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Note: The Big Sandy Unit & Environs is considered part of the IBA site, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo by Mike Todd

Looking west from Pace Point in winter. The island is now part of the Point due to the drawdown for winter pool. This is at the confluence of the Big Sandy River (left) with the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake).

Location: The Big Sandy/Sulphur Well portion of the unit, approximately 4 miles east of Paris, Henry County, Tennessee; the Big Sandy Peninsula portion of the unit, approximately 7 miles north of Big Sandy, Benton County, Tennessee; and the Paris Landing area (all within Kentucky Lake) from the north end of the Big Sandy Unit to half-mile north of U.S. 79 (Scott Fitzhugh Bridge) including Eagle Creek, in the counties of Henry and Stewart, Tennessee.
Physiographic Province:  PIF 14 (Interior Low Plateaus [Western Highland Rim]); BCR 27 (Southeastern Coastal Plain)

Geographical Coordinates: 
    Big Sandy Unit--362100N  Long. 0880735W 
Elevation Range:  354' - 600'
Size:  21,348 acres
USGS 7.5' quads:   Paris Landing, Popular Creek, and West Sandy Dike.

Description:  The Big Sandy Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge primarily consists of rolling uplands adjacent to the waters of Kentucky Lake. Most of the open upland areas (approximately 700 acres) are managed for waterfowl using a cooperative farming program where local farmers plant the fields in row crops and the rent is a portion of the crop that is left standing in the fields. The crops left for waterfowl usually are corn and winter wheat. Over half of this unit consists of waters of Kentucky Lake. A waterfowl management strategy that attracts a wide variety of waterfowl to this unit including several diving duck species, loons, and grebes is a seasonal closure of some bays to boats during the waterfowl migrations and wintering periods. A prominent feature on this unit is Pace Point. This area is located at the top of the Big Sandy Peninsula and overlooks the confluence of the Big Sandy River and the Tennessee River.
   Another important habitat on this unit is the upland deciduous forest that dominates the Big Sandy Peninsula. There are about 7,000 acres of mature forests in one contiguous block at this location. Many species of forest interior birds can be found utilizing this habitat. The forests of this area are actively managed using commercial thinning that is aimed at improving the nesting structure for several of these birds. Currently there is a research project underway to evaluate the impact of management activities that occurred in 2001 on the avian communities.

IBA Criteria:  2, 3, 4a, 4e, 5

Ornithological Importance:  This unit with its diverse habitats is a draw to virtually the whole range of bird groups. The mature upland deciduous forest attracts many neotropical species and fields hold marsh and sparrow species, but it is the water that makes the area extra appealing. Situated in a north/south direction at the confluence of the Big Sandy River and the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake), the area geographical is a natural corridor for migrant and wintering water associated species. Loons, grebes, and coots gather by the hundreds, gulls flock by the thousands, and waterfowl are present by the tens of thousands of upwards of 25 species in a day. Shore and wading birds are attracted to the shallow areas and mudflats in moderate numbers. Raptors are numerous with nesting Ospreys along the river courses and Bald Eagles wintering in significant numbers. Though numbers do not warrant individual criteria status, the Least Tern, a Tennessee Endangered species, is occasionally observed in late summer as a migrant. Golden Eagle, a Tennessee Threatened species, is observed in the winter, with a least one bird wintering annually. At times they are seen in the winter roost site of the Bald Eagles. American White Pelican--January 14, 2006 (550) Pace Point area.
    Note 1. Bald Eagle, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, counts are held twice a month during the winter months. The peak count, no matter when it occurs, is used in the refuge's "Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey." Results in the "Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey," 2001-2005 are:  2001 (26 adults, 27 immatures), 2002 (15 adults, 18 immatures), 2003 (22 adults, 12 immatures), 2004 (13 adults, 6 immatures), 2005 (19 adults, 5 immatures). Bald Eagles have a winter roost site on the unit. Frequently a Golden Eagle is present also.
    Note 2. The approximate 7,000-acre mature hardwood forest on the Big Sandy Peninsula because of its size and location is a significant draw for neotropical migrants and breeding species, and year-round and winter species that require this habitat. Neotropicals breeders include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Scarlet Tanager. See Note 7 for the current management plan for this area.
    Note 3. The five-year waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) average from the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey," 2001-2005, is 53,532 birds (12% of the statewide wintering total). The total annual number of waterfowl during that survey period is 93,755 (2001), 87,810 (2002), 32,815 (2003), 18,851 (2004), and 34,427 (2005). The five-year average for the major wintering duck species is Mallard (33,855 [12% of the statewide wintering total]), Ring-necked Duck (3,559 [30% of the statewide wintering total]), Gadwall (3,016 [9% of the statewide wintering total]), Canvasback (1,826 [88% of the statewide wintering total]), American Black Duck (1,662 [17% of the statewide wintering total]), Ruddy Duck (1,367 [77% of the statewide wintering total]), and scaup species (1,094 [31% of the statewide wintering total]). This unit attracts a significant number of diving ducks where in the other two units, other than the Ring-necked Duck, diving ducks are in low numbers or absent. Canada Goose five-year average during the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey," 2001-2005, is 2,727 birds. A statewide comparison, 2002-2005, shows a 4-year average of 1,442 birds or 11% of the state wintering total (data represents four years as there were ten times more geese reported statewide in 2001 than normal). Most numbers of waterfowl species peak higher during the migration periods, especially fall migration, than the period of the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey." Waterfowl: Waterfowl numbers are higher at various times of the year than during waterfowl surveys. Examples are: December 22, 2002--Canvasback (458+) and Common Goldeneye (738+). November 27, 2004 (19 species waterfowl). Grebes: Four species have been encountered, Pied-billed and Horned are regular and occur in good numbers. Examples are: December 22, 2002--Pied-billed Grebe (324+) and Horned Grebe (852+). American Coot is present in significant numbers with 1,046 birds average (25% of the statewide wintering total) during the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey," 2001-2005. Peak numbers 2001-2004 within a survey period include: December 1-15, 2001 (7,540), November 16-30, 2002 (3,110), and November 16-30, 2004 (1,510).
    Note 4. Without question the Pace Point/Paris Landing Area is the most significant area for concentrations of loons in Tennessee. Common Loon numbers peak in November in the hundreds, and Red-throated and Pacific loons are recorded annually. Yellow-billed Loon occurred in February/March 2004 and November 26,-December 4, 2005, with four species of loons present in the area at one time. Peak numbers of Common Loon 2001-2004 include:  December 1-15, 2001 (118), November 16, 2002 (719), November 16, 2003 (400), February 21, 2004 (250), and November 5, 2004 (500+) (Jeff Wilson, Robert Wheat).
    Note 5. The number of gulls during the winter vary each year according to the severity of the weather. The Ring-billed Gull is the most common with 1,000+ in the area at roost time. Up to six species of gulls have occurred at one time with four species the norm including regularly Lesser Black-backed Gull.
    Note 6. David Buehler of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in cooperation with the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge initiated a study to determine the population response of forest interior species to a canopy reduction of an even aged forest. "A forest prescription plan was written and approved in 2001 for Compartment 4 on the Big Sandy Unit. The prescribed actions included timber harvesting and controlled burning...The primary target species of these management actions are the Cerulean Warbler, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, and Hooded Warbler." The harvesting was conducted but the controlled burn did not occur because of weather conditions. All harvesting and burns have been suspended since 2001 pending research analysis of the effect of the management activities in 2001(Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge August 2004).

Ownership:   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee NWR, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, TN 38242, 731-642-2091.
   Contact:  Robert Wheat, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee NWR, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, TN 38242, 731-642-2091, Robert_Wheat@fws.gov.

Conservation Concerns:  Serious concern is the proposed changes in fall drawdown schedule of Kentucky Reservoir that will impact shorebird and waterfowl habitat on mudflats.

Management Program:  None.

Submitted by:  Robert Wheat, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee NWR, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, TN 38242, 731-642-2091, Robert_Wheat@fws.gov.

Additional Contributors:

References:
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge 2004. Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Biological Review Handbook. Unpublished.

Approved under the umbrella IBA site Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge: December 2005--Yes 7  No 0

This page was last updated on 02/19/06.