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North Chickamauga Creek Gorge SNABirding Seasons: Spring A Summer A- Fall A Winter B
Site Description and Habitats North Chickamauga Creek is a 7,093-acre natural area located in Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties. It is an outstanding deep gorge cut into the sandstone plateau of Walden's Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau. The gorge is approximately ten miles long with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs, and rich coves. A high diversity of plant and animal habitat exists in the gorge. Ten state and/or federally listed plants occur there. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been reported there. A mixed mesophytic forest combines with oak-hickory, and oak-pine forests to form a rich mosaic throughout much of the gorge. Small pockets of old growth forest with towering tulip poplar, yellow buckeye, and basswood occur in remote locations where rugged topography has protected the forest from past logging. On the uplands and bluffs, there are oak-hickory and oak-pine forests, upland ponds, and sandstone glades and barrens. Riverside shoals and stream cobble bars in North Chickamauga Creek provide habitat for several threatened and endangered plants. The creek is a popular kayaking stream during parts of the year. It is also a popular destination for hikers. The area is visited by hikers regularly, but underbirded and little data has been reported (esp. to eBird). Spring and fall should be fantastic along the gorge and on the bluffs. Please report to eBird! Bird species of interest Spring and Fall Migration: Nearly all warblers, vireos, thrushes and flycatchers can be found including Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Wilson's, Chestnut-sided,Tennessee, Black-and-White, Blue-winged, Cerulean, Blackpoll (spring only), and Cape May Warblers, American Redstart, Swainson's Thrushes are common in spring and fall, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery are regular, Philadelphia Vireo, and other passerines can be common. Summer: Eastern Wood-pewee, Scarlet Tanager, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky and Hooded Warbler, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, andYellow-billed Cuckoo. Winter: Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrows, and possible Pine Siskins in irruption years. Year-Round: Barred Owl, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, among other resident woodland species. Species list via eBird Hotspot Explorer Submit your data to eBird here
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