Results of Bird Inventory at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee, Fall 2004-Summer 2005

Rock Wren at Point Park on Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park, Hamilton County, Tennessee, 5 November 1965; photo Mack S. Prichard.

Under contract with the National Park Service, Kevin A. Calhoon (KAC), Barbara H. Stedman (BHS), and Stephen J. Stedman (SJS) conducted a bird inventory of this park service unit for each season of the year, beginning the inventory during the fall of 2004 and completing it at the end of summer 2006.

   If you have data about any bird species not noted below or for any seasons without records in the table below, even if from a year before 2004, please contact us at the following e-mail address with the particulars of the sighting, including as accurate a date as possible:

                sstedman@tntech.edu

    Fall 2004 data were collected by KAC (+), BHS (*), and SJS (#) on the following dates: 30 August 2004 (*#+), 9-10, 14, 18, 24, 26-27, 29 (+) September 2004; 4-5, 10, 12 (+), 13 (*), 14 (*+), 18-19, 24-25, 30-31 October (+) 2004; 5, 8 (+), 14 (*), and 15 November (*+) 2004; x = present during season on at least one of the dates indicated.

    Winter 2004-2005 data were collected by KAC and BHS (or both) on the following dates: 2, 5, 12 ,13, 18, 19, 20 December 2004; 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 January 2005; 2, 6, 7, 15, 16, 27, and 28 February 2005; x = present during season on at least one of the dates indicated.

    Spring 2005 data were collected by KAC and BHS  (or both) on the following dates: 3, 20, 21, 24, 25, and 31 March 2005; 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 24, and 25 April 2005; 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, and 30 May 2005; x = present during season on at least one of the dates indicated.

    Summer 2005 data were collected by KAC and BHS on the following dates: 5-7, 10-13, and 26 June and 4, 7, 9-10, 17, 19, 24, 26, and 31 July 2005.  Point count data for 67 species were collected from 40 plots covered once each for 10 minutes during late May and early to mid-June.  x = present during season on at least one of the dates indicated.

    Codes for breeding evidence follow (a date is provided with codes for probable and confirmed breeding):

        Possible Breeders:

            X = present

        Probable Breeders:

            T = territorial (present at same site on dates at least a week apart)
            P = pair
            A = agitated behavior (presumably near nest or young)
            C = courtship or copulation

        Confirmed Breeders:

            DD = distraction display
            CN = adult carrying nest material
            NB = adult building nest
            UN = used nest
            FY = adult carrying food for young
            BG = begging young
            FL = fledged young
              FS = fecal sac removed from nest by adult
            ON = adult on nest incubating
            NE = nest with eggs
            NY = nest with young

    To view a preliminary checklist of species recorded at Chattanooga and Chickamauga N. M. P. during the inventory, as well as species recorded during previous years, click on the following link:

• Checklist of Birds of Chattanooga and Chickamauga N. M. P.

   The following table summarizes bird inventory work at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park for seasons from fall 2004 through summer 2005.

Nest and eggs of Eastern Phoebe, photographed under Lytle Bridge, Chickamauga NMP, Catoosa Co., GA, 18 April 2005; photo Kevin A. Calhoon.

    Thanks are due all personnel in the Resource Management Office and the Rangers Office at Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park for vital assistance with logistical support of this bird inventory.