After a week of building, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust's Bird Observatory is COMPLETE!
This lab will serve as the home base for bird-banders John Diener and Lizzie Goodrick to conduct longterm bird monitorings in the Gorge. Soon, we will know exactly which birds pass through the Gorge during migration and which stay here to breed! We anticipate that our bird inventorying process will continue for at least ten to fifteen years. After the first few years of inventorying, the Trust will use the data to better manage our forests to promote the survivorship of our birds.
A huge thanks to The Benwood Foundation, Tennessee American Water, and Norcross Wildlife Foundation for funding this structure. We couldn't have done it without the inspired design from Andrew Smith of Andrew Smith Architects. Thank you Master Carpenters, Ray Porter and Jerry Griggs, for your patience and cunning! And those footings wouldn't have poured themselves, Lookout Mountain Conservancy. You guys rock!