The Nickajack Naturalist

Progress on Stringer's Ridge Trails

 
Downtown Chattanooga as viewed from Stringer's Ridge.

  On August 27th, I joined a sizeable group on the Tennessee River Gorge Trust's latest "Getting to Know the Gorge" hike for a tour of the trails on Stringer's Ridge.  Much work has recently been done to clear the trails of storm blow-down. 

  The Tennessee River Gorge Trust has partnered with the Chattanooga office of the Trust for Public Land in a project to save much of Stringer's Ridge, adjacent to Chattanooga's North Shore area, from development.  A network of trails has existed on the ridge for years, and has been used by mountain bikers and hikers.  Now, work on trail improvements is scheduled to begin early next year.

  Click here for an article about it from the Chattanoogan.  Learn more about the project at the TN River Gorge Trust's website.  Read about the history of the project to preserve Stringer's Ridge.

 
Lookout Mountain seen from Stringer's Ridge. 

 

Southern Cumberland Wildlife: The Green Heron

 
                                                                          Photo by Charlie Sammons

The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a common wading bird in the Southern Cumberland region and throughout the Southeast.  One of the smaller herons (L 18",WS 26"), they can be seen standing on logs or along the shorelines of streams, ponds, and swamps, waiting for small fish, frogs, insects, and such to come withing striking range. 

 
  Unlike their larger cousin the great blue heron, green herons tend to be more solitary, usually seen alone.  They may nest in small colonies of less than ten nests, which typically contain four to five eggs each.  The nests are built in small trees or shrubs three to forty feet above the ground, and usually over or near water.  Green herons are one of the few birds known to use tools.  They may use a piece of bread crust, a mayfly, or a feather as bait, placing it on the water surface, then waiting for it to attract a small fish or other potential prey.

 
  The green heron can be seen in the Cumberland region from late March to early November.  They winter in Florida, Mexico, and along the Gulf coast.  They are shy birds and tend to blend in well with their surroundings, so it's likely you've been close to one without being aware of it.

  The best place I know of to see them in the Chattanooga area is at the swamp adjacent to the Riverwalk near the Curtain Pole Road access.  That's where all of the above photos were taken.  Other good places to spot them include, but are certainly not limited to, the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center on Lookout Creek, Kimball Town Park, the TVA tract on Battle Creek between Kimball and South Pittsburg, and Stevenson City Park in Jackson County, AL.

Bob Butters