T h e   R e g a l   K i n g f i s h e r

From high in the Great Smokey Mountains many little streams flow down to the meadows below and come together to form larger streams. From these high meadows the streams flow to the lower gorges that have been cut through the mountains over many centuries. There are several rivers that start out in the Smokey Mountains and the one we go to the most is the Hiwassee River. From the foothills of the Smokies, the Hiwassee river flows through rocky cliffs and boulder lined gorges. Here deep, dark pools are formed and is home to many kinds of fish and other wildlife. Many small, shallower pools are formed along the edge of the main river. Most of these pools are hidden by an umbrella of trees that provide homes for many animals and birds.

Our favorite trail runs close to these quiet pools and is covered with trees. Wildlife is around every bend so we walk slowly and quietly. We are always ready with the camera to capture the beauty hidden here. In the clear, shallow pools you can watch a crawfish pushing up mud for his home and watch tadpoles swimming slowly in that ice cold water. If you are lucky you might see a salamander or even baby turtles.

Anybody who watches wildlife long enough will be startled from time to time while walking in the woods. Many animals and birds have a habit of waiting until you are almost on top of them before they burst from their hiding place. With the loud beating of wings, a bunch of quail bursting from their hiding place can almost make your heart stop. Another of natures startling discoveries is the Kingfisher. With its large head and crown of feathers, it perches on a bare branch above a quiet pool, motionless, searching the water for minnows. Often I have walked very near this bird unaware he was there, and they never moved or made a sound. Then with a sudden, very loud, rat-a-tat-tat-tat, he flies off through the trees. I have to sit down and let my heart slow down a bit, and the older you get the longer this takes. Forget taking pictures, after something like that happens I just feel lucky to be alive.

The Kingfisher lives along most of the waterways of the United States. They build their nest in big old woodpecker holes and I have seen many nesting in holes dug out in the clay banks along rivers. Sometimes you can see them hovering over the water making short dips trying to confuse a school of minnows below. As soon as one minnow gets lost from the others, the kingfisher dives and catches it in his beak. He then flies back to the perch and after a few pinches, to soften it up, he swallows it whole.

The female kingfisher has a large rusty, brown belt across her belly and that's how they got the name of Belted Kingfisher. There are three different kinds of kingfishers here in the United States. The Ringed Kingfisher and the little Green Kingfisher live only in the lower part of Texas but do visit Arizona occasionally. The kingfishers have family all around the world and are some of the world's most beautiful birds. Have you ever heard of the Kookaburra? Well he's also a kingfisher. You can hear his laughing voice in many jungle movies.

Belted Kingfishers live as far north as Canada and Alaska. They eat mostly fish but will eat frogs if available. Their beak is very big and very powerful. Once we were banding birds along a creek bank and caught a Kingfisher in our net. When we tried to undo him from the net my finger got caught in his beak. It was one of the most painful experiences I have ever had with birds. We decided to tape his beak shut until we could get him out of the net. Again the bird got my finger before we could do the tape thing. My same, very sore finger got lodged in his beak again. And again, the beak was pried open. It was in the middle of the winter and ice was on the ground and my fingers were already so cold they hurt. You can't wear gloves to take birds out of the net; you have to be very delicate. I'm just very glad that kingfishers don't have teeth or things would have been much worse. That bird tore our net up so bad that we couldn't use it anymore so that ended the bird banding that day. Anyway, at that point I was ready to go home and lick my wounds.

The funny looking kingfisher is just another of Gods creations that keeps me in awe and respectful of our Great Creator that made all living things. God has done many wonderful things for us in 2005 and I'm looking forward to see what is in store for us in 2006. May God bless you this New Year and please get out into nature when ever possible. Take a good bird book with you on your walks and a pair of binoculars to help study Gods second book, the book of nature. There is always a new adventure around the next bend.

Burney Tompkins

    - Uncle Burney