Phelp's Pond - Louisville
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Phelp's Pond - Louisville |
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Photo: Warren E. Bielenberg |
| A view of the pond with the heronry nests in the dead trees. |
Colony Name:
Phelp's Pond - Louisville
Colony Code: Blount-8
County:
Blount
Geographical
Location.
Physiographic Province:
PIF 13 (Southern Ridge and Valley)' BCR 28 (Appalachian Mountains)
Latitude and Longitude:
35.8125 and -84.12361
How Obtained: Estimated using
DeLorme Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer
Nearest City/Town:
Louisville
Distance:
5 miles
Directions from town to colony:
From intersection of U.S. 129 and Louisville Road in
Alcoa, go
west on Louisville Road approximately 8.5 miles and turn right at gas station.
Follow road approximately 1.5 miles past smelly dairy barns to stop sign on Lowes Ferry Road. Pond is on the left and nests are in dead trees in the
back of the pond.
Owner: Ralph Phelps Dairy Farm
Address: 4264 Lowes Ferry Road, Louisville, TN 37777
Management Plan: None
Description.
General Description: Site is dead trees in a pond located
on a dairy farm.
General Habitat:
Shoreline/Lake, Pond, Impoundment
Specific Habitat:
Six dead trees of various heights that are in the pond
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Species of nest trees:
Size: Less than 1 acre
History.
This site has been an active Great Blue Heron heronry since at least 2000
(6+ nests) (Warren Bielenberg, Dean
Edwards).
2006. February,
no birds present in several trips in last six weeks, several nests in disrepair
(Charlie Muise).
March 16, as of
this date, Great Blue Herons on at least 3 nests (Charlie Muise).
March 18,
Great Blue Heron (9 active nests) adult on each one plus other Great Blue Herons
in the air, at the pond, at the nearby pond, and on Ish Creek.
April 12,
Great Blue Heron (14 nests) one adult carrying sticks to one of the nests
(Charlie Muise).
2007. January 16,
Great Blue Heron (10 adults on nests) (Warren Bielenberg). February 24,
Great Blue Heron (many on nests) estimated 20-30 nests (Dean Edwards).
February 27,
Great Blue Heron (20 in trees with 14 being on nests) some standing on and some
sitting very low in the nests, 20 total nests visible in trees in and around the
pond (Warren Bielenberg). Contacts are K. Dean Edwards,
kde@angst.engr.utk.edu, Charles Muise, cmmbirds@yahoo.com
and Warren Bielenberg,
birdglass44@aol.com. 2008. See breeding survey
below.
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Cumulative Breeding Summary |
| Year | Species | Maximum Number Adults Observed | Active Nests | Young in Nests | Estimated Breeding Pairs |
| 2006 | Great Blue Heron | 9+ | 14 | -- | 14 |
| 2007 | Great Blue Heron | 20 | 14 | -- | 14 |
| 2008 | Great Blue Heron | 12 | 14 | 42 | 14 |
2008
Survey Results.
Survey Dates:
April 8, May 8, and May 22, 2008 (9:20-9:35 a.m., 9:50-10:15 a.m., and 10:00-10:25
a.m., respectively)
Survey Vantage Point: On Foot; From Vehicle
Primary Observers: Warren E. Bielenberg, 2127 Spalding
Drive, Maryville, TN 37803, 865-7884,
birdglass44@aol.com.
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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 |
| April 8 | Great Blue Heron | Pre-nesting; Building | Actual Count | Actual Count | 12 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| May 8 | Great Blue Heron | Unfledged Young | Actual Count | Actual Count | 8 | 16 | 14 | 38 | 14 |
| May 22 | Great Blue Heron | Unfledged Young | Actual Count | Actual Count | 5 | 15 | 13 | 42 | 14 |
| Comments: April 8 - Twelve adults were standing on nests. One adult observed flying in with sticks three times. May 8 - A single Cattle Egret was observed on one of the nesting trees but flew away to the west shortly after I arrived. Three adults were observed flying in and feeding young. Two other adults were observed moving sticks in nests without young. |
