Displaying items by tag: ice age
Seeking the musical saw-whet, drawn to Smokies by space and time
Though seldom seen, the toot-toot tunes of the northern saw-whet owl are signs of late spring in the high peaks of Southern Appalachia. Rob Hunter/Hellbender Press
Though not on any formal breeding list, nocturnal nomads bring spring tunes to high Smokies
GATLINBURG — It’s a May evening and I’m standing at a pull-off on Clingmans Dome Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. My breathing is light as I close my eyes and listen intently for a singular sound on the crisp night air. I hold absolutely still to keep my heavy coat from rustling. The coat is necessary on nights at this elevation, even as Memorial Day approaches.
This is not my first stop along the road tonight and my patience is beginning to wane. Just as I decide to turn back toward the car, the sound I’m seeking reaches my ears.
Toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-toot-…
Saw-whet owls are not officially listed as Smokies breeders, but a wealth of anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency