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Kentucky

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis ŠRuss Thompson http://e-hummingbirds.com

At first glance, Kentucky appears to merely be a state which hosts some great birds which can be seen elsewhere in the company of more exotic species. Kentucky natives know better; as a Mississippi flyway state in the mid south, our state offers a highly varied list of species from all four compass points. Where else can one find Swainson`s Warblers, Snowy Owls, Prothonotary Warblers, Dicksissels, Bell`s Vireos, Ravens, Thayer`s Gulls, and Greater White-fronted Geese, all within a calendar year ? Add the occasional Red-necked grebe, nesting Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, and a sporadic Evening Grosbeak invasion, and you begin to see why we don`t mind birding close to home. Every location has its rarities, but ours can (and do) come from anywhere. The species total for the state is currently approaching 350.

Most of Kentucky is very rural, with the Appalachian Mountains in the east; mixed farmland and hardwood forest throughout the central region; and open farmland giving way to river bottoms in the west. Like much of rural America, it is strikingly beautiful. Its residents are generally friendly and hospitable.

A complete list of birding locations can be found at the Kentucky Ornithological Society (KOS) web site, given below. A birder with some time to spend in the state will want to hit four main regions set out in the Top Sites below.

Anyone interested in birding in Kentucky should check the links listed below, especially those for KOS, Birding Pal, and the BirdKY listserve. The latter is a good source of current birding news in the state.

top sites

Central Region

The central regions of the state are rich in rural birding habitats. This is the area with the least number of local specialties, but many good species turn here. Spring and fall migrations can be especially fruitful. Check state and national parks. Wintering raptors such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons are regular.

Eastern Mountains and Cumberland Plateau

The eastern mountains and Cumberland Plateau host species found nowhere else in the state. The elevation of this region makes it suitable for many breeding passerines typically found in more northern locations. Specialties of the region include many breeding warblers, ruffed grouse, veery, ravens, and regular saw-whet owls in winter.

Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati draws the best concentrations of winter residents, such as snow buntings, snowy owls (rare but regular); all three species of scoters on the Ohio River, and rough-legged hawks.

Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky includes two man-made lakes, as well as the Mississipi flyway. This region, like the Cumberland plateau, is essential birding. For a state poor in wetlands and open water, these regions provide the majority of waders and waterfowl. Migration periods and winter birding can be excellent, with wintering white pelicans, gulls, and raptors. Breeding Mississippi kites, scissor-tailed flycatchers, black-necked stilts, and least terns make spring and summer trips fruitful.

contributor

Steve Kistler
(Munfordville, Kentucky)
kistlers@scrtc.com

numbers

Number of bird species:352

useful reading

The Birds of Kentucky

Burt L. Monroe Jr., William Zimmerman Hardcover (October 1994) Indiana University Press
ISBN: 0253338921
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

State Bird

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

clubs

Audubon Society in Kentucky

http://www.audubon.org/chapter/ky/
Usual list of local chapters

Beckham Bird Club

http://www.beckhambirdclub.org/
The Beckham Bird Club, Inc. (BBC); in existence for more than sixty years, is a non-profit organization of men, women, and children who are interested in birds, ecology, and nature. It is named for Charles Wickliffe Beckham, the first native Kentuckian to achieve a national reputation as an ornithologist, and was founded in 1935 in Louisville, Kentucky, as the Louisville Chapter of the Kentucky Ornithological Society. Beckham Bird Club members are people who like birds, enjoy watching them, and want to keep in touch with others who also enjoy the sport.

Buckley Hills Audubon Society

http://www.buckleyhills.org/
The Buckley Hills Audubon Society is a member of the National Audubon Society and the Kentucky Audubon Council, and serves 10 Central Kentucky counties in the promotion of conservation education and awareness...

Cumberland Chapter Sierra Club

http://kentucky.sierraclub.org/
About the Cumberland Chapter The Cumberland Chapter, founded in 1968, encompasses the Commonwealth of Kentucky and since its founding has grown to more than 3000 members. To return to the National Sierra Club Home Page from any page in the Kentucky Chapter site, click the Sierra Club logo in the upper left-hand corner of the page.

Daviess County Audubon Society

http://www.daviessaudubon.org/
Today Daviess County Audubon Society consists of ~130 members: 50 members are active in the organization and the rest are considered subscribers who are interested in the Audubon mission. Ten newsletters are published each year. The chapter meets monthly from September through June...

Eastern Kentucky Bird Club

http://www.biology.eku.edu/KOS/ekbc.htm
Eastern Kentucky Bird Club Mission Statement: To provide a forum for Eastern Kentucky bird enthusiasts to become acquainted with one another, and to share information and experience. To promote birding and bird conservation in the Eastern Kentucky area. To organize birding events and educational programs and to provide information on birding opportunities in Eastern Kentucky for anyone interested in birds or birding in the region.

Frankfort Audubon Society

http://www.kentuckyaudubon.org/chapters/frankfort.htm
Serving the communities of Franklin & Owen Counties.

Kentucky Bird Records Committee

http://www.biology.eku.edu/KOS/seasonal_reports.htm#KBRC
The Kentucky Bird Records Committee serves to help determine the validity of records of rare birds in Kentucky, maintain the documentation for these records, and publish summaries of the committee`s deliberations.

Kentucky Bluebird Society

http://www.biology.eku.edu/kybluebirds.html
The Kentucky Bluebird Society was organized to foster the return and perpetuation of the Eastern Bluebird and other native cavity nesting birds in Kentucky. To this end, the Kentucky Bluebird Society (KBS) will strive for the best methods to use, conserve and create habitat for the protection of these species.

Kentucky Ornithological Society

http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
Members of the Kentucky Ornithological Society enjoy birds! We seek to create and increase interest in birds in Kentucky, and support the conservation of birds and their habitats. We also promote avian research. Anyone interested in birds may join our Society! We encourage you to check out our web site to learn more about us and, of course, more about the birds of Kentucky.

Nature Conservancy in Kentucky

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/kentucky/
The Mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive...

Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky

http://www.raptorrehab.org/
These birds have been injured to an extent that they have a permanent condition which prevents them from being able to survive in the wild on their own...

reserves

Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve

http://www.louisvillenaturecenter.org/bcsnp.htm
One of the great treasures of the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve is the presence of over 150 different species of birds. Some are residents, some are seasonal visitors, and some stop at the Preserve while migrating. The presence of the wooded area for food and shelter, along with a water source in this particular location makes the Preserve a very attractive stop for migratory birds. This situation is very advantageous for the area`s avid birders who want to view a lot of different species birds, and quite a learning tool for the students and adults who are anxious to observe and study more unusual bird species.

Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary

http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.asp?trailid=HGD128-050
Wildlife Sanctuary/Nature Center - 275 acres of mixed habitat, flora & Observation Center, Nature Center. Workshops, Environmental Education Activities.

Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge

http://www.ckwr.org/
The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge is a 500-acre preserve, located 13 miles from Danville in the Parksville knob land and bordering a stretch of the beautiful North Rolling Fork...

Daniel Boone National Forest

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/boone/
The Daniel Boone National Forest offers birders wonderful opportunities to see most of the birds that nest or winter in Kentucky. Birders from all over the state visit the Daniel Boone National Forest every year to add new species to their life lists or just to enjoy seeing some of the less common birds, such as the cerulean warbler, in areas where they are plentiful. If you are planning to visit the Forest and are interested in finding some good bird watching spots, below are a few hot spots you may want to check out.

Kentucky State Parks

http://www.kystateparks.com/
Kentucky is home to some of the most beautiful scenery and most interesting historical sites in the country. Our state park system includes 49 parks and one interstate park. Every state park in Kentucky has a web page right here on this site. To find a park you already know about, select it from this list and click go. You can also reach all the parks by clicking on the four sections of the map.

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

2000 [May] - Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. - Big Day

http://maybank.tripod.com/USA/KY-05-2000-BD.htm
A poor passerine day resulted in a species total below expectations. A taped call of Eastern Screech-Owl was used to draw in passerines during the day and to solicit a reply before dawn.

2000 [October] - Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. - Big Day

http://maybank.tripod.com/USA/KY-10-2000-BD.htm
This was the first conscious effort at an October Big Day for Kentucky and probably represents a relatively credible baseline. A taped call of Eastern Screech-Owl was used to draw in passerines during the day. No owls were sought before or after daylight.

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://birdingpal.org/ky.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

First Farm Inn Kentucky B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ky/firstfarm/
Paddle around the pond. Bring your pole and catch a bass. Watch the birds. Sample a garden-fresh herb...

Petticoat Junction B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ky/petticoat/
Treat yourself to a morning cup of coffee on one of our verandas. Smell the fragrant herb garden. Listen to the birds sing. Watch the cows graze calmly in a nearby pasture...

Rabbit Creek B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/ky/rabbitcreek/
Glenda invites you to make some memories sitting in the gazebo listening to the birds or watching the deer traverse our land, sipping a cool glass of wine compliments of the house...

mailing lists

BirdKY

http://www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=birdky
To post to list:birdky@freelists.org
To subscribe to list:birdky-request@freelists.org
To unsubscribe:Subscribe
blank
Kentucky Birding mailing & discussion list

Checklist

http://www.daviessaudubon.org/checklistofkentuckybirds.pdf
pdf

Enjoyable Hummingbirds

http://e-hummingbirds.com
Photos of ruby-throated hummingbirds eating from handheld flowers, handheld feeders and eating straight from the palm of my hand

Kentucky Migratory Bird Conservation

http://southeast.fws.gov/pubs/facts/kmbcon.pdf
pdf

Peregrines Over Kentucky

http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/peregrin.pdf
pdf

Raptor Rehabiliation of Kentucky

http://www.raptorrehab.org/humans/about.htm
Raptor Rehabiliation of Kentucky, Inc. (RROKI) is a non-profit all volunteer organization dedicated to helping sick, injured or orphaned birds of prey...raptors. RROKI was founded in 1987 by a small but dedicated group of people who were volunteering with the local zoo, but wanted to focus on the rehabilitation of native raptor species, and to make a more aggressive education effort throughout the state. So, armed with two federal permits and four non-releaseable birds of prey, these volunteers began to do their work in the private home of one founding member.

artists

Photographer - Russ Thompson - Enjoyable Hummingbirds