Feathered Visitors Flocking to the Tennessee River Valley- Best Places to Observe Migrating Birds
The Tennessee River Valley uplands and wetlands become stops for migrating bird species as diverse as loons, pelicans, cranes, egrets, and majestic bald eagles. Beginning in late December through early spring, novice and experienced birders need only a good set of binoculars to observe large populations of migrating feathered visitors.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For hunters, anglers, bird watchers and other wildlife enthusiasts, numerous migratory waterfowl flight plans include extended layovers in the Tennessee Valley region.
Conveniently accessed public viewing areas throughout the region provide the general public locations to witness vast flocks of nature's aquatically oriented airborne creatures as they follow the changing seasons.
Many avian species make their way through the Tennessee River Valley as autumn turns to winter.
The eerie call of a loon is an unforgettable sound. Loons migrate from northern lakes to coastal ocean waters. A common flight route is from the Great Lakes region to Mexico or Florida coasts, This leads to a high population of Loons making a pit-stop in Tennessee Valley. Two TVA lakes with high population of loons -- as well as many other fascinating bird species -- are Pickwick and Norris.
The 21,000 acre Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge along Kentucky Lake has several units open year round for bird watchers.
The Duck River Bottoms Overlook Trail needs to be on a bucket list for birders. The Duck River Bottoms Scenic Overlook, located 7 miles southeast of Camden along Hwy 191 (Birdsong Road) and North Eagle Creek Road, encompasses stunning viewsheds at the mile-wide confluence of the Tennessee and Duck Rivers. Take a short hike on the .25-mile trail to see the river delta, including the unbelievable underwater species diversity, as more riverine species exist in the Duck River than in all of the rivers of Europe combined.
Five miles south of New Johnsonville, Tennessee off Hwy 70S is where the Duck River meets the Tennessee River. These bottomlands are some of the most fertile lands in the nation, and today home to thousands of wintering waterfowl, hawks, bald eagles, shorebirds and egrets. The area has an extensive system of refuge roads to view wildlife, and there is an info kiosk at the entrance.
For those fascinated by birds of prey, Guntersville and Chickamauga Lakes are prime locations to see eagles hunting along the waterways. Thanks to conservation efforts Alabama's nesting bald eagle population is increasing, and Guntersville has become a focal point of Eagle Awareness in the state. Each year, on select weekends in January through the first weekend in February the park's Eagle Awareness programs entertain and educate the public about our once endangered national symbol.
Sandhill Crane Festivals continue to draw visitors year after year to see the large flocks of sandhill cranes that descend annually in January to the marshy areas of the Hiwassee and Joe Wheeler wildlife refuges. Don't be surprised if an occasional Whooping Crane steals the show.
Birding is a great way to learn more about the seasons of the Valley. From early autumn to late winter, rediscover the wildlife of the uplands and wetlands.
The TRV Stewardship Council, a 501 c3 non profit, serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the ExploreTRV MapGuide, a geotourism website. The Council is composed of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Media Contact
Julie Graham, TRV Stewardship Council/ ExploreTRV, 8655850811, [email protected]
SOURCE TRV Stewardship Council
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