On Saturday, April 26, McCoy Farm & Gardens invites you to take a walk and identify birds with Kevin Calhoon, curator of forests at the Tennessee Aquarium. Meet Calhoon and other friends in the gravel parking lot at 8 a.m. There is no charge.
Bring your binoculars, digital camera, or mobile phone and catch the “early birds” at their active period when they are hungry and looking for breakfast and are calling out their territorial songs. Early spring also marks a great opportunity to catch them on their migratory flights.
Everyone is welcome. To those who have never joined a guided bird walk, we encourage you to come and learn why so many people engage in the activity. You’ll be surprised by how many species you already recognize, even if you’ve never gone bird watching before.
Calhoon enjoys relating to bird watchers of all levels. Known as a good storyteller, he describes the antics of his avian friends. For example, he once showed the birders how a bird couple was “anting” - using ants to wipe down their feathers. He said there are several theories as to why the birds do this. For example, they may use the chemical secretions that come from ants to control and get rid of parasites, insects, mites, fungi, and bacteria in their feathers.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one fifth of all Americans identify as birdwatchers, and over 45 million Americans consider themselves “birders,” who self-identify as a bit more on the serious side of the avian spectrum. Every state has a birding club or a Facebook birding group.
Some birds like tall hardwoods or pine trees; some prefer shrubs; some prefer to nest along streams, while others can be found in open fields. At 132 species recorded to date, McCoy Farm & Gardens has a diverse habitat and is a Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird hotspot. Visitors can use eBird as a tool to document and track sightings on the property, allowing birders to see recent reports by other birders and search by species and location. In addition, the database serves as a citizen science project used by ornithologists to document trends in bird populations. McCoy is also home to a Tri-State Bluebird Society nest-box trail.
Both the Towns of Walden and Signal Mountain are bird sanctuaries that prohibit shooting or harming birds. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has officially designated McCoy Farm & Gardens and Walden Town Hall as Certified Wildlife Habitat. This honor is awarded by a sustainability program run by the NWF that helps combat the impact of development on wildlife habitats.
After your official introduction to birds at McCoy, you may want to start your own “life list,” a birding term for the running list that bird enthusiasts keep of all the different birds they see. Be rewarded by the sights and sounds of beautiful and interesting feathered creatures as you join in the fun on April 26 at 8 a.m.
by Karen Stone
Bring your binoculars, digital camera, or mobile phone and catch the “early birds” at their active period when they are hungry and looking for breakfast and are calling out their territorial songs. Early spring also marks a great opportunity to catch them on their migratory flights.
Everyone is welcome. To those who have never joined a guided bird walk, we encourage you to come and learn why so many people engage in the activity. You’ll be surprised by how many species you already recognize, even if you’ve never gone bird watching before.
Calhoon enjoys relating to bird watchers of all levels. Known as a good storyteller, he describes the antics of his avian friends. For example, he once showed the birders how a bird couple was “anting” - using ants to wipe down their feathers. He said there are several theories as to why the birds do this. For example, they may use the chemical secretions that come from ants to control and get rid of parasites, insects, mites, fungi, and bacteria in their feathers.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one fifth of all Americans identify as birdwatchers, and over 45 million Americans consider themselves “birders,” who self-identify as a bit more on the serious side of the avian spectrum. Every state has a birding club or a Facebook birding group.
Some birds like tall hardwoods or pine trees; some prefer shrubs; some prefer to nest along streams, while others can be found in open fields. At 132 species recorded to date, McCoy Farm & Gardens has a diverse habitat and is a Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird hotspot. Visitors can use eBird as a tool to document and track sightings on the property, allowing birders to see recent reports by other birders and search by species and location. In addition, the database serves as a citizen science project used by ornithologists to document trends in bird populations. McCoy is also home to a Tri-State Bluebird Society nest-box trail.
Both the Towns of Walden and Signal Mountain are bird sanctuaries that prohibit shooting or harming birds. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has officially designated McCoy Farm & Gardens and Walden Town Hall as Certified Wildlife Habitat. This honor is awarded by a sustainability program run by the NWF that helps combat the impact of development on wildlife habitats.
After your official introduction to birds at McCoy, you may want to start your own “life list,” a birding term for the running list that bird enthusiasts keep of all the different birds they see. Be rewarded by the sights and sounds of beautiful and interesting feathered creatures as you join in the fun on April 26 at 8 a.m.
by Karen Stone
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