Upcoming counts and TOS State meeting dates…please make note.
For those who like to keep a long range calendar of events please note the following information: 2026 Spring NTOS Count is set for Saturday, April 25th. 2026 Fall NTOS Count will be set for Saturday, September 26th. 2026 Christmas Bird Count will be Saturday, December 19th. TOS Meetings (which probably won’t make a difference to you all. 😉) The Annual Spring TOS meeting is set for May 1-3 in Kingsport, TN - Keynote Speaker is Sheri L Williamson - hummingbird expert, author of NA Hummingbird book and soon to be released new version, Naturalist and all around fantastic person. Joint Fall meeting with the Kentucky Ornithological group will take place on September 18-20 at KenLake State Park. - Keynote speaker will be Cin-Ty Lee and Andrew Birch renowned Flycatcher experts and authors/illustrator of Flycatcher’s of North America. Information and registration for the Kingsport TOS meeting can be found on
FEBRUARY monthly meeting CANCELLED due to ICE STORM damage and subsequent CLEAN UP.
The FEBRUARY MEETING of the Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society (NTOS) has been CANCELLED. The recent ICE storm caused extensive tree damage to the Park. The Park also remains without electricity and water. Clean-up and restoration is expected to take until at least March 1st. Please make sure to check back here to see if the March meeting will take place so you don't make an unnecessary trip over there to find a locked gate. We will attempt to reschedule our speaker for another month. Field trips will take place as scheduled unless notified by Shelley Smith. Thank you for your understanding...be well and take good care.
A message from NTOS member Jan Shaw….
I would like to let my NTOS friends know of the passing of my mother, Margie Koehler, on 1/17/2026. She and my dad were active members of NTOS for decades, attending meetings and field trips for many years. They were also responsible for encouraging my interest in birding, which became a passion for me. In the 70’s my parents helped preserve Radnor Lake by gathering names on a petition to prevent any development on Radnor Lake property. To this day we all share in that victory. It was always a family tradition to walk at Radnor on Thanksgiving morning and whenever out of town family members came to visit. Please see my mom’s obituary to learn more about her giving and generous ways, helping others throughtout her whole life. dignitymemorial.com - Marjorie Rennebohm Koehler
WE NEED YOU…
Why join NTOS when our events are open to everyone? Because membership is about more than access — it’s about impact. When you join NTOS, your individual voice is amplified. Together with over 700 members across Tennessee, you help shape environmental policy and strengthen protections for birds and their habitats. NTOS has earned credibility with lawmakers and agencies through more than a century of field research, education, and advocacy. Your membership ensures that this work continues. Plus, members enjoy: • State and local publications delivered straight to your inbox • First notice of meetings and field trips • A connected community of birders who share your passion Events may be open, but membership makes your voice count. To learn more about becoming a member, visit the link in our profile. Join us and support birds across Tennessee.
WEDNESDAY MORNING RADNOR LAKE LEADERS NEEDED FOR SPRING 2026!
Spring will soon be upon us and I'm in search of leaders for the 4 Wednesday morning migration walks at Radnor Lake SP. They begin on Wednesday, April 22nd and run through May 8th. Walks begin at 7:30 from outside the Visitor's center and follow the same traditional route each time...up the road, across the spillway and up the trail to Long Bridge...where the walk officially ends. The responsibility of the leader is NOT to be the know-all expert but to simply greet folks as they arrive, get the walk started, keep it moving, maintain and eventually post the 'official' NTOS eBird list. There will be birders of all caliber on these walks and they pretty much 'run' themselves. So if you've taken part in them and enjoyed them in the past, please consider volunteering to lead one this spring. Contact Cyndi Routledge - routledges@bellsouth.net Thank you!!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDS FOR FALL WEDNESDAY MORNING RADNOR LAKE MIGRATION WALKS…
It’s that time again…time to find 4 willing volunteers for the FALL Wednesday morning Radnor Lake migration walk. This year’s dates are September 17th & 24th and October 1st & 8th. We gather by 7:30 am near the kiosk in the west Parking lot (off Otter Creek Rd) of Radnor Lake…and then set off up the road, across the spillway and up the trail to Long Bridge where the walk officially ends. As Leader you are the ‘point of contact’ on that day, you get the group started and keep the group moving. You also keep the ‘official’ bird list for the morning…which includes all that is seen and heard…and within 36 hours post the official list to TN-birds.org or get it to me to do it on your behalf. It’s that easy.. As we always say, you don’t have other be an ‘expert’ birders…just a willing volunteer. 😉 Each group will