In the past few weeks there have been some interesting bird sightings in the middle TN area. Fall migration is almost over, however, there is much to see if birdwatching efforts are concentrated around water. Area lakes and rivers, ponds, and backwater, provide winter long opportunities to see ducks, shorebirds and wading birds, and birds rarely seen in this area, like the Long-tailed Jaeger and American Avocet.
The Long-tailed Jaeger was witnessed on October 27 by Graham Gerdeman, a very active local birder, and later by several area TOS birdwatchers. The Long-tailed Jaeger is truly a rare bird for this area. Its breeding range is in the high arctic tundra, building their nests on the ground, far from the sea. They feed heavily on lemmings (small rodents), but are very much omnivorous. In smaller amounts their diet consists of young birds, berries, and insects. In the non-breeding season the Jaeger is found on the open ocean, from the Gulf Stream to the continental shelf break in oceans of the Southern Hemisphere off Australia, South America, and Africa. This is a bird that migrates great distances. While wintering on the ocean their diet consists of fish and invertebrates, alive or dead.
American Avocets have been seen in a number of locations around TN including Old Hickory Lake. American Avocets are almost unmistakable. They are about 18” in length with very long legs and have a very long, thin black bill that is upturned at the tip. This bill is a specialized tool that serves them very well as they forage for crustaceans and aquatic insects. As they move forward they sweep and probe the bill back and forth finding food by feel. American Avocets are found west of the Mississippi river during the summer breeding period, often nesting on dikes or islands on the ground with little or no nesting material. During fall migration they sweep down to Central America and along the Gulf coast.
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Other birds to see around area bodies of water include Common and Red-throated Loon, White Pelicans, Northern Shoveler, Black-bellied Whistling ducks, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Bald Eagle, Grebes, and American Coots, to name a few. As the cooler weather sets in think about getting bundled up and going out to do some birding instead of sitting around.
The Tennessee Ornithological Society is a great source of help for beginning birders. Try attending a TOS meeting and go on a field trip. Each year TOS holds a Christmas Bird Count. It’s a fun activity for birders of all skill levels. Check it out. www.tnbirds.org