Spring has Sprung! Wood Thrushes arrive in Chattanooga!

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April 19, 2007

Spring has Sprung! Wood Thrushes arrive in Chattanooga!

Wood Thrush.jpg

Wood Thrush - Photo provided by USF&WS

Yesterday I spent the morning at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden performing a walk through of the Profile Trail, which we're bringing back to life after it had fallen into bad shape over the past few years. We hope to have the trail reopened for National Trails Day on Saturday June 2. During my visit to Reflection Riding, I saw a number of migratory bird species that had arrived on their breeding grounds. The gourds were alive with the flutter of Purple Martins, an Indigo Bunting flashed it's brilliant blue colors at it flew over a meadow, and the familiar raspy song of the Scarlet Tanager could be heard from high atop the canopy.

This morning, as I walked outside to leave for work, I heard one of the sweetest sounds of the Southern Appalachians; the Wood Thrush has arrived in Chattanooga! This is perhaps my favorite sound to hear in the woods, only rivaled by the song of the Veery, or the call of the Barred Owl.

I hope you enjoy these springtime images that I took at Reflection Riding yesterday. If you find yourself in Chattanooga, be sure to stop by for a visit!

Eastern Box Turtle.JPG

Eastern Box Turtle