Colony Name: Bird Island - Cherokee Lake
Colony Code: Hamblen-1
County: Hamblen

Geographical Location.
    Physiographic Province: PIF 13 (Southern Ridge and Valley); BCR 28 (Appalachian Mountains)
    Latitude and Longitude: 36.43333 and -83.63333
        How Obtained:

Nearest City/Town: Morristown
Distance: About 1 mile NW on Cherokee Lake to Bird Island from Kidwell boat ramp.
Directions from town to colony: From Highway 11E, follow W. Economy Road north to Kidwell Ridge Road. Launch from Kidwell access.
Owner:
    Address:
Management Plan: None

Description.
    General Description: An island in Cherokee Lake covered with a variety of mature deciduous trees mixed with a few pines and red cedars. Marked by "12" signs on the east and north sides.
    General Habitat: Freshwater Island.
    Specific Habitat:
    Species of nest trees:
    Size: Couple of acres

History.
    Bird Island, Cherokee Lake - Mile marker 12, 36.26 N and 83.38 W, one mile north of the Kidwell boat ramp near Panther Creek State Park, presumably owned by TVA and managed by TWRA, is a couple acres in size and covered with a variety of mature deciduous trees mixed with a few pines and red cedars, of mixed species breeding colony. 2006. June 4, a canoe trip around "Bird Island," nestlings clamored for food and adults came and went continuously, birds seemed accustomed to close human proximity. Double-crested Cormorant and Great Blue Heron nests were set high in the canopy; several Great Egret nests, with at least 2 nestlings apiece, were above mid-level in some trees in the middle of the island; and Black-crowned Night-Heron nests were lower down, often obscured by foliage. Count numbers on individuals and nests were on the low side due to leaves blocked some nests and birds kept arriving and leaving. Individuals noted of the following species is the total of adults, juveniles, and nestlings for that species. All nests were occupied by at least one adult or nestling. Double-crested Cormorant (190 individuals, 33 nests), Great Blue Heron (155 individuals, 30 nests), Great Egret (39 individuals, 4 nests), Cattle Egret (1), and Black-crowned Night-Heron (124 individuals and 32 nests) (Michael Sledjeski and Leslie Gibbens). July 16, Returned to Bird Island six weeks after seeing a lot of active nesting. Found fewer Great Blue Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron, more Double-crested Cormorants, and Great Egrets. Were still nestlings in a few Great Blue Heron nests, but the remainder of the visible nests on the island were empty. The cormorants dominate the trees along the south side of the island and made threatening gestures toward herons that happened to alight on nearby limbs. The herons and egrets roost in the center of the island, often in dense foliage. Certainly some were missed in counts. Double-crested Cormorant (200+), Great Blue Heron (65), Great Egret (52), Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron (3), Cattle Egret (5), and Black-crowned Night-Heron (49) (Michael Sledjeski and Leslie Gibbens). 2007. May 24, from motorized canoe, Double-crested Cormorant (70 nests, most with large young); Great Blue Heron (20+ nests, most with large young); Great Egret (10 adults, but not on nests), unlike June 2006; and Black-crowned Night-Heron (25+nests, most with adults apparently still incubating or brooding), 4-5 of adults running around on the ground (like chickens) picking up dropped fish underneath cormorant nests (Rick Knight, Michael Sledjeski and Leslie Gibbens). Contacts are Michael Sledjeski, 778 Serena Way, Del Rio, TN 37727, 423-487-3161, mtnsylva@earthlink.net, and Rick Knight, rknight8@earthlink.net.