Peregrine falcons, and bald eagles, are faring well in the Chattanooga area. The peregrines are once again, nesting on the railroad bridge below Chickamauga Dam, while biologsts have documented as many as 18 bald eagles nests in our region of the state.
photo by Jack Gentle
Bald Eagles are making a major comeback all across Tennessee, including the Chattanooga area. “I’ve documented at least 15 eagle nests in Region III,” said TWRA Biologist Bruce Anderson. “I’ve got three more to check out on Wednesday.”
Region III includes 24 counties around Chattanooga and the Upper Cumberland Plateau. Of course there are many more eagle nests in other parts of the state, but a potential 18 active eagle nests in our portion of state is nothing short of amazing. It wasn’t that many years ago when the mere sight of an eagle migrating through the Tennessee Valley was worth noting.
Of course most experts say it was chemicals containing DDT, used in agricultural operations in the 1950’s and 60’s, that caused the eagles’ demise, along with many other birds of prey, or birds that feed primarily on fish such as great blue herons and cormorants. Now, 30 years later, they’re all making strong recoveries.
Anderson says if the trend of successful eagle nests continues, “we may stop monitoring them so closely. It looks like they're about to hit that geometric growth period when we won’t have to give them a lot of attention like we once did.”
Anderson says two of the newest nests are in the immediate Chattanooga area. “There’s one on Prentice Cooper (Wildlife Management Area). We believe there’s another on somewhere up North Chickamauga Creek. However that one may be hard for me to find.”
There are also two active nests in Marion County below Nickajack Dam. One has been there for many years where a pair of eagles built their nest in someone’s front yard. Local bird watchers that check it regularly say there are two chicks on that nest right now. Anderson says the other Marion County nest is across the river in the New Hope area.
He says there are three active nests around the Hiwassee Refuge, one near the Watts bar Nuclear Plant and another one in the Cottonport area, “however that nest fell and I'm not sure if they've rebuilt or not,” said Anderson.
The other nests are further north. Anderson says this week he’ll be making an aerial census of the nests and other eagles that may be in the area.
The eagle comeback must be credited primarily to aggressive restoration efforts by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Throughout the 1980’s and early 90’s they conducted numerous “hacking projects.” That’s where young fledgling eagles are removed from nests in more populated areas. They’re reared on special towers built especially for the purpose. Caretakers, who often included local volunteers with the Tennessee Ornithological Society, fed the birds. The specially constructed towers allowed them to be fed without actually seeing humans.
When the young birds were able to fly, they were released. A unique characteristic of almost any raptor is that it will typically return, and nest, in the general area where it learned to fly. Bands proved in many cases that the nesting eagles were indeed, “hacked” birds. Bald eagles don’t mature and nest until they are at least four or five years old. Of course we’re far enough along now that the grandchildren of many of the original hacked birds are probably nesting here.
I still remember the very first bald eagle I saw in these parts. It was in the 1970’s on Chickamauga Lake. The sight of the most majestic bird of prey was awe-inspiring. It is no different today; it just happens a whole lot more.
Of course eagles aren’t alone in their comeback. A pair of rare peregrine falcons continues to nest in the city limits of Chattanooga.
They’re once again nesting on the railroad bridge below Chickamauga Dam. If you visit, on most days, there’s a good chance you’ll find members of Chattanooga’s ornithological society, like Jack Gentle and Bill Nelson, keeping close tabs on Roi and Ima.
“I started over here walking for the exercise about three or four years ago,” Bill Nelson said. “I saw (birdwatchers) looking at the falcons through the telescopes and just got curious about it. It’s fascinating!”
Local birders named the falcons. Roi Shannon first spotted the male in 1997, hence the name. Ima had immature plumage when first spotted, hence her name. Roi had a couple of mates who had a habit of migrating south, and not coming back. But Ima showed up in 1999 and has stuck with Roi ever since. Starting out their homemaking on the railroad bridge, the two have nested successfully almost every year.
Two years ago, however, Roi and Ima decided to move their nest to a more natural locale on the bluffs of Signal Mountain, near Falling Water Creek. This year, for reasons no one understands, they’ve moved back to the railroad bridge.
The last three weeks birders have watched mating activity almost continually. “There are two or three different perches that Ima goes to and gets in a certain position. That’s kind of a signal to him. But it’s generally right after he brings her food and she takes it somewhere and eats it. Sort of like he buys her dinner and then collects his reward, “he laughed.”
Other than those times, Ima stays mostly out of sight in the nest area. If you’re standing on the Amnicola Highway side of the dam, look at the closest tower of the railroad bridge. At the top of the big counterbalance you’ll see a right and left “window,” almost like two dark eyes staring at you. Ima’s nest site is inside those windows. She’ll usually enter and exit from the right window.
On Sunday, almost on cue, Ima emerged and flew to a perch on the north railroad bridge tower. “There she is Roi,” said Jack. “She’s waiting on you.” A few minutes later Roi circled, landed on her back and in about 5 seconds the endangered falcons completed the act that will hopefully make their species less endangered.
“She should be close to finishing the clutch,” said Jack. “Generally after the clutch of eggs is finished, they won’t do anymore mating. So as long as they’re still mating, that means they’re still in the process of laying some eggs.”
She’ll lay up to six eggs that should begin hatching the week of April 15th. If the nest is successful, Roi and Ima will both be busy catching enough food to feed hungry little mouths. If you are a mockingbird, robin, blackbird, starling, or pigeon, I’d suggest you steer clear of the area near Chickamauga Dam.
It will take five or six weeks before the youngsters are ready to try and fly on their own -- around the last week of May or early June. “When they fledge, there will be crowds of people here,” said Bill “They bring their lawn chairs and sit down here and watch those little birds learn to fly and hunt.”
Of course it’s a dangerous time. The first time you try to fly from a nest site perched over the Tennessee River, you better get it right the first time. The first year they nested, it’s believed that one of the youngsters did fall into the water.
Even if the youngsters survive the first flight, they still have a lot to learn from mom and day about hunting. Jack says “we’ve seen them where Roi sits on one tower and Ima on the other. Somehow they’ll communicate and zero in on the same bird and off they’ll go. Usually one will hit it and the other comes up under it and catches it before it can fall in the water. I don’t know how they communicate and time it so they can do that, but they do.”
If you’d rather keep up with the falcons via computer, you can visit a website Jack created especially for Roi and Ima at THIS WEB SITE.
But trust me, it’s a lot more fun to be there in person as the peregrines, and other raptors, prove they are truly masters of the sky.
Jack Gentle (left) and Bill Nelson... along with many other avid birdwatchers... keep a watchful eye on the peregrines nesting near Chickamauga Dam.
photo by Richard Simms