BBC Snippets

Link: http://www.freelists.org/archives/bristol-birds/03-2008/msg00118.html

Members of the ornithological community of Northeast Tennessee have long been a very significant part of the publication and policy for the Tennessee Ornithological Society's quarterly journal -- THE MIGRANT.

First published in 1931, it is one of the nation's oldest such state journals. The principal functions of area ornithologists have been to edit and see that the material members submit is printed and distributed to the membership and exchanged with other ornithological publications, universities and museums of a similar nature.

THE MIGRANT provides a permanent record of all noteworthy ornithological information for Tennessee. Many articles, published in other ornithological journals and books, regularly cite THE MIGRANT as a source of information and reference.

The journal was printed at Fitzsimmons Printing Company, W. Elk Ave in Elizabethton during Dr. Herndon's early years. In December 1968, it was moved to THE KING PRINTING COMPANY, 109-111 Shelby Street, Bristol, TN. Fitzsimmons was an old "hot type" letterpress printer. The company could not set the type for the journal and the work was subcontracted to a company in Ashville, NC. It was a very slow process with much communication and transportation difficulties.

It was moved to The King Printing Company in Bristol in order to gain speed, go to offset printing capabilities and allow the journal to have easy access to a larger company with many special capabilities. The company later changed its name to Preston Printing and eventually Mallicote Printing. THE MIGRANT continued to be printed there for 30 years.

EDITORS OF THE STATE JOURNAL:

    Dr. Lee R. Herndon, Elizabethton 1956-1971
    Dr. Gary Wallace, Elizabethton 1971-1981
    J. Wallace Coffey, Bristol 1992-1996

ASSISTANT EDITORS OF THE STATE JOURNAL:

    J. Wallace Coffey, Bristol 1966-1968
    Dr. Charles R. Smith, Johnson City 1968-1970
    Rick L. Knight, Johnson City 1992-1996

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS FOR THE STATE JOURNAL:
   
    Beth E. Hogan, Johnson City 1992-1996
    Amanda Lewis, Bristol 1997-2000
    Richard Lewis, Bristol 1997-2000

Angela Wampler, Bluff City 1998-Present

COMPILERS TENNESSEE STATEWIDE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS:

    Dr. Richard D. Lura, Johnson City 1976-1981
    Rick L. Knight, Johnson City 1982-1985

STATEWIDE EDITOR "THE SEASON":

    J. Wallace Coffey, Bristol 1964-1966
    Dr. Charles R. Smith, Johnson City 1967-1971
    Dr. Lee R. Herndon, Elizabethton Mar 1971- Jun 1971
    Dr. Fred Alsop, Church Hill 1971-1981
    Rick L. Knight, Johnson City 1994 - Present

COMPILER CUMBERLAND PLATEAU / EASTERN RIDGE & VALLEY (THE SEASON)

    Richard L. Knight, 1987-Present

COMPILER EASTERN MOUNTAIN REGION (THE SEASON)

    Dr. Brent Rowell, Bristol 1969-1973
    Glen Eller, Elizabethton, 1973-1989
    Richard Lewis, Bristol, 1989-Present



from the archives of the Bristol Bird Club

Link: http://www.freelists.org/archives/bristol-birds/03-2008/msg00086.html

Sept 27, 1959 was a day that changed my life forever. Little did I know what the next five decades of bird study would have in store. I had been birding just over a year.

At 8 a.m. I was watching for a vehicle near the old Bristol Bridge over the Watauga River where 19E crossed into Elizabethton.



The information I had was that I was watching for a birder by the name of Dr. L.B. Herndon. He was in a car with the Tennessee-shaped license plate bearing a prefix of 21 (which stood for Carter Co. (then the 21st largest county by population in the state). The tag number would be 21-7063. It would be a green Buick. If I had any trouble, I had his home address and also his home phone numbers, LI-2-4661. You pronounced that numbers as Lincoln 2-4661.

I had started birding July 25, 1958 at Bristol Virginia with a teenage former neighbor, Hank Woodward. Hank's name was at the top. He was the first birder I ever knew and I began my life list in his back yard -- stunned by the sight of a Pileated Woodpecker. I had put Hank's contact information in my field guide and now Herndon's was just below it. All of this is written on the last page of the first bird book I ever owned -- a Peterson's field guide.

I knew how important Dr. Herndon was. He was the editor of the Tennessee journal of ornithology -- The Migrant. But he also was a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service bird bander.


In 1955, Dr. Lee R. Herndon of Elizabethton, became the region's first bird bander. In the years to come, he banded many thousands of birds there and along the river north of the city. More than anything else, he made an enormous contribution to a great lineage of banders who began under him or his influence. I did not know that I was stepping into a fraternity of birders who would become near blood-line descendents of his generosity and his influence.

I soon found his vehicle and crawled in to shake hands. We drove slowly up the Watauga River to a place called County Farm -- it should be a National Historic Park :-)

Beginning a month before I found my way to all this in the latter part of August 1959, the Elizabethton Chapter of T.O.S., using five mist nets, netted and banded birds every week-end and extended that in to early winter, except Oct. 24 and 25 until Nov. 22.

Netting was carried out on the property of Howard Langridge and Mrs. Ruth D. Hughes, T.O.S. Members and at the County Farm. The farm was located on the city side of what has been called Great Lakes pond (Stoney Creek).

The nets were located in woodland, old weed fields and along stream borders. The stream beds were entirely void of water during the entire period although there was intermittent light rainfall from time to time.

Fourteen members and guests (many from the BBC) attended the nets and assisted with the operation there that fall. The nets were visited at short intervals to avoid injury to the birds and to reduce predation to a minimum.

This period covered the greater portion of the fall migration of most of the passerine birds. Many species were missed because the habitats were not suitable for all species; nets were in operation only in the daylight hours; some species migrate largely at night and only a very limited area was covered by the nets.

That fall 59 species and about 856 individuals were netted and banded. Repeat individuals (those which had already been banded) consisted mostly of permanent, summer or winter residents of the area and amounted to only 17% of the total. Some of the more rare species netted were: Philadelphia Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned Warblers and Lincoln's Sparrow.

The numbers banded by species in descending totals were: American Goldfinch, 196 (7); Song Sparrow, 101 (14); Cardinal, 74 (57); Swainson's Thrush 70 (1); Field Sparrow, 54 (6); Indigo Bunting, 46 (5) and White-throated Sparrow, 43 (20). Numbers in parentheses indicate the numbered repeats.

During most of September Dr. Herndon was cooperating with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in what was called "Operation Recovery" where other banders along the Appalachian Mountain Chain were banding during the same period and with the hope that some banded birds might be intercepted somewhere along the migration route. I don't many banded birds were caught.

It was a warm and overcast day with scattered showers. Members of the Bristol Bird Club had been going there almost every weekend to spend a day helping gather birds from the nets. The birds would be placed in paper bags and the bags marked. They would be placed in a shaded place. My job eventually became a runner to gather up the bags of birds and deliver them to the processing table where measurements, age, sex and such were determined and a federal bird band placed on the leg, each with its own distinctive number and instructions if found.

Birders were coming and going all day because the Elizabethton Chapter of TOS was having its fall field days which drew birders not only from all of the surrounding bird clubs but also from as far away as Knoxville and Oak Ridge. So birders were dropping in to see the banding operation and say hello as they took breaks.

It turned out to be my second best day for seeing new species. Birds I had never seen before but many I held that day included: Gray-cheeked Thrush, Oliver-backed Thrush (now Swainson's Thrush), Tennessee Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Cape May Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

I left at 6 p.m. but not before someone from Kingsport gave me a copy of the schedule for Audubon Screen Tours, a popular touring program which the Audubon Society sent to Kingsport a few times a year. I loved the idea and put the dates on my calendar.

Little did I know, that one day I would eventually have an hour to sit down backstage at one of the screen tours and chat very informally with the author of the field guide I carried that day at County Farm -- I would enjoy the almost breath taking company of Roger Tory Peterson. Oh man! That was really big back then. Still is for me today.

I was so impressed with the banding at County Farm. I went home and couldn't get the banding out of my mind. It haunted me day and night. Soon I figured out that I could take an aluminum pie plate and cut the bottom out, put it in our typewriter and bang numbers into it while it was set in the stencil mode. I cut them out with scissors and made my own bird bands. I trapped a few common yard birds and placed my bands on them and some of them were caught again in my traps and that was a real thrill. I only wanted to know how long they would be around and if the White-throated Sparrows would be back the following year.

In late March 1961 I brought in the morning mail and was shocked. I had a letter from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. When I opened it I unfolded my own permit to capture migratory birds for scientific banding purposes. I stood and stared - Permit 6980-G.

Someone told Dr. Herndon I was making my own bands from a pie plate and banding birds. He was so touched that he contacted the bird banding lab and applied for a permit so I could begin banding birds. He never told me he had done that. It was to be a surprise. Wow! Was that a surprise. I still think of that thoughtful gift.

One year ago, I ended a lifetime as a bander and put up my equipment after 45 years with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service federal migratory bird banding program. It conclude a journey which began March 20, 1961 under Dr. Lee R. Herndon. I hope he knows how much I appreciated his kind help.

Three years after Herndon got me a sub-permit under his 6980 master permit, I struck out on my own as federal master permit 9074. It was one of the lowest banding permit numbers in the nation when I retired it.

I went off alone because Dr. Herndon had no interest in banding larger birds such as hawks and owls. He did not have band sizes for the larger birds. I wanted to band hawks, owls and eagles. I needed to have my own bands. I needed my own master permit to do that.

When my banding life was over, the tally for such species was: Northern Harrier 2, Sharp-shinned Hawk 3, Cooper's Hawk 11, Red-shouldered Hawk 2, Broad- winged Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 12, Rough-legged Hawk 2, Golden Eagle 2 American Kestrel 264 (not a typo), Barn Owl 8, Eastern Screech Owl 83, Great Horned Owl 16 and Barred Owl 2. Some of these were banded by my subpermits working with me.

Dr. Herndon's influence and concern for working with others has been handed down from generation to generation of birders and bird banders,

  BANDERS IN THE HERNDON LINEAGE

(There have been other short time sub-permits with these master permits)

Dr. Lee R. Herndon (Area's First Bander) - Master Permit 6980 (1955-1978)

Dr. Herndon Sub-permits:

             J. Wallace Coffey sub-permit 6980-G, 1961-1964

                     Coffey Master Permit (9074) 1964-2007

                              Coffey Sub-permits:

                                     Ken Hale 1978-1983

                                      Rick Phillips 1978-84

                                      Dr. Tom Laughlin 1978-1984

                                      Bert Hale 1978-1984

            Herbert W. Nunley sub-permit 1961-1975

            Enno vanGelder sub-permit 1961-1965

            Dr. Charles R. Smith sub-permit 1963-1971

            Dr. Gary Wallace sub-permit 1969-1978

                  Dr. Wallace Master Permit 1978-1996

                       Dr. Wallace sub-permits:
 
                            Rick Knight sub-permit 1980-1996
 
                                    Rick Knight Master Permit 1996-2008
 
                             Richard Lewis sub-permit 1978-1996
 
                                    Richard Lewis Master Permit 1996-2008

Dr. Richard Peake -- Master Permit 1975-1980

Dr. Steve Hopp -- Master Permit 1985-1994

                  Dr. Hopp Sub-permits:

                                     Alice Kirby sub-permit 1990-1994

                                    Carol Boone sub-permit 1990-1992

Link: http://www.freelists.org/archives/bristol-birds/02-2008/msg00101.html

Most Christmas Bird Counts which have had longevity and some form of continuity have evolved over the years. The patterns obviously reflect how birders went about the endeavor, resources and materials available as well as roads, access and communication limitations of the era.

The Mount Rogers-White Top Mountain CBC is an example of that so called evolution. It clearly reflects a history that has enjoyed three distinct eras.

 The first era spanned five years in which Fred W. Behrend of the Herndon bird club of Elizabethton, TN and Stephen M. Russell of the Bristol Bird Club created the count. They birded in an area where there was not a great deal of birding taking place. There were few birders in the region who savored the challenges presented by the weather in the very high elevations of the South Appalachian Mountain and its Blue Ridge ranges.

Behrend, (above) a native German who spoke with a heavy accent, was a meticulous record keeper. He once said he had hiked Roan Mountain and nearby peaks once a weak for 25 years in all weather. He was one of the great pioneers who left a very extensive volume of records and birding history. Many of his hikes would cover 20 miles or more.

The Bristol Bird Club was founded in March 1950 with Stephen M. Russell as a teenage charter member. Along with his mentor, Behrend, they conducted the Mt. Rogers count (1950-1954) until Russell was away to college and no longer available to participate. To the best of our knowledge. Neither of them ever returned there for a Christmas Bird Count.

The middle era turns out to be a time of continuance when Paul S. Delaney of Abingdon, VA took up the count and continued it for 1957, 1958 and 1960. The rest of that era was taken under the wing of Bristol Bird Club birders who carried on most years from 1965 to 1971. Wallace Coffey provided much of that leadership and two years were missed due to family illness.

Birders going afield to Virginia's two highest mountains (Mt. Rogers and Whitetop)often endured harsh conditions with few birds. Birding under such conditions these days is virtually unheard of and counts facing dangerous environments are usually rescheduled.

The early birders went on in whatever nature had to offer. There were few around who paid much attention. There was always a sense that the challenge was part of the count. It was the count of Dec. 23, 1967 which is frequently remembered. Five birders headed out in two parties up the slopes of Whitetop and off to the peak of Mt. Rogers at 7:50 a.m. Counting birds in a snow flurries, the group moved on with the temperature ranging 5° to 8° and the wind at times howling at 25 m.p.h. Still the birders covered six and one-half miles on foot.

The conditions became so dark and the wind so hard that two members, Hank Woodward and Coffey became disoriented on Whitetop. Birder Tony Decker who had made it back to Elk Garden by 1 p.m. with Gerry Delantonas and David McPeak, used two-way radios and a U.S. Forest Service four-wheel drive truck to find them. They were in the edge of the conifers down on the ground behind logs to break the driving snow and wind. All of the birders had ended the count by 1:30 p.m.

That count recorded only 21 birds and 8 species The best species found was two Pine Siskin. The editor of Audubon's American Birds annual Christmas Bird Count edition cited the Mt. Rogers count as the nation's second lowest for species, exceeded only by a birder on a dogsled in the northwest area of Canada.

Temperatures on this count frequently were below 20 degrees. The more recent party of Jan 4, 2003 began their count with the temperature at 8 degrees but it was up to 30 degrees before their count ended in late afternoon.

On Dec. 20, 1969 a group of six birders were afield from 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. They birded in overcast and then clear conditions as the temperature ranged from 8° to 9°. The wind reached 15 m.p.h. and they hiked 12 party miles in 2-4 in. snow cover. Many streams were frozen. The group of Bill Bridgforth, Wallace Coffey, Anthony M. Decker, David McPeak, Pete Range and Brent Rowell put in 17 party hours which were all on foot. The total was 17 species, 115 individuals.

The winter of 1963-64 in Virginia was witness to the greatest invasion of northern birds on record. The three most prominent visitors were the Evening Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbills and Red Crossbills.

On Dec. 31, 1965 52 White-winged Crossbill, were observed on the Mt. Rogers-Whitetop CBC by Fletcher Bingham, Bill Bridgforth, Jr., Wallace Coffey, Charles Smith and Henry "Hank" Woodward. A few years before, Paul Dulaney had 35 of the White-winged Crossbills on the count on Dec 31, 1960. He was the only person on that count.

Two Snow Buntings were found by Russell on the Dec 28, 1952 count.

Fred Behrend found a Golden Eagle in 1953.

Due to the lack of available participants by the decade of the 70's, the count was not conducted for nearly 30 years until Allen Boynton took up the organization and compilation of the count in 2000. It has continued every year since.

The third era and present era could be called the custodians of today as Boynton and members of the Blue Ridge Birders carry on the count. In this modern era, the count is actually conducted over most of the 15-mile diameter circle as all Audubon CBCs are designed. The Roan Mountain CBC in Northeast Tennessee covers a large part of the circle but it does not usually have a large number of participants. Counts in the Mount Rogers circle area sometimes have eleven participants which is about double what the largest of any earlier counts had.

The roads up to Elk Garden Gap between Virginia's two highest mountains were no where near as wide and well paved as they are today. It was often difficult to get birders together from Elizabethton, Johnson City and Bristol to be on foot in 8 degrees temperature and/or snowfall before 7 a.m.

Mt. Rogers, Va. (from Elk Garden Gap to top of mountain and Wilburn Ridge. Return to origin via valleys of Cabin Ridge and Briar Creeks; elevation range: 4450' to 57l9'; deciduous forest 41%, grassy fields 35%, spruce~fir forest 24%). Dec. 23; 7:55 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. Clouds on mountain in morning clearing by noon; temp. 26° to 38° to 36°; wind NW to W, 10-35 m.p.h.; depth of snow increasing from 3 inches in Elk Garden Gap to 16 inches on top; streams mostly frozen; snow and ice thawing rapidly in afternoon. Two observers working singly and together. Total party hours 13.25; total party miles 12.5 (by foot) Total 15 species, 57 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Stephen M. Russell.

Mount Rogers, Virginia (same area as last year with addition of Whitetop Mountain; elevation range 4400 to 5710 :ft..; deciduous forest 45/0, grassy fields 55%', spruce-fir forest 20%). December 23; 7 a.m.to 5 p.m.; cloudy to clearing; temp. 25° to 36°; wind SW, 0-15 m.p.h.; depth of snow increasing from none in Elk Garden Gap to 6 inches on top. Much ice on streams. Two observers in two parties. Total party-hours, 19 1/4 (all on foot); total party-miles, 22. Total, 15 species; 107 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Stephen M. Russell.

Mt. Rogers, Va. (Area same as last two years; elevation 4400 to 5719 ft.; deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 32%, spruce~fir forest 28%. Dec. 28, 6:45 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. Clear; temp. 11° to 26°; wind NW to W, 0-12 m.p.h. no snow below 5200 ft., about 3 in. hard crusted snow on top streams partially frozen over. Two observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours, 19 1/2 (all on foot), total party-miles, 25 (on foot). Purple Finch, 27; Pine Siskin, 68; Red Crossbill, 1; Snow Bunting, 2 (pair observed closely in rocky grassy field at 5100 ft. on Briar Ridge, large amount of white in wings end typical call note were noted by observer familiar with species - S.M.R.). Total, 17 species; 236 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Stephen M. Russell.

Mt. Rogers, Va. (same as in previous years; elevation range 4400 to 5719 feet; deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 30%, spruce~fir forest 30%. Dec. 27, 6:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Clear; temp. 18° to 28°; wind NW to W, 0-6 m.p.h.; little snow except in sheltered spots; streams partially frozen over. Four observers in two parties. Total party-hours, 19.5, total party-miles, 24 (all on foot). Golden Eagle, 1 (F.W.B.), Pine Siskin, 200; Red Crossbill 2. Total, 22 species; 714 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Douglas A. Patterson, Stephen M. Russell (compiler), A. Randolf Shields.

Mt. Rogers, Va. (same area as previous years with additional coverage of eastern approaches to Mt. Rogers: First Peak, Second Peak, Third Peak, Stone Mountain and Pine Mountain; elevation range 4400 to 5719 ft. (highest point in Virginia); deciduous forest 40%, grassy fields 38%, spruce-fir forest 22%). December 26; 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Clear; temp 26° to & 59°; wind SE, 0-5 m.p.h.; snow ranging in depth from 12 in. in Elk Garden Gap to 28 in. crusted snow on summit; little ice on streams. Six observers in 3 parties. Total party-hours, 27; total party-miles, 30 (all on foot). Evening Grosbeak, 27; Pine Siskin, 10, Red Crossbill 1. Total, 24 species; 188 individuals. -- Fred W. Behrend, Richard L. Diener, Douglas A, Patterson, Stephen H. Russell (compiler), A. Randolf Shields, Edwin O. Willis. (Notes: There are no new cones on the spruce and fir trees this year compared to the very heavy crop of last year. This is certainly at least partially responsible for the marked drop in nlli~ers of Red-breasted Nuthatches, Siskins, White-breasted Nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse also were in reduced numbers. Snow fall this winter is much above average. The mountain had not been bare of snow on top since very early November, and the accumulated snow averaged 28-30 inches. However, this snow cover has prevented the ground temperature from dropping below 34° (Dec. 26). Grouse were way below usual numbers. The four seen this year were recorded on the additional area which was new this year; none were seen on the same route that produced 18 in 1952. The two Pileated Woodpeckers were seen at 4600' in the new coverage. This is the highest these birds have been noted at any season in the vicinity of the mountain. The Horned Larks constitute the first census record but have been recorded there in December. The Robins were noted as they flew over Elk Garden Gap (4450'). The Evening Grosbeaks were seen by all parties but in all cases were in flight over the mountain. They apparently preferred the valley. Junco's were low, probably due to the snow. No birds seen above 5200' on Mt. Rogers; Red-breasted Nuthatch at 5500' on White Top.)

Mt. Rogers (Elk Garden Gap to summit of Mt. Rogers and western slopes of Pine Mountain; elevation range 4500 to 5719 ft. (highest point in Virginia); deciduous woodland 40%, grassy fields 40%, spruce-fir forest 20%). - Dec. 23; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Clear; temp. 25° to 55°; wind NE, 5-15 m.p.h.; no snow on ground. One observer. Total party-hours, 9 (all on foot); total party-miles, 10 (all on foot). Evening Grosbeak, 25; Total: 15 species; 106 individuals. - Paul S. Dulaney..

Mt. Rogers, Va. (same area as last year; deciduous woodland 40%, grassy fields 40%, spruce-fir forest 20%). -- Dec. 23; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cloudy, light rain in afternoon; temp. 25° to 40°; wind W, 15-30 m.p.h.; ground bare in open, snow 1-6 inches deep in woods. One observer. Total party-hours, 9 (all on foot); total party-miles, 11 (all on foot). Total, 10 species; 57 individuals. -- Paul S. Dulaney.

Mt. Rogers, Va. (Elk Garden Gap to sumnit of Mt. Rogers; elevation range 4500 to 5719 ft.; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields 30%, sprucefir forest 20%). -- Dec. 31, 1960. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clear a.m., cloudy p.m.; temp. 25° to 40°; wind S, 0-15 m.p.h.; ground generally bare in open, snow up to one foot in woods. One observer. Total party-hours, 7; total party-miles, 7 (all on foot). Purple Finch, 12; White-winged Crossbill, 35; Total, 12 species, 100 individuals. -- Paul S. Dulaney.

Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center at junction of Routes 600 and 603, including peaks of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop in Grayson and Smyth Counties; from the saddle up to Mt. Rogers along logging road via Elk Garden and from the saddle to Whitetop via the main road; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields and extensive briar patches 30%, spruce and fir forest 20% ).-Dec. 31, 1965; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fair; temp. 39° to 46°; wind NW, 20-25 m.p.h.; ground bare. Five observers in 2 parties. Total partyhours, 16 (all on foot); total party-miles, 15 (all on foot). Red-breasted Nuthatch, 23; Brown Creeper, 7; Pine Siskin, 90; White-winged Crossbill, 52; Total, 18 species; 368 individuals. Observers: Fletcher Bingham (cocompiler), Bill Bridgforth, Jr., Wallace Coffey (co-compiler), Charles Smith, Henry Woodward.

Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-miles diameter circle, center at Junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, state's highest and second highest peaks respectively; from the Saddle upwards to Mt. Rogers at 5729 ft., along road via Elk Garden and to Whitetop via road; deciduous woods, 50%, grassy fields 30%, spruce-fir forest 20%). Dec. 23, 1966 8:05 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Overcast then snowstorm; temp 26° to 32°; wind S, 5-6 m.p.h.; 4-in. snow cover in woods, weather bureau emergency warning forced us to get off mountains early. Seven observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours 10 (all on foot); total party-miles 12 (all on foot). Observers: Fletcher Bingham, Wallace Coffey, (compiler)A.ME. Decker, Robert Quillen, John Shumate, Charles Smith, Henry Woodward. Total: 11 species, 527 individuals.

Mt. Rogers-Whitetop (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center at junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mt. Rogers and Whitetopand the saddle between them; deciduous woods 50%, grassy fields 30'70, spruce-fir forest 20%).-Dec. 23, 1967; 7:50 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Snow flurries; temp. 5° to 8°; wind W-SW, 4-25 m.p.h.; 0 to 2 in. snow cover. Five observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours, 5 1/2 (4 1/2 on foot, 1 by truck); total party-miles, 18 1/2 (6 1/2 on foot, 12 by truck). Pine Siskin 2; Observers: Wallace Coffey, A. M. Decker, Gerry Delantonas (compiler), David McPeak, Henry Woodward. Total: 8 species, 21 individuals.

MT. ROGERS-WHITETOP. (all points within a 15-mile diameter circle, center at junction of Routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of both mountains; from the saddle up to Mt. Rogers at 5729 ft., along logging road via Elk Garden and to Whitetop via road; deciduous woods 50%, grassy fields 30%, spruce-fir forest 20%). -Dec. 20, 1969; 6:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Overcast, then clear; temp. 8° to 9°; wind SE, 10-15 m.p.h.; 2-4 in. snow cover, many streams frozen. Six observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours, 17 (all on foot); total party-miles, 12 (all on foot). Red Crossbills 6, Pine Siskin 3, Evening Grosbeak 3. Observers: Bill Bridgforth, J. Wallace Coffey (compiler), Anthony M. Decker, David McPeak, Pete Range, Brent Rowell. Total: 17 species, 115 individuals.

MT. ROGERS-WHITETOP (all points within a 15-mile diameter, center at junction of Virginia routes 600 and 603, to include peaks of Mt. Rogers and Whitetop; from the Saddle to peak of Mt. Rogers along logging road via Elk Garden and to the peak of Whitetop via main road; deciduous woodland 50%, grassy fields 30%, spruce-fir forest 20%; elevation up to 5729 feet) .-Dec. 28, 1971; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Light sleet and rain; temp. 45° to 49°; wind NE to NW, 20-30 m.p.h.; foggy with limited visibility. Nine observers in 2 parties. Total party-hours, 16 (all on foot); total party-miles, 16 (all on foot). Observers: Wallace Coffey, Anthony Decker, Ken Hale, Joseph Jackson, David McPeak, David McPeake, Jr., Brent Rowell (compiler), John Todd, Henry Woodard. Total: 10 species, 37 individuals.

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE Top MOUNTAIN. 36° 39' N 81 ° 35' W Circle Center: Jct. 600 and 603. 36° 39' N 81° 35' W. Field data: Count date: Dec 27, 2000. Times in field: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Temperatures: 18° to 28° F. Wind variable, 1-5 mph. AM Cloudy Rain: None Snow: Light PM Cloudy. Rain: None Snow: Light . Snow depth: 1-36 inches. Still water frozen, moving water partly frozen. Field observers: 8 in 1-5 parties. Total party-hours: 21.5 (7.5 on foot, 14.0 by car). Total party-miles: 86.00 (11 on foot, 75 by car). Observers: Not reported. Compiler: Allen Boynton

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE Top MOUNTAIN. 36° 39' N 81 ° 35' W Circle Center: Jct. 600 and 603. 36° 39' N 81° 35' W. Field data: Count date: 5 Jan 2002. Times in field: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Temperatures:28° to 41° F. Wind variable, 0-32 mph. AM partly cloud rain. PM pcd skies partly cloudy. Snow depth: 0 inches. Still water frozen, moving water partly frozen. Field observers: 7 in 4 parties. Total party-hours: 30.5 (10.5 on foot, 20.0 by car). Total party-miles: 256.50 (9.5on foot, 247 by car). Observers: Not reported. Compiler: Allen Boynton

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. 600 and 603. 36° 39' N 81° 35' W. Field data: Count date: 4 Jan 2003. Times in field: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Temperatures: 8° to 30° F. Wind NW, 5-20 mph. AM skies cloudy, light to no snow. PM skies clear. Snow depth: 0-3 inches. Still water partly open, moving water partly frozen. Field observers: 16 in 6 parties. Total party-hours: 44.5 (22.25 on foot, 22.25 by car). Total party-miles: 277.5 (23.5 on foot, 254 by car). Observers: Not reported. Compiler: Allen Boynton. Total species: 46; Total individuals: 1,797.

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603. 36° 39' N 81° 35' W. Field data: Count date: 3 Jan 2004. Times in field: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temperature: 45° to 55° F. Wind 5-15 mph. AM cloudy. None to light rain. PM partly cloudy. Water open. Field observers: 9 in 4 parties. Total party-hours: 36.75 (18.5 on foot, 18.25 by car). Total party-miles: 220.5(18.5 on foot, 202 by car). Common Raven 18; Red Crossbill 5; Pine Siskin 68 Observers: Jim Best, Jerry Blevins, Allen Boynton (compiler), Glen Eller, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Gale Kuebler, Robert Perkins , Darroch Whitaker. Total species: 45; Total individuals: 1,397. .

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W. Field data: Count date: 2 Jan 2005. Times in field: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temperature range: 45° to 60° F. Wind calm. AM cloudy. PM clear. Water open. Field observers: 5 in 1 to 5 parties. Total party-hours: 35.5 (5.5 on foot, 30 by car). Total party-miles: 187 (7 on foot, 180 by car). Observers: Jim Best, Jerry Blevins. Allen Boynton (compiler), James Coman, Jr., Glen Eller, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Alice Keighton, Jim Keighton, William Roberts. Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A. Organizations/Sponsors: Blue Ridge Birders.

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W. Field data: Count date: Jan 2, 2006. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m. Temperature range: 33° to 54° F. Wind N/A. AM Partly clear, Rain: Light, Snow: None; PM Foggy Rain: Heavy Snow: None. Field observers: 11 in N/A parties. Total party-hours: 33 (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton (compiler), James Coman, Jr., Eric Harrold, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Alice Keighton, Jim Keighton, Gale Kuebler, Ron Morris, Jon Rockett, Peter Zwadyk Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W. Field data: Count date: Dec 31, 2006. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m.. Temperature range: 41° to 45° F. Wind N/A. AM Foggy Rain: Light Snow: None PM Cloudy Rain: Light Snow: None. . Field observers: 9 in N/A parties. Total party-hours: 23 (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton (compiler), Eric Harrold, Scott Jackson/Ricketts, Alice Keighton, Jim Keighton Gale Kuebler, Maggie Kuebler, Ron Morris, Aaron VanArnum. Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.

MOUNT ROGERS-WHITE TOP MOUNTAIN. Circle Center: Jct. rts. 600 and 603. 36"39' N 81" 35' W. Field data: Count date: Dec 29, 2007. Times in field: N/A a.m. to N/A p.m. Temperature range: 37° to 47° F. Wind N/A. AM Foggy Rain: Light Snow: None PM Partly clear, Rain: None, Snow: None. Field observers: 11 in N/A parties. Total party-hours: 28.5 (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Total party-miles: N/A (N/A on foot, N/A by car). Observers: Allen Boynton (compiler) Debbie Davis, Jim Keighton, Gale Kuebler, Maggie Kuebler, Robert Perkins, Ellen Reynolds, Deb Vransky, Eric Vransky, Larry Wilhite, Peter Zwadyk. Total species: N/A; Total individuals: N/A.

From the archives of the Bristol Bird Club