Colony Name: Fort Loudoun Dam Pylons - Lenoir City
Colony Code: Loudon-2
County: Loudon

Geographical Location.
    Physiographic Province: PIF 13 (Southern Ridge and Valley); BCR 28 (Appalachian Mountains)
    Latitude and Longitude: 35.78664 and -84.25067
        How Obtained:  eBird Google Map

Nearest City/Town: Lenoir City
Distance: Heronry is within the city limits.
Directions from town to colony: From 321E take first right after light at Route 11 (entrance to dam). Turn right again, then take next two lefts to the boat ramp. Pylons are across river to the left from the boat ramp.
Owner: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
    Address:
Management Plan: None

Description.
    General Description: Heronry is on two TVA pylons just below Fort Loudoun Dam.
    General Habitat: Riparian/River, Stream
    Specific Habitat: Mixed Trees
    Species of nest trees: Nests are on two metal pylons.
    Size: 1.5 hectares

History.
    Fort Loudoun Lake Dam Pylons looked below the overlook of the dam is a breeding colony of Great Blue Herons. The Great Blues nest on various levels on the tower. Black-crowned Night-Heron occur regularly in the area, but a nest has not been found (Carol Gobert). 2002. February 24, Great Blue Heron (several adults) working on nests in the trees downstream from the dam) (David Trently, Audrey Hoff). 2006. March 5, (no activity on the tower), raining heavily, were about 100 Black Vultures covering the tower (Carol Gobert). 2007. May 12, Black-crowned Night-Heron (2 adults) below dam (Carole Gobert). May 19, Fort Loudoun Dam, Great Blue Heron breeding colonies on two TVA towers on the Tellico Dam side of the river, UTM 16 749096E and 3963742 N (NAD 27 taken from TopoZone, approximate coordinates), one pylon (8 active nests with 6 young) and second pylon (2 active nests with 2 young); and Great Blue Heron breeding colony in the forest above the overlook for Fort Loudon Dam, UTM 116 748821E and 3964413N (NAD 27 taken from TopoZone, approximate coordinates), (9 active nests in three sycamore trees, could not see if young present due to the foliage (Tony King and Carole Gobert). July 7, Great Blue Heron, on the two pylons across the river (4 active nests, two on each) with 9 Great Blue Herons standing on them, all were large (adult sized) but could not tell age, were sharing the pylons with vultures. There were 40 Black Vultures and 4 Turkey Vultures either on the pylons or on the ground below them. The herons and vultures ignored each other. At the dam, Great Blue Heron (19) and Black-crowned Night-Heron (16 including 1 juvenile), others were in the air and one was perched atop a dead tree. In addition, Double-crested Cormorant (at least 2, perhaps as many as 5) (Carole Gobert). Contacts are Carole Gobert,  cpgobert@hotmail.com, David Trently, dtrently@utk.edu and Audrey Hoff,  ahoff@tds.net.    

2008 Breeding Surveys

Date	Species	Reproductive Stage	Survey Type (Nests)	Survey Type (Adults)	Total Number Adults	Total Number Nests	Number Active Nests	Number Young Seen	Estimated Breeding Pairs
March 16	Great Blue Heron	Eggs in Nest	Actual Count	Actual Count	6+	6	6	0	6
Aprill 5	Great Blue Heron	Eggs in Nest	Actual Count	Actual Count	8	8	6	0	8
April 15	Great Blue Heron	Eggs in Nest	Actual Count	Actual Count	11	9	8	1	8
May 13	Great Blue Heron	Unfledged Young	Actual Count	Actual Count	6	10	8	16	10
June 7	Great Blue Heron	Unfledged Young	Actual Count	Actual Count	7	10	10	18	10

Comments: March 16 - Thirteen Black Vultures were below nest on pylon holding. On one pylon 1 nest with standing adult heron. On other pylon, 5 nests with 3 sitting adults herons and 2 standing adult herons. April 15 - Pylon A, closest to the dam, still has 1 nest and appeared to have a sitting heron, but view was partially blocked and could not be sure. Pylon B has 7 nests with 6 active including one with at least one nestling. There is now a third pylon downstream of the other two with one active nest. May 13 - On Pylon A, closest to the dam, I could see only 1 nest. this pylon has been taken over by Black Vultures (70+). The nest held 4 large active young herons. A vulture was sitting within a few feet of them. I could not see the second nest that I saw on April 23. Pylon C still has one nest. When I arrived, there was an adult standing on it and a second adult two levels below. when I left, there were no herons on that pylon. All three pylons had Black Vultures, but only A had large numbers of Vultures. B had 10 and C had 6.  June 7 - On Pylon A, closest to the dam, there is one nest with young. Pylon B - could see 9 nests, all active including one which previously appeared inactive. Pylon C nest not seen. Black Vultures were at all three pylons. Did not count them.