: Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Whip-poor-will, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Loggerhead Shrike, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Gray Catbird, and Prairie Warbler.  See the paragraphs devoted to each of those species below for a discussion of the foray results for each.

    Among species found in White County during each of the two forays, several were found in much smaller numbers during 1982 than during 2007, indicating a likely increase in their population size in the county--and possibly in the surrounding Region--over the course of the quarter-century interval between the forays: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal.   See the paragraphs devoted to each of those species below for a discussion of the foray results for each.

    Foray results from 1982 and 2007 allow us to "see" many changes in the White County avifauna and quite possibly in the Regional avifauna; these results would not have been possible without the efforts of the sixteen observers who took part in the 1982 foray and the sixteen different observers who took part in the 2007 foray (see Acknowledgments [below] for a list of all the observers on this year's foray, and see the summary page for the White County Foray [link above] for a list of observers during the 1982 foray).  Much is owed these individuals for their willingness to devote a long week-end of their lives to collecting bird data; without their efforts our understanding of the Regional bird situation would be the poorer.

Abbreviations:  † = written documentation provided; ad = adult; BBS = Breeding Bird Survey; BSFNRRA = Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area; CTSP = Cumberland Trail State Park; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; KY = Kentucky; NPS = National Park Service; OWSR = Obed Wild and Scenic River; SNA = State Natural Area; SRS = Summer Roadside Survey, Putnam County, Tennessee; TN = Tennessee; UCR = Upper Cumberland Region; USGS = United States Geological Survey; y = young. 

Acknowledgments

    Many thanks to the observers cited below who provided records directly or indirectly for this report.

    To the following for assistance with the White County Foray, many thanks are especially due: Sharon Brines, Wally Brines, Daniel L. Combs, Douglas A. Downs (co-compiler), Judy C. Fuson, Michael J. Hawkins, Tom Howe, Nancy S. Layzer, Joseph E. Mast, Laura J. McCall, Peter Moyer, Michael P. O'Rourke, Stephen J. Stedman (co-compiler), David J. Trently, Winston A. Walden, and Carol D. Williams.

    Many thanks are also due to Keith Pardieck (Breeding Bird Survey, USGS) and other USGS personnel who provided basic materials to those conducting federal BBSs in the Region; and thanks are also due to the USGS  for maintaining the BBS website where many BBS data (collected by many dozens of volunteer route runners) are accessible to those interested in the breeding status of Kentucky and Tennessee birds.

    Sadly, bird-monitoring efforts going back to the early 1990s in the Daniel Boone National Forest, KY, were suspended, or at least reduced, during summer 2007, threatening to undo many good results of monitoring efforts of the past decade.  It can only be hoped that the USDA--Forest Service will resume its bird-monitoring efforts on the Daniel Boone, now designated as an Important Bird Area, in the near future.

Waterfowl through Gallinaceous Species

The number of Canada Geese counted during the 1982 White County Foray (2) was considerably surpassed by the number counted during the 2007 White County Foray (157), confirming what everyone knows to be true, that Canadas have vastly increased in population number since the early 1980s, when the effort to introduce (or reintroduce) non-migratory geese was just underway.

    The male Redhead that remained on Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, through the end of the spring 2007 season continued its stay at that site until at least 22 June 2007 (RMD).

    A nicely photographed juvenile Hooded Merganser was present on Clifty Pond, Pulaski Co., KY, 25 June 2007 (RMD photo).

    A Ruffed Grouse was flushed along the Spicewood Branch Trail in Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 10 July 2007 (MEH), indicating continued presence of this slowly decreasing species at that site.  One grouse was recorded on the 1982 White County Foray, but none could be located during its 2007 counterpart, also indicating a likely diminishment of its population during the intervening quarter century that is consistent with the negative population trend (-1.2%/year) emerging from an analysis of the species' continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    The Wild Turkey was not recorded during the 1982 White County Foray, but it was detected in small numbers in nine blocks--all located in the eastern, higher-elevation section of the county--during the 2007 White County Foray, indicating a moderately great increase in the species' population during the interval between forays; however, this increase still appears to be smaller than would be expected based on the highly positive trend (+11.6%/year) reflected by the species' continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).  Turkeys were also recorded on at least 6 of the 8 federal BBS routes conducted within the Region, the largest number of routes with registrations ever and another indication of the species' burgeoning Regional population.

    Contrasting dramatically with the increase in Wild Turkeys that took place in White County from 1982 to 2007 was the decrease in numbers of Northern Bobwhite from 1982 (131) to 2007 (63) during the respective forays; this worrisome decrease is quite consistent with the negative trend (-2.8%/year) occurring at the continental level based on the species' BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

Loons through Herons

Unrecorded during the 1982 White County Foray, Great Blue Herons were widely distributed in moderate numbers (21) during the 2007 White County Foray, a result fully consistent with the species' positive population trend (+2.6%/year) as calculated from continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000); however, a small but long-standing heronry along the Caney Fork River in the Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness was inactive during 2007, and only one very old used nest revealed that there had ever been a heronry present at the site (SJS, DLC); no other heronries were detected in the county during the 2007 foray although there must now be several heronries located in White County along the Caney Fork River below--and perhaps also above--Great Falls (Rock Island State Park).

    Three Great Egrets at a pond along Flat Fork Rd., Morgan Co., TN, 19 & 21 July 2007 (MEH photo) were the first "fall" dispersers to be reported Regionally.

    First this "fall" Regionally was an immature Little Blue Heron on Casey Creek, Adair Co., KY, 24 July 2007 (RMD).

    An adult Black-crowned Night-Heron was observed at Hurricane Marina, Center Hill Lake, DeKalb Co., TN, 28 June 2007 (CDW), a site where this rarish species in the Region has been detected during breeding seasons in the past, but so far no nest or rookery has been confirmed, though the presence of juveniles during late summer has strongly indicated local breeding. Another adult Black-crown was photographed along the Obey River below the Dale Hollow Dam, Clay Co., TN, 21 July 2007 (GG photo fide TMC), a site where the species has not been previously reported but where it would seem like a possible breeder also.

New World Vultures through Coot

An Osprey over Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 10 June 2007 (RMD) was quite noteworthy, suggesting that a locally breeding pair might have been involved.  A survey of four Jackson Co., TN, Osprey nest sites 15 June 2007 (NSL, CDW) produced the following results: 

Sugar Creek--one ad sitting on the nest with a second ad on a nearby pole.
Jackson County High School--one ad sitting on the nest.
Jackson County Fairgrounds--one ad sitting on the nest, and at least one y, probably two, in the nest.
Camp Discovery--one ad and one y in the nest.

The same nest sites were surveyed 2 July 2007 (NSL) with the following results:

Sugar Creek--one ad and one y (NSL photo) in the nest.  Eventually a third Osprey landed in the nest, then took off.  Then the ad flew from the nest, followed by the y.  The three flew overhead, over the road, and over the cliff, and were joined by a fourth Osprey; the four flew northward out of sight, leaving the nest empty.
Jackson County High School--none in or near the nest.
Jackson County Fairgrounds--one ad with two y (NSL photo) in the nest atop the light pole.
Camp Discovery--one y was on the high-tension pole, being harassed by a kestrel; eventually an ad landed on the nest on the lower pole and then left.  The ad and y did not interact.

The same nest sites were visited 20 July 2007 (NSL) with these results:

Sugar Creek--two present (age not determined).
Jackson County High School--none present (but two noted near this site 22 July 2007).
Jackson County Fairgrounds--three present (age not determined).
Camp Discovery--three present (two in nest and one on high tension pole).

Ospreys were also observed at three other Jackson Co., TN, sites--Jackson County Industrial Park (1 on 20 July) , Roaring River Boat Ramp (2 on 20 July and 1 on 22 July), and Cumberland River mile marker 354.6 (2 on 22 July)--during and just after the last survey listed above (NSL, JL), suggesting that the full complement of nest sites in Jackson County numbers more than the four we currently know about.

    An immature Bald Eagle with an adult 6 July 2007 at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Barren Co., KY (MV fide DLR), and another immature 13 July 2007 at Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY (RMD), suggested possible local breeding near each site; this suggestion was confirmed at the former site during January 2008 when a report was obtained of an eagle nest's being present in nearby Allen Co., KY, during the summer of 2007 (DR fide DLR); see the Winter 2006-2007 UCR Bird Report for a brief discussion of Regional Bald Eagle breeding at Dale Hollow Lake.

    The number of Cooper's Hawks recorded during the 1982 White County Foray (2) was exceeded by the number recorded during the 2007 version (9) of this event, a result that is quite consistent with the positive trend (+5.4%/year) in this raptor's continental population number based on BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    The continental population trend (0%/year) of the American Kestrel has been quite "flat" based on BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), and this flatness is given support by kestrel numbers tallied during the 1982 (27) and 2007 (26) White County forays.  It should be pointed out, however, that the number of breeding kestrels in adjacent, more populated, and more homogenically modified Putnam County underwent a reduction of about 75% from 1991 to 2006, based on results of a Summer Roadside Survey. 

    An American Coot was observed at a large pond located on Kelly Lane, Bledsoe Co., TN, 21 June 2007 (SJS); it could swim well, but it was probably unable to fly.

Shorebirds through Terns

Two adult American Avocets at Boiling Pond, Pete Felton Rd., White Co., TN, 28 July 2007 (DAD photo, SJS photo) were the first to be reported in the Region this "fall"; besides providing the ninth Regional record, they also tied the early fall arrival date for the Region and were the first of their kind recorded in White County.

    Earliest ever during "fall" in Pulaski Co., KY,  a Spotted Sandpiper was noted at Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, 3 July 2007 (RMD).

    A Solitary Sandpiper with a "droopy" wing, indicating that it may have been injured, was present on Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 23  June 2007 (RMD), and the same bird was noted at the same site 3 & 7 July 2007 (RMD); another Solitary, the first true migrant of the "fall," was located on Flat Fork Rd., Morgan Co., TN, 9-10 July 2007 (MEH).

    Returning to the Region quite early, a Greater Yellowlegs at Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski Co., KY, 30 June 2007 (RMD) was earliest ever during "fall" in that county.

    Earliest ever during "fall" in Pulaski Co., KY,  a Least Sandpiper was noted at Fishing Creek, Lake Cumberland, 3 July 2007 (RMD).

    The first Black Tern of the "fall" Regionally was being harassed by swallows on Casey Creek, Adair Co., KY, 28 July 2007 (RMD).

Doves through Vireos

Four Eurasian Collared-Doves were registered in Monticello during the running of the Sunnybrook BBS, Wayne Co., KY, 9 June 2007 (SJS), the first time that collared-doves have been counted on that BBS route, although they were first reported in that county several years ago.  Seven collared-doves were noted singly or in pairs in and north of Pikeville, Bledsoe Co., TN, 21 June 2007 (SJS), indicating that their breeding season was still underway.  Only one collared-dove was recorded (in Sparta where the species was first noted in the county several years ago) during the 2007 White County Foray, but that figure still denotes the species' presence; no collared-doves were noted during the 1982 White County Foray, which took place more than a decade before the arrival of this self-introduced exotic columbid in Tennessee.

    The pair of Barn Owls that nested in an artificial nest box near Hidden Dr., Mayland, Cumberland Co., TN, last season (see Spring 2007 UCR Bird Report) continued to raise its young into June 2007 (JEM); by 20 June 2007 several of the young were nearing adult size (JEM, SJS); by 14 July 2007 all the young were adult size and still in the nest box (JEM); the last of these young left the box 1 August 2007 (JEM).  Continuing a string of sightings dating back to August 2006, a Barn Owl was noted in a barn near Science Hill, Pulaski Co., KY, 5 June 2007 (RMD).

    A Common Nighthawk "constructed" a nest in the lot of a tractor sales business in northern Crossville, Cumberland Co., TN, during the latter half of May 2007; the "nest" and two eggs were photographed there 12 June 2007 (JEM photo).

    Eastern Whip-poor-wills were abundant in eastern White County during the 1982 White County Foray (110) but considerably fewer in number in the same area during the 2007 White County Foray (12), a decrease that is alarming and somewhat consistent with the negative trend (-1.9%/year) resulting from analysis of continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000)--and very consistent with the highly negative trend (-22.5%/year) resulting from analysis of continental BBS data 1998-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).  It should be pointed out that the population of Whip-poor-wills in the BSFNRRA, an area that has not undergone much homogenic habitat change since it was established in the 1970s, seems much more stable than the one in White County, at least to judge from night surveys conducted in that park 1997-2006 (S. Stedman data).

    The number of Chimney Swifts counted during the 1982 White County Foray (134) was substantially greater than the number counted during the 2007 White County Foray (73), indicating a reduction of about 45% in its county  population.  The decrease in swift numbers in White County from the first foray to the second coincides with a negative trend (-1.4%/year) in the species' continental population as reflected by BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), and it almost exactly mirrors the decrease in swift numbers counted in adjacent Putnam County during Summer Roadside Surveys conducted in that county 1991-2006.

    An albino Ruby-throated Hummingbird was noted from late July through early August 2007 in a yard at Temple Hill, Barren Co., KY (GB photo).  Ruby-throats were more abundant during the 2007 White County Foray than during the 1982 foray, greatly owing to a concentration of birds reported at feeders on Walnut Grove Rd. (WB, SB) in the northern part of that county.

    Numbers of all woodpecker species counted during the White County Forays were fairly similar from 1982 to 2007.  Red-headed Woodpecker and Northern Flicker numbers decreased slightly; Red-bellied, Downy, and Pileated woodpecker numbers increased slightly; and the Hairy Woodpecker numbers remained virtually unchanged.

    Based on raw data from the forays in White County, the population of Acadian Flycatchers in that county remained almost unchanged from 1982 (66) to 2007 (63), a result that is not inconsistent with the slight positive trend (+0.3%/year) revealed in its continental population based on BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000); however, a closer look at the 1982 White County Foray data for this species reveals that 23 Acadians were counted along a 16-km (10-mi) stretch of the Calfkiller River south of Sparta by observers in a canoe; this total is one-third of all Acadians counted during the 1982 foray, a concentration of birds not evidenced during the 2007 foray when, however, no canoe survey was conducted.

    Two Willow Flycatchers were noted 31 May-1 June 2007 on Joe Tabor Rd. near Drowning Creek, Cumberland Co., TN (KLM), a site where the species has not been reported before, but the site is not too far east of sites where the species has been regularly reported in recent years, including the Campbell Farm near Mayland, Cumberland Co., TN, where two singing and two nonsinging Willows were noted 20 June 2007 (JEM, SJS), and the Mast Farm on Bud Tanner Rd., also near Mayland, Cumberland Co., TN, where one singer was heard 20 June 2007 (SJS, JEM).  One singing Willow at stop 35 of the Oliver Springs BBS, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 (SJS) was at a stop where this flycatcher has been registered during previous runs of that BBS.  A calling Willow near Creelsboro, Russell Co., KY, 24 July 2007 (RMD) was the last reported this "fall" around the Region.

    An adult Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was observed on Booher Lane, Monroe, Overton Co., TN, 9 June 2007 (SC), providing the first record for that county and the 9th for the Region  Continuing the spring 2007 record (8th Regionally), two adult Scissor-tails with three young in a nest were noted 16 June 2007 on Ninemile Crossroad, Bledsoe Co., TN (HB, DS, RS), a site that has now hosted a nesting pair of Scissor-tails during at least five of the last eight breeding seasons; this pair was again observed 21 June 2007 (SJS) when one fledgling Scissor-tail was seen out of the nest and at least one other fledgling was seen still in the nest; an adult was still present in the area 28 July 2007 (MR).  At a location on Lower East Valley Rd., Bledsoe Co., TN, about 20 km (12 mi) away from the Ninemile Crossroad nesting site, another adult Scissor-tail, probably a female judging by its shortish tail, was found 21 June 2007 (SJS), but no evidence of breeding was noted in association with that sighting, the 10th Regionally.

    Breeding evidence for Loggerhead Shrike continued to be observed on Student's Home Rd., DeKalb Co., TN, in early June (JuF) when two pairs with young were noted at that site; adult shrikes were also noted at two sites on County House Rd. in the same county 5,6, & 11 June 2007 (JuF), and one of the adults was accompanied by a begging juvenile on the first of those dates; shrike breeding evidence was also noted on Mason Grissom Rd., Warren Co., TN, 11 June 2007 (SNM, MM) when a pair with two begging juveniles was observed.  During the 2007 White County Foray only one shrike was recorded, compared to 15 counted during the 1982 White County Foray, a decrease that is completely consonant with the negative trend (-3.6%/year) in the continental shrike population reflected by BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), as well as by evidence for a significant decline in shrike numbers derived from the Summer Roadside Survey and Winter Roadside Survey in nearby Putnam County, Tennessee; it should be noted that the amount of effort expended to find shrikes during the 2007 White County Foray was somewhat less than sufficient to locate all  the shrikes probably remaining in that county; however, even a thorough search of all sites known to have harbored shrikes during the past few years would probably not have revealed more than five shrikes, well below the total achieved in 1982.   See Appendix A (below) for the paltry list of all Regional shrike sightings this season.

    Blue-headed Vireos showed a considerably greater presence during the 2007 White County Foray (13) than during the 1982 counterpart (1), an increase that correlates well with the species' positive continental population trend (+4.8%/year) as reflected by  BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    The number of Red-eyed Vireos recorded during the 2007 White County Foray (517) was more than double the number recorded during the 1982 White County Foray (244), an encouraging result of the foray effort.  This result is also somewhat consistent with the species' positive continental trend (+1.2%/year) as revealed by BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), but it needs to be pointed out that the trend for the Red-eye based on 1998-1999 BBS data was only +0.3%/year, indicating a recent downturn in the trend--and this downturn is perhaps reflected by data collected around the UCR in recent years (see Regional BBS data for 1998-2006 and particularly BSFNRRA BBS data for 1997-2006).

Corvids through Waxwing

Blue Jay numbers on the 1982 and 2007 White County Forays were exactly the same--128--indicating no likely change in its population status during the intervening quarter century (and as yet no change from such factors as West Nile Virus, known to be affecting northeastern populations of jays in a negative manner).

    Numbers of the common swallows--Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Barn Swallow--counted during the 1982 and 2007 White County Forays underwent a fairly substantial reduction at the same time that the two more uncommon swallows [see next two paragraphs] were increasing, a puzzling circumstance, but one that is roughly mirrored by the change in these species' numbers on the Summer Roadside Surveys in adjacent Putnam County from 1991 to 2006.

    Tree Swallows went unrecorded during the 1982 White County Foray, while 27 were tallied in nine widely distributed blocks during the 2007 White County Foray, displaying quite well the general increase in this swallow's population number over the intervening quarter century.  These results are roughly consistent with the moderately positive trend (+0.5%/year) in the species' population number derived from continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    Cliff Swallow was undetected during the 1982 White County Foray, but quite expectedly this swallow was detected during the 2007 White County Foray, albeit in only three blocks, including two sites where a major watercourse--the Caney Fork River--is crossed by a roadway bridge.  Cliff Swallow has been undergoing long-term population increase in Tennessee, and its continental population trend (+1.2%/year 1966-1999; Pardieck and Sauer 2000) has long been positive.

    Numbers of Carolina Chickadees counted during the 1982 (110) and 2007 (127) White County Forays were not substantially different, despite the existence of a somewhat negative trend (-0.9%/year) for this species on continental BBSs 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer), but numbers of Tufted Titmice counted during the 1982 White County Foray (130) were notably lower than the number counted during the 2007 White County Foray (225), a result that is fairly consistent with the fairly positive trend (+1.0%/year) in titmouse numbers on continental BBSs 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).  Foray results in White County for these species do not bear close resemblance to the Summer Roadside Survey results from Putnam County, where each of these species decreased quite a bit from 1991 to 2006.

    The number of White-breasted Nuthatches counted during the 1982 White County Foray (14) was considerably fewer than the number counted during the 2007 White County Foray (87), indicating a considerable increase in that species' county population during the intervening quarter century; this increase correlates well with the positive trend (+2%/year) in the species' continental population resulting from analysis of BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    A single Brown-headed Nuthatch was observed at a feeder near a house beside fairway 15 on the Cookeville Golf Course, Putnam Co., TN, 27 June and 4 & 7 July 2007 (DN), the only site around the Region known to harbor this rare permanent resident.

    Carolina Wrens were much more numerous during the 2007 White County Foray (281) than during the 1982 White County Foray (75); this change in population density greatly exceeds the population increase that might be expected from the somewhat positive trend (+1.0%/year) for this species on continental BBSs 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), making it important to consider other sources contributing to it; the likely factor leading to the nearly fourfold increase in Carolina Wrens from 1982 to 2007 is climate change: the wren population in 1982 was probably recovering from severe losses caused by very cold winters in the late 1970s, while the wren population in 2007 was the beneficiary of nearly a decade of winters that were warmer than "normal" or no colder than "normal."  However, other cold sensitive species, such as Eastern Bluebird, did not undergo the same increase in population number that was true of the Carolina Wren, suggesting still other factors were at work.

    The House Wren was not recorded during the 1982 White County Foray, while 27 were widely distributed during the 2007 White County Foray, results that reflect the species' long-term "invasion" from the north and its subsequent dramatic population increase during the quarter-century interval between the forays; the foray results are also consistent with the species' positive trend (+1.2%/year) on continental BBSs 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).  Of interest was the fact that the White County block with the highest density of House Wrens was located in the DeRossett quadrangle on the Cumberland Plateau (see the map for this species in the 2007 White County Foray summary [link in Introduction]).

    Eastern Bluebird numbers counted during the 1982 White County Foray (372) were almost identical to numbers counted during the 2007 White County Foray (370).  Why this species' population was the same during each of these periods despite likely differences in climate conditions during those periods remains unexplained, unless availability of food resources might do so.

    One calling and two singing Veeries were heard 3 June 2007 at an elevation of c. 900 m (c. 3000 ft) along the upper portion of the jeep road in Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN (SJS); this site has hosted small to moderate numbers of Veeries during the breeding season for many years.  Two calling Veeries were heard at 2015 CDT at an elevation of about 750 m (2500 ft) on Dorton Knob, Brady Mountain, CTSP, Cumberland Co., TN, 21 June 2007 (SJS, AFM, JEM); this site harbored four singing Veeries during summer 2005 and four singers during summer 2006 (Mast and Stedman 2006) and is the same site where the species was also reported singing (AT) in a year prior to 2005 (Mast and Stedman 2006); it is worth noting that a morning search on Dorton Knob 12 June 2007 (JEM, SJS) produced no Veery observations, indicating that late evening is the best time to monitor this population of Veeries, as is true for many others.

    Despite a negative continental population trend (-1.9%/year) revealed by analysis of BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000), the Wood Thrush population in White County, as reflected by foray data, remained remarkably stable from 1982 (66) to 2007 (65).  The number (121) of this continentally decreasing songbird counted on Regional BBSs was the highest it has been in over a decade by a considerable margin; see the results of these surveys (link above).

Warblers

Five Blue-winged Warblers were counted during the 2007 White County Foray, but no Golden-winged Warblers were detected, the reverse of the situation that prevailed during the 1982 White County Foray when no Blue-wings and four Golden-wings were counted.  Blue-wings have been known to interbreed with and replace Golden-wings in some areas of the latter's breeding range, so this may be what has happened or is happening in White County.

    Two Chestnut-sided Warblers were registered for the first time on the Monticello BBS, DBNF, McCreary Co., KY, 10 June 2007 (SJS).  About 10 Chestnut-sides, including an ad with food for y, were counted in the vicinity of Dorton Knob, Brady Mountain, CTSP, Cumberland Co., TN, 12 June 2007 (SJS, JEM).  This species was not detected during the 1982 or the 2007 foray in White County although habitat for it certainly exists in that county.

    Two singing Black-throated Blue Warblers were noted along the upper reaches of the North Old Mac Trail, Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 (SJS), revealing the continued presence of a small population of this rare Regional breeder at that site.

    Eleven singing Blackburnian Warblers were counted along the jeep road in Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 (SJS), a site where this species has been present in small to moderate numbers during early June of most years for over a decade.

    The Prairie Warbler underwent a considerable decrease in population number from the 1982 White County Foray (126) to the 2007 White County Foray (43), probably a result of overall habitat loss resulting from successional changes during the quarter-century interval between forays, but this decrease also corresponds reasonably well with the species' negative population trend (-2.3%/year) resulting from analysis of continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    A 16-km (10-mi) walking transect in Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 yielded a count of 35 Cerulean Warblers, up two from a count made over the same transect in June 2006 but considerably fewer than the 106 counted along the same transect in June 1994.  The results of the walking transect at Frozen Head for 2006 and 2007 are roughly concordant with results from an 80-km (50-mi) driving transect conducted in western Putnam Co., TN, during late May (see Spring 2007 UCR Bird Report), when 28 Ceruleans were counted during each of those years.  Fifty point counts were conducted in western Putnam Co., TN, 5-8 June 2007 (SJS, JCF) and yielded a count of 33 Ceruleans, somewhat bolstering confidence in the ability of the driving transect to monitor Cerulean populations with veracity. A singing Cerulean on Lowe's Gap Rd., Bledsoe Co., TN, 21 June 2007 (SJS) was found along the same road where the species was registered during the June 1987 Bledsoe County Foray.  During the 2007 White County Foray two Ceruleans were detected, compared to one recorded during the 1982 White County Foray, probably indicating no significant change in the population number of Ceruleans in that county during the quarter century between the forays.

    Positive breeding evidence (nest with four y) for Prothonotary Warbler was obtained 3 June 2007 on Upchurch Rd., Smith Co., TN (KH photo), when a nice photograph was captured; this breeding instance also provided the first county record of Prothonotary.  Two Prothonotaries were counted during the 2007 White County Foray, the same number that was counted during the 1982 White County Foray, probably indicating no significant change in the small county population of that parulid during the quarter-century interval between forays; this result is far from statistically robust, but it is not consistent with the negative trend (-1.2%/year) evident from analysis of the Prothonotary's continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    After a spring season devoid of reports of Swainson's Warbler, it was a pleasure to learn that about six were found near Bee Rock, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY, 2 June 2007 (TH et al.). Three Swainson's were noted in the Little Lick area, DBNF, Pulaski Co., KY, 24 June 2007 (RMD), a site where this species has been regularly recorded for over a decade. No Swainson's were detected during the 2007 White County Foray whereas one was noted during the 1982 White County Foray; each number indicates that Swainson's appears to have a minor presence in the county at most despite the presence of some good habitat along the upper Caney Fork River and some of its tributaries.

    One singing Canada Warbler was heard and then seen above the junction with the Panther Branch Trail on the North Old Mac Trail, Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 (SJS), indicating that a small population of this rare breeder persists at that site.

Sparrows through Weaver Finch

Many more Grasshopper Sparrows were recorded during the 2007 White County Foray (34) than during the 1982 event (7), perhaps indicating an increase in the population of this sparrow.  However, differences in weather and consequent differences in the timing of the first hay-mowing period in the county during the two years in question could have easily produced a result that appeared to be the same as the result from an actual change in the species' population number.  If the increase in Grasshopper Sparrows from 1982 to 2007 was real and not an artifact of differences in weather and/or agricultural practices (or other factors) during the two years in question, then it would be quite encouraging because the continental trend (-3.2%/year) for this sparrow on BBSs 1966-1999 was quite negative (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    Henslow's Sparrow was reported this summer from two of its usual breeding sites (Ano strip mines--including 17 counted 16 July 2007 [RMD]--and Science Hill) in Pulaski Co., KY; from one site (Campbell Farm--including 41 counted 7 July 2007 [JEM et al.]) in Cumberland Co., TN; and from two sites (Heritage Marsh and Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness--including 23 counted 7 July 2007 [JEM et al.]) in White Co., TN.  Although not a new county record, 10+ Henslow's in Wayne Co., KY, near Betsey northeast of Monticello 3 July 2007 (CO photo) certainly provided a high count for that county, as well as a new breeding site.  Providing the second Putnam Co., TN, record of Henslow's, the first record having taken place during spring 2007,  was a singer on Spring Creek Rd. 30 July 2007 (SJS).  Not surprisingly, Henslow's Sparrow was unrecorded during the 1982 White County Foray, undoubtedly indicating its absence in that county at that time; the presence of a total of 16 Henslow's at two sites during the 2007 White County Foray indicates a considerable, and somewhat unexpected, upturn in the species' population level--and almost certainly an extension of the species' breeding range--during the course of the quarter century between the two forays.  Given the long-standing and highly negative trend (-7.6%/year) for this sparrow on continental BBSs 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer), the Henslow's situation in the Region is a good one.

    Song Sparrow numbers counted during the 2007 White County Foray (304) underwent a substantial increase over numbers counted during the 1982 White County Foray (120) despite a slightly negative trend (-0.5%/year) in the species' continental population as reflected by analysis of BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000).

    A White-throated Sparrow at City Lake, Putnam Co., TN, 8-20 July 2007 (SJS, BHS) provided just the second summer record for that county (and perhaps for the Region), the first having taken place at the same site during 19 May-1 July 1994 (see the 2nd ed. of Birds of Putnam County, Tennessee); of all the sparrows that winter in the Region, the White-throat is by far the mostly likely to linger into summer.

    Quite unusual was a male "orange variant" Scarlet Tanager observed coming to a feeder on Bullington Lane, Jackson Co., TN, 20 June 2007 (NSL, JL); few sightings of this version of the Scarlet take place and fewer still are reported.

    A calling Rose-breasted Grosbeak was heard on the jeep road above Linlog Branch in Frozen Head SNA, Morgan Co., TN, 3 June 2007 (SJS), and two singing Rose-breasts were noted on Dorton Knob, Brady Mt., CTSP, Cumberland Co., TN, 12 June 2007 (JEM, SJS); the latter site hosted at least one singing Rose-breast during each of the two preceding summer seasons, while the former site has hosted small numbers of this species during the breeding season for many years.

    The number of Orchard Orioles counted during the 1982 White County Foray (53) was almost identical to the number counted during the 2007 White County Foray (57), despite an overall negative trend (-1.5%/year) resulting from analysis of continental BBS data 1966-1999 (Pardieck and Sauer 2000) and despite reductions in the population of Orchard Orioles in adjacent Putnam County, TN, where the species decreased on Summer Roadside Surveys conducted there 1991-2006 (S. and B. Stedman data).

    House Finches invaded Tennessee in the 1970s, but they were still not widely distributed breeders by the time of the 1982 White County Foray, when this western finch was unreported; by contrast, the House Finch was quite widely reported in moderate numbers (55) during the 2007 White County Foray.

Observers: Harold Birch (HB), Glenda Boston (GB), Terry M. Campbell (TMC), Stanley Carter (SC), Daniel L. Combs (DLC), Roseanna M. Denton (RMD), Janie C. Finch (JCF), Judy C. Fuson (JuF), Gary Gilpatrick (GG), Kathy Harville (KH), Michael E. Hodge (MEH), Tim Houghton (TH), James Layzer (JL), Nancy S. Layzer (NSL), Anita F. Mast (AFM), Joseph E. Mast (JEM), Susan N. McWhirter (SNM), Kenneth L. Morgan (KLM), David Narrie (DN), Chelsey Olson (CO), Michele Ramsey (MR), David L. Roemer (DLR), Deryck Rodgers (DR), Debbie Shannon (DS), Roi Shannon (RS), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), Stephen J. Stedman (SJS), Anthony Tate (AT), Mike Vessels (MV).

Literature Cited

Appendix A: Reports of Loggerhead Shrike during Summer 2007 in the Upper Cumberland Region.

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