On Saturday, October 23, 2004, the Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society unveiled the new "adopt-a-spot" signs on Sharp's Ridge and held a litter pickup-invasive plant removal workday there. Sharp's Ridge is one of the premier birding spots in the Knoxville area. It is also the site of the recently deadicated J. B. Owen overlook, named after a long-term leader of the Knoxville birding community.

Although the City of Knoxville does not have a formal adopt-a-spot/adopt-a-road beautification program, chapter members have held litter pickups there in the past, and wanted more formal recognition of these efforts. Chapter Conservation Chair Mark Campen made this request to city officials, and the city accepted the request and provided two signs that were mounted on the ridge.

About a dozen chapter members participated in this litter pickup/invasive plant removal. They filled several bags with trash and removed grafitti from the display at the overlook. They also removed many ailanthus, mimosa, tree-of-heaven, and princess trees, as well as lots of privet and bush honeysuckle. Plants were either hand-pulled or, if too big to pull, were cut and then had herbicide painted on the stumps. Participants included Mark Campen, Allan Muise, Tracey Muise, David Johnson, Carole Gobert, Harold Howell, Deedee Blaine, Carol Lammers, David Trently, Mia Trently, and Tony King.

Chapter members will continue these efforts in the future. For information on participating, contact Mark Campen at campen@tnike.com.

Chapter members gathered at the end of the workday.

Photos by Charles P. Nicholson.

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