Tigrett WMA

Location: Three miles south of Dyersburg, along the North Fork Forked Deer River and the Middle Fork Forked Deer River, in the counties of Crockett, Dyer and Gibson, Tennessee.
Physiographic Province: PIF 04 (East Gulf Coastal Plain); BCR 27 (Southeastern Coastal Plain)
Tennessee IBA Site Map - Tigrett WMA

Geographical Coordinates:
Tigrett Wildlife Management Area--Lat. 355900N Long. 0891730W
Elevation Range: 265' - 278'
266' Tigrett Wildlife Management Area
Size: 7,595 acres
USGS 7.5' quad: Bonicord

Description: Approximately 60% (4,457 acres) of the site is ponded swamp, shrub, and scrub type wetland habitat. Because of the channelization levees that keeps water ponded 12 months a year, approximately 4,000 acres will have water on it most of the year. Some 6.6 miles of the North Fork Forked Deer River and 3.51 miles of the Middle Fork of the Forked Deer River transverse the management area. In addition, there are 6.6 miles of old North Fork River meanders and 2.64 miles of old Middle Fork River meanders in the management area. These meanders are included in the 4,000 acres of ponded swamp. There are small areas of quality bottomland hardwood scattered throughout.

IBA Criteria: 4a, 4b

Ornithological Importance: Species associated with ponded swamp wetland habitat highlight this site. Mississippi Kite, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, averages 20 individuals and a maximum of 50 individuals using the site during the breeding season (1993-2004). No nest has been found . Bald Eagle, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, averages 4 birds and a maximum of 8 birds during the winter (1993-2004). In spring 2005, one pair of eagles nested on the site. Shorebirds occur in small numbers.
Point Counts: Thirty-seven point counts were conducted in 1995, 16 in 1996, 39 in 1997, and 21 in 1998. In 113 counts over 4 years, 2,127 birds of 65 species were observed. The table below summaries the top 20 species on point counts at the Tigrett Wildlife Management Area by relative abundance of individuals in the period 1997-2000. Of the top 20 species, 6 species (30%) were neotropical. The Prothonotary Warbler was the most common neotropical. The East Gulf Coastal Plain is a center of abundance for this species.

Species	Count
Red-winged Blackbird	191
Northern Cardinal	152
Prothonotary Warbler*	125
Brown-headed Cowbird	106
Common Grackle	91
Indigo Bunting*	86
Tufted Titmouse	82
Acadian Flycatcher*	77
Carolina Chickadee	72
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher*	71
European Starling	70
American Crow	67
Little Blue Heron	67
Great Crested Flycatcher*	61
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*	55
Carolina Wren	48
Mourning Dove	48
Downy Woodpecker	47
Red-bellied Woodpecker	46
Eastern Wood-Pewee*	43
* = neotropical

Note 1. Waterfowl numbers in the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey," do not reflect the degree of waterfowl usage of the area since the birds are hunted and are not present during the daytime aerial survey period. The large numbers are present generally after the close of the hunting season and no additional survey data is available.
Note 2. Wading birds present during the migration periods include Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron (few), and Green Heron. No numbers as to species are recorded.

Site Criteria	Species/ Group	Season¹	Avg. No Season	Max. No. Season	Years of Data	Source²
4a	Waterfowl (See Note 1 above.)	W	15,000	30,000	1998-2004	5, 6
4b	Wading Birds (See Note 2 above.)	SM, FM	100	200	1993-2004	6

Season¹ B = Breeding, W = Wintering, SM = Spring Migration, FM = Fall Migration
Source ² 1-Atlas Breeding Birds of Tennessee 2-Breeding Bird Surveys 3-Christmas Bird Counts
4-Point Counts 5-Refuge Counts 6-Personal observations (Carl Wirwa) 7-Other (specify)

Ownership: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Contact: Carl Wirwa, Area Manager, 18 East Main Street, Alamo, TN 38001, 731-696-3197 or 731-423-5725, Carl.Wirwa@state.tn.us

Conservation Concerns: Critical concerns are water pollution (sedimentation), agricultural conversion, drainage, and channelization. Serious concern is deforestation. Potential concern is pesticides.

Management Program: None.

Submitted by: Carl Wirwa, Area Manager, 18 East Main Street, Alamo, TN 38001, 731-696-3197 or 731-423-5725, Carl.Wirwa@state.tn.us