Very nice local birding article by Marcia Walker in the latest issue "enjoy!" magazine (it's published out of Columbus, IN):
http://bit.ly/bPcoF9
Note: The article runs from pages 4 through 9 in the print copy, but if you use the toolbar at the top of the online version, it's pages 6 through 11.
Of course, I may be biased. I may think it's a nice article because it starts off with several paragraphs about me and my BIGBY (green birding) activities. :-)
(What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/cn3cbv)
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Heron Park Sandhill Crane update
This spring a pair of migrating Sandhill Cranes stopped over in Heron Park in Vermilion County (IL). Finding the place to their liking, the cranes proceeded to court one another. By late April the birds had constructed a nest. By May 14 Brian Stearns had photos of the Sandhills tending an egg. (See: http://bit.ly/9FVe5F).
These two birds are the first nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!! The last record was in neighboring Champaign County (IL), way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty, page 134 of the PDF, page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120). These birds are also now the southernmost nesting Sandhill Cranes in the state of Illinois in modern times. Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the previous southernmost nest, in Grundy County.
Unfortunately, rising stormwaters flooded this nest on the night of May 17/18, and the cranes abandoned it. Although the cranes abandoned the nest, they remained in Heron Park, and continued to be seen by visitors. Bud Lewsader took this nice photo of the birds on the morning of May 26: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN
The Sandhill pair successfully built a second nest, and produced another egg. Unfortunately, floodwaters from heavy rains destroyed this second nest as well, on June 14. But the cranes are still hanging around Heron Park, cooperatively posing for a number of good close-up views
Heron Park was established in 2004, and is managed as a county park by the Vermilion County Conservation District. The wetland/marsh area where the Sandhill Cranes have been hanging out is about 120 acres. It is situated where the Vermilion River meanders into the northern end of the 1,000 acre Lake Vermilion. With the standing dead trees and snags in the marsh, the Great Blue Heron rookery in the northwest corner of the park, and the wooded bluffs surrounding the park, one feels far removed from the flat cornfields of east central Illinois.
A 950 foot floating boardwalk allows visitors to feel like they are out in the marsh. An observation tower has platforms at the 8 and 20 foot levels, giving viewers different perspectives of the marsh. The observation tower was built in the fall of 2003 by the International Timber Framing Guild. The timber framed tower is constructed of bur and white oak with a cedar shingle roof. Timber framed construction uses no bolts, nails, or metal connectors. All joints are tenons and intricate notches joined together with wooden pegs.
These two birds are the first nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!! The last record was in neighboring Champaign County (IL), way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty, page 134 of the PDF, page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120). These birds are also now the southernmost nesting Sandhill Cranes in the state of Illinois in modern times. Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the previous southernmost nest, in Grundy County.
Unfortunately, rising stormwaters flooded this nest on the night of May 17/18, and the cranes abandoned it. Although the cranes abandoned the nest, they remained in Heron Park, and continued to be seen by visitors. Bud Lewsader took this nice photo of the birds on the morning of May 26: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN
The Sandhill pair successfully built a second nest, and produced another egg. Unfortunately, floodwaters from heavy rains destroyed this second nest as well, on June 14. But the cranes are still hanging around Heron Park, cooperatively posing for a number of good close-up views
Heron Park was established in 2004, and is managed as a county park by the Vermilion County Conservation District. The wetland/marsh area where the Sandhill Cranes have been hanging out is about 120 acres. It is situated where the Vermilion River meanders into the northern end of the 1,000 acre Lake Vermilion. With the standing dead trees and snags in the marsh, the Great Blue Heron rookery in the northwest corner of the park, and the wooded bluffs surrounding the park, one feels far removed from the flat cornfields of east central Illinois.
A 950 foot floating boardwalk allows visitors to feel like they are out in the marsh. An observation tower has platforms at the 8 and 20 foot levels, giving viewers different perspectives of the marsh. The observation tower was built in the fall of 2003 by the International Timber Framing Guild. The timber framed tower is constructed of bur and white oak with a cedar shingle roof. Timber framed construction uses no bolts, nails, or metal connectors. All joints are tenons and intricate notches joined together with wooden pegs.
Recent photos of historic Heron Park Sandhill Cranes
Sandhill Cranes have been nesting this summer in east central Illinois for the first time in nearly 140 years! To learn more about these birds, see my blog posting: http://bit.ly/aJfLXS
I found these very recent photos of the cranes on Flickr. They were taken by Tom Marriage and uploaded to Flickr on Sunday (June 20):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4718365078/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4718364202/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717719793/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717719137/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717716989/
I found these very recent photos of the cranes on Flickr. They were taken by Tom Marriage and uploaded to Flickr on Sunday (June 20):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4718365078/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4718364202/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717719793/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717719137/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttunes/4717716989/
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Mowing and grassland birds
I became interested in mowing and the Indiana University cross country course after reading a 2007 Audubon magazine article on common bird species in decline. Species #6 on that list was the Eastern Meadowlark, with a population decline of 72% since 1967. The major reason for this decline is the destruction of grassland habitat.
This started me thinking about my experience with the XC course. Each spring the grass would sprout up and provide good nesting sites for meadowlarks. After the meadowlarks nested, IU would mow the XC course, destroying the nests. Most birds would leave. The ones dumb enough to stick around and re-nest invariably had their nests destroyed by subsequent mowing. The net result is that meadowlarks were rare on the XC course.
After two years of not mowing the bulk of the XC course, there’s a healthy meadowlark population there now. Yesterday I was trying to count meadowlarks by sight and by listening for songs and calls. They were especially vocal yesterday, and I counted at least 15. That’s probably a conservative estimate, as I was trying hard not to double count and probably missed some birds.
Field Sparrows are #9 on the Audubon “common birds in decline” list, with a population decrease of 68% over 40 years. Field Sparrows were rather unusual on the XC course when I started birding there five years ago. Now they are common. It’s not unusual to hear several birds sing simultaneously. Yesterday I noticed 10-12 of them.
As I birded the XC course yesterday I was struck by the diversity of plant species. When I first started walking the XC course it was pretty much a monoculture. Pretty much one species of grass, mowed frequently. Today the plant life is varied. I’m no expert on ID’ing grasses, but I’d estimate there are at least a dozen species...some native, some not. Anyway, I was thinking it would be pretty cool if someone were to do a botanical survey of the XC course and develop an inventory of the plant life there. Might make an interesting class project for some IU students, and it would be useful in the future for when IU gets around to planning for the management of this grassland area. Any takers?
This started me thinking about my experience with the XC course. Each spring the grass would sprout up and provide good nesting sites for meadowlarks. After the meadowlarks nested, IU would mow the XC course, destroying the nests. Most birds would leave. The ones dumb enough to stick around and re-nest invariably had their nests destroyed by subsequent mowing. The net result is that meadowlarks were rare on the XC course.
After two years of not mowing the bulk of the XC course, there’s a healthy meadowlark population there now. Yesterday I was trying to count meadowlarks by sight and by listening for songs and calls. They were especially vocal yesterday, and I counted at least 15. That’s probably a conservative estimate, as I was trying hard not to double count and probably missed some birds.
Field Sparrows are #9 on the Audubon “common birds in decline” list, with a population decrease of 68% over 40 years. Field Sparrows were rather unusual on the XC course when I started birding there five years ago. Now they are common. It’s not unusual to hear several birds sing simultaneously. Yesterday I noticed 10-12 of them.
As I birded the XC course yesterday I was struck by the diversity of plant species. When I first started walking the XC course it was pretty much a monoculture. Pretty much one species of grass, mowed frequently. Today the plant life is varied. I’m no expert on ID’ing grasses, but I’d estimate there are at least a dozen species...some native, some not. Anyway, I was thinking it would be pretty cool if someone were to do a botanical survey of the XC course and develop an inventory of the plant life there. Might make an interesting class project for some IU students, and it would be useful in the future for when IU gets around to planning for the management of this grassland area. Any takers?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Carolina Wren - first-of-year as a yard bird!
I realize this isn't a rare or exotic species, but I've been delighted to have a Carolina Wren hanging out on the patio all day today. That's the first Carolina Wren as a yard bird this year!!
Earlier this AM I heard its trilling call, so I knew it was around. I've seen it multiple times since, hunting for spiders and insects on the wooden fence and storage shed, and occasionally pigging out on sunflower seed pieces at one of my feeders. They are subtly beautiful birds, and very entertaining to watch, what with all their wren-like posturing and antics.
It's not my first Carolina Wren of the year. I've seen/heard them several times while visiting the IU XC course. But it was a very welcome surprise as a yard bird, at a time when we're just now entering the summer doldrums of birding here in southern Indiana.
Funny how such a small common bird can brighten one's day so much!
Bernie Sloan
Bloomington, IN
Earlier this AM I heard its trilling call, so I knew it was around. I've seen it multiple times since, hunting for spiders and insects on the wooden fence and storage shed, and occasionally pigging out on sunflower seed pieces at one of my feeders. They are subtly beautiful birds, and very entertaining to watch, what with all their wren-like posturing and antics.
It's not my first Carolina Wren of the year. I've seen/heard them several times while visiting the IU XC course. But it was a very welcome surprise as a yard bird, at a time when we're just now entering the summer doldrums of birding here in southern Indiana.
Funny how such a small common bird can brighten one's day so much!
Bernie Sloan
Bloomington, IN
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Open letter to Indiana University officials regarding mowing on the IU cross country course
(First, some commentary, and then the text of my open letter to IU officials...)
Talk about your ironies...
I’ve been working on a glowing, complimentary blog post about Indiana University’s stewardship of about 40 acres of nice grassland habitat on its cross country (XC) course. In the past the university had mowed the entire XC course on a regular basis, making it pretty much worthless habitat for grassland bird species.
In early 2008 I began lobbying IU to mow only those areas necessary for the course to function as an XC venue, i.e., the paths used by the runners. After some give and take (and a little unpleasantness) IU changed its mowing procedures for the XC course. The bulk of the XC course has not been mowed since May 2008. Grassland bird species have readily taken to this new habitat, including several species listed on the National Audubon Society’s list of the top twenty common North American birds with the greatest population declines since 1967. In addition to improved habitat, this mowing moratorium resulted in less fuel being used, and fewer carbon dioxide emissions. For the first time I truly understood the old slogan “think globally, act locally”. If you get a lot of people working on fixing local problems, they just might collectively make a difference on a broader level.
So, I’m walking on the XC course about ten days ago thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about IU’s commitment to sustainability and a green campus. Then I run across a two to three acre patch of good grassland habitat that has inexplicably been mowed. I find myself thinking “OK, probably just some mistake”. Being a responsible citizen, I e-mail IU’s Director of Sustainability on 6/11, asking about this seemingly pointless mowing. (No reply as of today’s date - 6/20).
Anyway, time passes. This past Thursday (6/17), IU mows another two to three acres on the XC course. It ticks me off again. But I’m busy with other stuff and don’t complain. Then early Saturday (6/19), I see signs of more mowing (probably done on 6/18), this time about one acre, in random swaths maybe 10-15 feet in width.
I decided today that it’s time to complain formally, to try to stop the mowers from needlessly destroying additional grassland habitat.
My open letter to several IU administrators follows...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bill Brown (IU Director of Sustainability)
Mike Crowe (Director of the IU Department of Facilities)
Fred Glass (IU Director of Athletics)
Mia Williams (IU Landscape Architect)
I’m writing to lodge a complaint about some apparently unnecessary mowing on and near the Indiana University cross country course.
Two years ago IU changed its mowing procedures for the cross country course. Prior to this change the entire 50 acres of the course were mowed several times a year. Since that time, IU has mowed only the running trails, creating about 40 acres of good grassland habitat. A number of interesting grassland bird species have nested there the past two years. I regularly post notes to the local and state birdwatching e-mail discussion lists commending IU for managing this habitat in a “greener” fashion.
The first mowing incident happened about a week and a half ago. It’s a 2-3 acre patch of grass in a field immediately adjacent to the lower (south) section of the cross country course. This is an area that rarely sees any human activity, and I don’t think it’s been mowed before in the five years that I’ve been frequenting the cross country course. I've marked the location on this map: http://bit.ly/c34kqN. I sent an e-mail about this to Bill Brown, IU Director of Sustainability, on June 11. I have not yet received a reply.
This past week (June 17?) a similar sized patch of grass (2-3 acres) was mowed in the far northwestern corner of the cross country course, near the tee to the 7th hole on the IU par 3 golf course. This marks the first time that a part of the cross country course has been mowed in two years (except for the running trails, and a small area that needed to be mowed for last year’s NCAA cross country regionals).
These two areas support Eastern Meadowlark and Field Sparrow nests this season. These species have been identified by the National Audubon Society as among the top ten common North American birds with the greatest population declines since 1967. In both cases these birds are declining due to destruction of grassland habitat.
At the end of this past week (June 18) an additional acre was mowed, this time in 10-15 foot wide strips, mostly where the cross country course borders the golf course. This may seem like a relatively small area, but this area contained the only Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow nests I've ever located in five years of birdwatching on the cross country course.
All together, about six to seven acres of grassland habitat have been destroyed for no apparent reason. The northern section of the cross country course was hardest hit, with the unmowed grassland habitat in this section reduced by about 25%.
Habitat destruction aside, as an Indiana taxpayer it disturbs me to see IU money wasted on what seems to be a pointless activity. Isn’t IU facing all sorts of budget cuts in these trying fiscal times? And in the wake of the BP oil spill disaster, when President Obama is urging Americans to cut their reliance on oil, why is IU wasting fuel on unnecessary mowing?
I commend IU on its efforts to establish a greener and more sustainable campus, but I am appalled by this random destruction of good grassland habitat. I am hoping that these incidents are isolated cases, and that there will be no further habitat destruction on the cross country course.
NOTE: I am also posting the text of this e-mail on my blog so that other local birders will be aware of what has happened.
Thanks,
Bernie Sloan
Bloomington
Talk about your ironies...
I’ve been working on a glowing, complimentary blog post about Indiana University’s stewardship of about 40 acres of nice grassland habitat on its cross country (XC) course. In the past the university had mowed the entire XC course on a regular basis, making it pretty much worthless habitat for grassland bird species.
In early 2008 I began lobbying IU to mow only those areas necessary for the course to function as an XC venue, i.e., the paths used by the runners. After some give and take (and a little unpleasantness) IU changed its mowing procedures for the XC course. The bulk of the XC course has not been mowed since May 2008. Grassland bird species have readily taken to this new habitat, including several species listed on the National Audubon Society’s list of the top twenty common North American birds with the greatest population declines since 1967. In addition to improved habitat, this mowing moratorium resulted in less fuel being used, and fewer carbon dioxide emissions. For the first time I truly understood the old slogan “think globally, act locally”. If you get a lot of people working on fixing local problems, they just might collectively make a difference on a broader level.
So, I’m walking on the XC course about ten days ago thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about IU’s commitment to sustainability and a green campus. Then I run across a two to three acre patch of good grassland habitat that has inexplicably been mowed. I find myself thinking “OK, probably just some mistake”. Being a responsible citizen, I e-mail IU’s Director of Sustainability on 6/11, asking about this seemingly pointless mowing. (No reply as of today’s date - 6/20).
Anyway, time passes. This past Thursday (6/17), IU mows another two to three acres on the XC course. It ticks me off again. But I’m busy with other stuff and don’t complain. Then early Saturday (6/19), I see signs of more mowing (probably done on 6/18), this time about one acre, in random swaths maybe 10-15 feet in width.
I decided today that it’s time to complain formally, to try to stop the mowers from needlessly destroying additional grassland habitat.
My open letter to several IU administrators follows...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bill Brown (IU Director of Sustainability)
Mike Crowe (Director of the IU Department of Facilities)
Fred Glass (IU Director of Athletics)
Mia Williams (IU Landscape Architect)
I’m writing to lodge a complaint about some apparently unnecessary mowing on and near the Indiana University cross country course.
Two years ago IU changed its mowing procedures for the cross country course. Prior to this change the entire 50 acres of the course were mowed several times a year. Since that time, IU has mowed only the running trails, creating about 40 acres of good grassland habitat. A number of interesting grassland bird species have nested there the past two years. I regularly post notes to the local and state birdwatching e-mail discussion lists commending IU for managing this habitat in a “greener” fashion.
The first mowing incident happened about a week and a half ago. It’s a 2-3 acre patch of grass in a field immediately adjacent to the lower (south) section of the cross country course. This is an area that rarely sees any human activity, and I don’t think it’s been mowed before in the five years that I’ve been frequenting the cross country course. I've marked the location on this map: http://bit.ly/c34kqN. I sent an e-mail about this to Bill Brown, IU Director of Sustainability, on June 11. I have not yet received a reply.
This past week (June 17?) a similar sized patch of grass (2-3 acres) was mowed in the far northwestern corner of the cross country course, near the tee to the 7th hole on the IU par 3 golf course. This marks the first time that a part of the cross country course has been mowed in two years (except for the running trails, and a small area that needed to be mowed for last year’s NCAA cross country regionals).
These two areas support Eastern Meadowlark and Field Sparrow nests this season. These species have been identified by the National Audubon Society as among the top ten common North American birds with the greatest population declines since 1967. In both cases these birds are declining due to destruction of grassland habitat.
At the end of this past week (June 18) an additional acre was mowed, this time in 10-15 foot wide strips, mostly where the cross country course borders the golf course. This may seem like a relatively small area, but this area contained the only Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow nests I've ever located in five years of birdwatching on the cross country course.
All together, about six to seven acres of grassland habitat have been destroyed for no apparent reason. The northern section of the cross country course was hardest hit, with the unmowed grassland habitat in this section reduced by about 25%.
Habitat destruction aside, as an Indiana taxpayer it disturbs me to see IU money wasted on what seems to be a pointless activity. Isn’t IU facing all sorts of budget cuts in these trying fiscal times? And in the wake of the BP oil spill disaster, when President Obama is urging Americans to cut their reliance on oil, why is IU wasting fuel on unnecessary mowing?
I commend IU on its efforts to establish a greener and more sustainable campus, but I am appalled by this random destruction of good grassland habitat. I am hoping that these incidents are isolated cases, and that there will be no further habitat destruction on the cross country course.
NOTE: I am also posting the text of this e-mail on my blog so that other local birders will be aware of what has happened.
Thanks,
Bernie Sloan
Bloomington
A British view of birding in American cities
An interesting brief article on American birding from today's Independent in the UK:
http://bit.ly/decTT4
http://bit.ly/decTT4
Thursday, June 17, 2010
IU XC Course, 6/17/10 - 81 species, FOY singing cicada
Great morning on the Indiana University cross country course...81 species in all. Birds were very active and vocal for some reason. And I also heard my first singing cicada of the season in the woods north of the XC course...seemed a bit early? Those woods remind me of the woods behind my parents' house out in the hills west of Evansville (IN). Found my first Worm-eating Warbler there at age 16. Also reminded me how we used to call the cicadas "locusts" back in the day (mid-1960s), and collect paper sacks full of their shed exoskeletons. Those were the days. :-)
One big highlight of the morning...five interesting species being very vocal in the same general area in the northern part of the XC course: Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. These species are "interesting" to me because, at one time or another, I have been known to confuse the vocalizations of several or all of these species with one another. But when you hear them all going at the same time their distinctions and differences are obvious. Too bad there wasn't a vocalizing Junco to throw into the mix! :-)
The full species list follows...
Location: Indiana University--Cross Country Course
Observation date: 6/17/10
Number of species: 81
Wild Turkey 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 7
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 3
Rock Pigeon 7
Mourning Dove 5
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Barred Owl 2
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 15
Horned Lark 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 2
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 8
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 6
European Starling 22
Cedar Waxwing 5
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 4
Cerulean Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Worm-eating Warbler 3
Ovenbird 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 8
Field Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 1
Grasshopper Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Indigo Bunting 9
Dickcissel 1
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Eastern Meadowlark 15
Common Grackle 18
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 20
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
One big highlight of the morning...five interesting species being very vocal in the same general area in the northern part of the XC course: Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. These species are "interesting" to me because, at one time or another, I have been known to confuse the vocalizations of several or all of these species with one another. But when you hear them all going at the same time their distinctions and differences are obvious. Too bad there wasn't a vocalizing Junco to throw into the mix! :-)
The full species list follows...
Location: Indiana University--Cross Country Course
Observation date: 6/17/10
Number of species: 81
Wild Turkey 5
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 1
Turkey Vulture 7
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 3
Rock Pigeon 7
Mourning Dove 5
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Barred Owl 2
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Acadian Flycatcher 2
Willow Flycatcher 1
Eastern Phoebe 3
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 5
White-eyed Vireo 1
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 4
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 15
Horned Lark 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Purple Martin 1
Tree Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 4
Carolina Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 7
White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) 2
Carolina Wren 1
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Eastern Bluebird 8
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 3
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 6
European Starling 22
Cedar Waxwing 5
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Prairie Warbler 4
Cerulean Warbler 1
Prothonotary Warbler 1
Worm-eating Warbler 3
Ovenbird 1
Louisiana Waterthrush 4
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Eastern Towhee 5
Chipping Sparrow 8
Field Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 1
Grasshopper Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 7
Indigo Bunting 9
Dickcissel 1
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Eastern Meadowlark 15
Common Grackle 18
Brown-headed Cowbird 8
Baltimore Oriole 3
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 20
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Oil spill in Salt Lake City
While MUCH smaller than the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, residents in parts of Salt Lake City are dealing with a Chevron pipeline spill that dumped 500 barrels of oil into Red Butte Creek. The creek feeds into the ponds at Liberty Park, home to hundreds of waterfowl.
For more info:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15291031
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15284499
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15289393
For more info:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15291031
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15284499
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15289393
Thursday, June 10, 2010
New BIGBY Species Seen During May 2010
What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/cn3cbv
I recorded 30 new 2010 BIGBY species in May:
Green Heron - BIGBY species #123 for the year (seen on 5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
Willow Flycatcher #147 (5/10)
Connecticut Warbler #148 (5/10)
Wilson’s Warbler #149 (5/10)
Black-billed Cuckoo #150 (5/10)
Orange-crowned Warbler #151 (5/21)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher #152 (5/23)
I recorded 30 new 2010 BIGBY species in May:
Green Heron - BIGBY species #123 for the year (seen on 5/3)
Blue Grosbeak #124 (5/3)
Orchard Oriole #125 (5/3)
Summer Tanager #126 (5/3)
Veery #127 (5/3)
Tennessee Warbler #128 (5/3)
Acadian Flycatcher #129 (5/3)
Gray-cheeked Thrush #130 (5/3)
Swainson’s Thrush #131 (5/3)
Cattle Egret #132 (5/4)
Canada Warbler #133 (5/6)
Philadelphia Vireo #134 (5/6)
Eastern Wood-pewee #135 (5/6)
Least Flycatcher #136 (5/6)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo #137 (5/6)
Chestnut-sided Warbler #138 (5/6)
Dickcissel #139 (5/7)
Vesper Sparrow #140 (5/7)
Bobolink #141 (5/7)
Purple Martin #142 (5/7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird #143 (5/7)
American Redstart #144 (5/7)
Cape May Warbler #145 (5/7)
Yellow-breasted Chat #146 (5/7)
Willow Flycatcher #147 (5/10)
Connecticut Warbler #148 (5/10)
Wilson’s Warbler #149 (5/10)
Black-billed Cuckoo #150 (5/10)
Orange-crowned Warbler #151 (5/21)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher #152 (5/23)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The BIGBY (green birding) movement
Several Montreal-area birders started doing a Big Green Big Year (BIGBY) in 2008. While the definition of a BIGBY can be rather fluid, it focuses on birders reducing their carbon footprint while familiarizing themselves with their local patch of land.
In my case, I am now in my third year of keeping track of the birds I see while walking from my home in south central Indiana, near the Indiana University cross country course (grasslands) and some forested hills just to the north. The principal piece of ground I focus on is about 260 acres. So far this year I have recorded 152 species of birds on those 260 acres. In 2009 I had recorded 184 species by the end of the year.
Here are a couple of informational items about BIGBYing:
BIGBY informational web page: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi
BIGBY newsletter: http://bit.ly/aXrd7e
BIGBY e-mail list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bigbybirding/
And here are four brief articles I've written about my BIGBY experiences for the newsletter of my local Audubon Society chapter here in southern Indiana. Note: the URL takes you to the newsletter issue as a whole. You will need to scroll down to the applicable page number.
In My Backyard: Big Green Big Year Satisfies. The Leaflet (newsletter). January/February 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 5.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-01.pdf
Big Green Big Year — 2008 Summary of Four Experiences. The Leaflet (newsletter). March/April 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 6.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-03.pdf
Big Green Big Year 2009: It’s All About Location, Location, Location. The Leaflet (newsletter). July/August 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 8.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-07.pdf
Green Birding 2009. The Leaflet (newsletter). January/February 2010. ARTICLE ON PAGE 8.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2010/Leaflet2010-01.pdf
In my case, I am now in my third year of keeping track of the birds I see while walking from my home in south central Indiana, near the Indiana University cross country course (grasslands) and some forested hills just to the north. The principal piece of ground I focus on is about 260 acres. So far this year I have recorded 152 species of birds on those 260 acres. In 2009 I had recorded 184 species by the end of the year.
Here are a couple of informational items about BIGBYing:
BIGBY informational web page: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi
BIGBY newsletter: http://bit.ly/aXrd7e
BIGBY e-mail list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bigbybirding/
And here are four brief articles I've written about my BIGBY experiences for the newsletter of my local Audubon Society chapter here in southern Indiana. Note: the URL takes you to the newsletter issue as a whole. You will need to scroll down to the applicable page number.
In My Backyard: Big Green Big Year Satisfies. The Leaflet (newsletter). January/February 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 5.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-01.pdf
Big Green Big Year — 2008 Summary of Four Experiences. The Leaflet (newsletter). March/April 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 6.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-03.pdf
Big Green Big Year 2009: It’s All About Location, Location, Location. The Leaflet (newsletter). July/August 2009. ARTICLE ON PAGE 8.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2009/Leaflet2009-07.pdf
Green Birding 2009. The Leaflet (newsletter). January/February 2010. ARTICLE ON PAGE 8.
http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/leaflet_archive/2010/Leaflet2010-01.pdf
Sunday, June 6, 2010
What midwestern woodland bird sounds like a Nightingale?
The other day a European birder asked me what midwestern woodland bird sounds like a Nightingale.
I had to confess that I didn't know what a Nightingale sounds like, so I did a Google search:
http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Nightingale_Bird_Sounds.aspx
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I had to confess that I didn't know what a Nightingale sounds like, so I did a Google search:
http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Nightingale_Bird_Sounds.aspx
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Seeing my regular birding spot through European eyes
Interesting birding experience this morning...
I'm walking on my usual birding stomping grounds (Indiana University cross country course) when a guy walks up to me and asks "Are you Bernie Sloan?". This in itself is not all that unusual. A woman asked me this same question two weeks ago, and others have done the same...because of my blog postings and reports on local and state e-mail lists, people who come here know that I am associated with this place.
But this time there was a little bit of a twist...this birder was from Belgium!! He was in town for a few days working on a research project at Indiana University, and he had read some of my postings about the cross country course and decided to check it out while he was here.
I spend a couple of hours at this location just about every day that I am in town here, and I've become used to the things I see on a regular basis. "Jaded" is probably too strong a word, but when you see meadowlarks every day, you tend to think "Oh, another meadowlark", and move on. But this guy was thrilled to see meadowlarks, and hear their songs. He was excited about a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers he had observed back in the woods. He enjoyed watching a singing Prairie Warbler through his scope. He was even happy to see the grackles and cowbirds! And a brief glimpse of a Wild Turkey in flight seemed like it made his day.
When I first ran into him, I asked if he'd seen anything interesting. He said something like: "When you're from another part of the world, everything is interesting." :-)
The Belgian birder had to head back to campus to meet with his research colleagues. I was only just beginning my morning at the cross country course. As I walked along, I viewed the place with fresh eyes. As a Pileated Woodpecker slowly flew across an open patch of ground I found myself thinking "yeah, I guess this is a pretty special place after all."
I'm walking on my usual birding stomping grounds (Indiana University cross country course) when a guy walks up to me and asks "Are you Bernie Sloan?". This in itself is not all that unusual. A woman asked me this same question two weeks ago, and others have done the same...because of my blog postings and reports on local and state e-mail lists, people who come here know that I am associated with this place.
But this time there was a little bit of a twist...this birder was from Belgium!! He was in town for a few days working on a research project at Indiana University, and he had read some of my postings about the cross country course and decided to check it out while he was here.
I spend a couple of hours at this location just about every day that I am in town here, and I've become used to the things I see on a regular basis. "Jaded" is probably too strong a word, but when you see meadowlarks every day, you tend to think "Oh, another meadowlark", and move on. But this guy was thrilled to see meadowlarks, and hear their songs. He was excited about a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers he had observed back in the woods. He enjoyed watching a singing Prairie Warbler through his scope. He was even happy to see the grackles and cowbirds! And a brief glimpse of a Wild Turkey in flight seemed like it made his day.
When I first ran into him, I asked if he'd seen anything interesting. He said something like: "When you're from another part of the world, everything is interesting." :-)
The Belgian birder had to head back to campus to meet with his research colleagues. I was only just beginning my morning at the cross country course. As I walked along, I viewed the place with fresh eyes. As a Pileated Woodpecker slowly flew across an open patch of ground I found myself thinking "yeah, I guess this is a pretty special place after all."
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Historic central Illinois Sandhill Cranes attempt to re-nest
This spring a pair of migrating Sandhill Cranes stopped over in Heron Park in Vermilion County (IL). Finding the place to their liking, the cranes proceeded to court one another. By late April the birds had constructed a nest. By May 14 Brian Stearns had photos of the Sandhills tending an egg. (See: http://bit.ly/9FVe5F).
These two birds are the first nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!! The last record was in neighboring Champaign County (IL), way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty, page 134 of the PDF, page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120). These birds are also now the southernmost nesting Sandhill Cranes in the state of Illinois in modern times. Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the previous southernmost nest, in Grundy County.
Unfortunately, rising stormwaters flooded this nest on the night of May 17/18, and the cranes abandoned it. Although the cranes abandoned the nest, they remained in Heron Park, and continued to be seen by visitors. Bud Lewsader took this nice photo of the birds on the morning of May 26: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN
Now the Sandhills are tending a new nest! Veteran Vermilion County birder Bob Schifo noted the following in a June 2 post to the local birding e-mail list:
"Well it appears the the Heron Park cranes have done it again! There is another nest, and it seems they are incubating something! It's probably not a Cowbird egg, so evidently, last weekend, sometime, she laid another egg. It's only on slightly higher ground than before, and with weed growth, it's much harder to see, but they are taking turns sitting on it. The nest is a little east of where it was before. Bud Lewsader found it over the weekend. The water was very high Monday, but they were still on it Tuesday evening. Let's hope for dry weather!"
Heron Park was established in 2004, and is managed as a county park by the Vermilion County Conservation District. The wetland/marsh area where the Sandhill Cranes have been hanging out is about 120 acres. It is situated where the Vermilion River meanders into the northern end of the 1,000 acre Lake Vermilion. With the standing dead trees and snags in the marsh, the Great Blue Heron rookery in the northwest corner of the park, and the wooded bluffs surrounding the park, one feels far removed from the flat cornfields of east central Illinois
A 950 foot floating boardwalk allows visitors to feel like they are out in the marsh. An observation tower has platforms at the 8 and 20 foot levels, giving viewers different perspectives of the marsh. The observation tower was built in the fall of 2003 by the International Timber Framing Guild. The timber framed tower is constructed of bur and white oak with a cedar shingle roof. Timber framed construction uses no bolts, nails, or metal connectors. All joints are tenons and intricate notches joined together with wooden pegs.
These two birds are the first nesting pair of Sandhill Cranes in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!! The last record was in neighboring Champaign County (IL), way back in 1872 (see: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty, page 134 of the PDF, page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120). These birds are also now the southernmost nesting Sandhill Cranes in the state of Illinois in modern times. Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the previous southernmost nest, in Grundy County.
Unfortunately, rising stormwaters flooded this nest on the night of May 17/18, and the cranes abandoned it. Although the cranes abandoned the nest, they remained in Heron Park, and continued to be seen by visitors. Bud Lewsader took this nice photo of the birds on the morning of May 26: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN
Now the Sandhills are tending a new nest! Veteran Vermilion County birder Bob Schifo noted the following in a June 2 post to the local birding e-mail list:
"Well it appears the the Heron Park cranes have done it again! There is another nest, and it seems they are incubating something! It's probably not a Cowbird egg, so evidently, last weekend, sometime, she laid another egg. It's only on slightly higher ground than before, and with weed growth, it's much harder to see, but they are taking turns sitting on it. The nest is a little east of where it was before. Bud Lewsader found it over the weekend. The water was very high Monday, but they were still on it Tuesday evening. Let's hope for dry weather!"
Heron Park was established in 2004, and is managed as a county park by the Vermilion County Conservation District. The wetland/marsh area where the Sandhill Cranes have been hanging out is about 120 acres. It is situated where the Vermilion River meanders into the northern end of the 1,000 acre Lake Vermilion. With the standing dead trees and snags in the marsh, the Great Blue Heron rookery in the northwest corner of the park, and the wooded bluffs surrounding the park, one feels far removed from the flat cornfields of east central Illinois
A 950 foot floating boardwalk allows visitors to feel like they are out in the marsh. An observation tower has platforms at the 8 and 20 foot levels, giving viewers different perspectives of the marsh. The observation tower was built in the fall of 2003 by the International Timber Framing Guild. The timber framed tower is constructed of bur and white oak with a cedar shingle roof. Timber framed construction uses no bolts, nails, or metal connectors. All joints are tenons and intricate notches joined together with wooden pegs.
Effects of the Gulf Coast oil spill on Midwestern birding?
I live 700 miles due north of the Louisiana coast, as the crow flies. That's 700 miles away from the BP oil spill disaster that is fouling the Louisiana coastline. Seven hundred miles seems a long way away from the five-mile birding route I walk each morning. The scenes of birds coated with oil from the spill are truly disheartening. But these scenes are 700 miles away, and the birds I see on my morning walks are as beautiful as ever.
But this distant environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico will have an impact on my future birding activities. Many of the birds I see now on my morning jaunts rely on the Gulf coast and its associated marshes during migration. What will await them when they head south this fall?
While most of the bird-related news stories about the BP disaster focus on the here-and-now of oil-soaked birds on beaches, some reports are now beginning to take a more long range view. How will the spill impact birds that winter along the Gulf, or use the Gulf coast to refuel before taking the long flight over water to their winter destinations in Central and South America?
I was both touched and distressed by Sally Jo Sorenson's May 31 post in Minnesota's Bluestem Prairie blog(see: http://bit.ly/aUbTA3). After citing several sources that discuss the possible impacts of the oil spill on migratory birds, Sally Jo concludes by saying "It's rare for me to look into a research subject and find that I can look no more into the truths that inquiry discloses. I'm going to do some birding now."
I was haunted by Sally Jo's post as I walked this morning. That gorgeous Scarlet Tanager back in the woods? Winters in northwestern South America. The Bobolinks that have nested in my neighborhood for the first time in memory? They winter in Argentina. Does the Green Heron by the pond spend its winters in a Gulf Coast marsh? Do some of the Great Blue Herons that fly overhead daily winter on Carribean shores?
And what of the birds that thrill us during migration? The thousands of ducks and other waterfowl that grace our local lakes in the spring and fall? Ducks Unlimited is very concerned about the impacts of the oil spill on Gulf Coast marshes, which have wintered more than 13 million birds in some years (see: http://bit.ly/ak28Uj). The eastern Sandhill Crane population that thrills us as they fly over our area each spring and fall? They winter in Florida.
Obviously, some species will be hit harder than others, especially birds that winter along the Gulf Coast and its numerous marshes (e.g., Pelicans, and marsh birds like Soras, Rails, etc.). Or shorebirds that rely on Gulf Coast beaches for either winter territory or refueling stops during migration. It remains to be seen what might happen to passerines that migrate over the Gulf. They may be hit less hard than some of these other species, but there still could be negative impacts.
As I go birding over the next several months, this will always be lurking in the back of my mind. Summer birding hasn't changed. Fall migration will proceed normally, at least around here, hundreds of miles away from the fouled beaches and marshes. But what lies in store when the birds are slated to head back north in the spring? Will spring migration be "business as usual", or will we notice some gaps in our records?
Like Sally Jo Sorenson, I think I will throw on my binoculars, head out the door, and go birding in the here-and-now. Maybe the dark thoughts rattling around in my head will give me a greater appreciation of the beauty that is here today...
But this distant environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico will have an impact on my future birding activities. Many of the birds I see now on my morning jaunts rely on the Gulf coast and its associated marshes during migration. What will await them when they head south this fall?
While most of the bird-related news stories about the BP disaster focus on the here-and-now of oil-soaked birds on beaches, some reports are now beginning to take a more long range view. How will the spill impact birds that winter along the Gulf, or use the Gulf coast to refuel before taking the long flight over water to their winter destinations in Central and South America?
I was both touched and distressed by Sally Jo Sorenson's May 31 post in Minnesota's Bluestem Prairie blog(see: http://bit.ly/aUbTA3). After citing several sources that discuss the possible impacts of the oil spill on migratory birds, Sally Jo concludes by saying "It's rare for me to look into a research subject and find that I can look no more into the truths that inquiry discloses. I'm going to do some birding now."
I was haunted by Sally Jo's post as I walked this morning. That gorgeous Scarlet Tanager back in the woods? Winters in northwestern South America. The Bobolinks that have nested in my neighborhood for the first time in memory? They winter in Argentina. Does the Green Heron by the pond spend its winters in a Gulf Coast marsh? Do some of the Great Blue Herons that fly overhead daily winter on Carribean shores?
And what of the birds that thrill us during migration? The thousands of ducks and other waterfowl that grace our local lakes in the spring and fall? Ducks Unlimited is very concerned about the impacts of the oil spill on Gulf Coast marshes, which have wintered more than 13 million birds in some years (see: http://bit.ly/ak28Uj). The eastern Sandhill Crane population that thrills us as they fly over our area each spring and fall? They winter in Florida.
Obviously, some species will be hit harder than others, especially birds that winter along the Gulf Coast and its numerous marshes (e.g., Pelicans, and marsh birds like Soras, Rails, etc.). Or shorebirds that rely on Gulf Coast beaches for either winter territory or refueling stops during migration. It remains to be seen what might happen to passerines that migrate over the Gulf. They may be hit less hard than some of these other species, but there still could be negative impacts.
As I go birding over the next several months, this will always be lurking in the back of my mind. Summer birding hasn't changed. Fall migration will proceed normally, at least around here, hundreds of miles away from the fouled beaches and marshes. But what lies in store when the birds are slated to head back north in the spring? Will spring migration be "business as usual", or will we notice some gaps in our records?
Like Sally Jo Sorenson, I think I will throw on my binoculars, head out the door, and go birding in the here-and-now. Maybe the dark thoughts rattling around in my head will give me a greater appreciation of the beauty that is here today...
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Historic central Illinois Sandhill Cranes still hanging around
I stopped by Heron Park in Vermilion County (IL) yesterday afternoon (5/31) to see if I could relocate the historic pair of resident Sandhill Cranes. I use the word "historic" here because these birds represent the first nesting Sandhill Cranes in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!! Last known nesting was in neighboring Champaign County (IL) in 1872.
According to Illinois Natural History Survey biologist Steve Bailey, Heron Park "is quite a ways south of the most southern known Illinois nesting right now…at Grundy County's Goose Lake Prairie State Park." Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the Grundy County site!!
I saw the cranes from a distance on my last two visits to the park on Tuesday (5/25) and Wednesday (5/26). Bud Lewsader also took some great close-up photos of them earlier in the day on 5/26 (see: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN).
After spending quite a bit of time yesterday (5/31) fruitlessly scouring the wetlands from the boardwalk with my binoculars, I went up onto the observation platform. After 25 minutes of false alarms (Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, tree stumps, snags, etc.) I finally spotted what looked like a Sandhill Crane far to the south, on the other side of the river channel. Or maybe it was a tree stump...it was at the outer limit of my binoculars.
Very fortunately, Bob Schifo showed up with his scope just as I was leaving Heron Park. I borrowed Bob's scope to locate the crane/stump/snag from the observation platform, and Bob confirmed that, yes, it was a Sandhill Crane and not a tree stump or snag. Bob's confirmation made me feel a little better about my bird ID skills. :-)
One cool thing about this sighting is that I have now seen or heard the Sandhill Cranes at Heron Park every time I've been there this May.
Bob also mentioned that someone had reported possible re-nesting activity by the Sandhill Cranes (their original nest was destroyed two weeks ago by rising water levels).
Heron Park is always interesting!! Great place to hang out!!
According to Illinois Natural History Survey biologist Steve Bailey, Heron Park "is quite a ways south of the most southern known Illinois nesting right now…at Grundy County's Goose Lake Prairie State Park." Heron Park is approximately 110 miles SSE of the Grundy County site!!
I saw the cranes from a distance on my last two visits to the park on Tuesday (5/25) and Wednesday (5/26). Bud Lewsader also took some great close-up photos of them earlier in the day on 5/26 (see: http://bit.ly/aMl4cN).
After spending quite a bit of time yesterday (5/31) fruitlessly scouring the wetlands from the boardwalk with my binoculars, I went up onto the observation platform. After 25 minutes of false alarms (Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, tree stumps, snags, etc.) I finally spotted what looked like a Sandhill Crane far to the south, on the other side of the river channel. Or maybe it was a tree stump...it was at the outer limit of my binoculars.
Very fortunately, Bob Schifo showed up with his scope just as I was leaving Heron Park. I borrowed Bob's scope to locate the crane/stump/snag from the observation platform, and Bob confirmed that, yes, it was a Sandhill Crane and not a tree stump or snag. Bob's confirmation made me feel a little better about my bird ID skills. :-)
One cool thing about this sighting is that I have now seen or heard the Sandhill Cranes at Heron Park every time I've been there this May.
Bob also mentioned that someone had reported possible re-nesting activity by the Sandhill Cranes (their original nest was destroyed two weeks ago by rising water levels).
Heron Park is always interesting!! Great place to hang out!!
University of Illinois Campus - Cliff Swallow
Saturday afternoon (5/26) there was a Cliff Swallow flying over the Boneyard Creek behind Engineering Hall in Urbana. That's a new UIUC campus bird for me. Has anyone else seen Cliff Swallows there before?
Theoretically it looks like a good spot for Cliff Swallows. Lots of big stone buildings with substantial overhanging eaves. Several bridges over the Boneyard. And the creek is covered just to the east and west of this spot, flowing through very large concrete culverts. Plus lots of mud along the creek (Cliff Swallows build mud nests). I'm not saying there's a nesting colony in this spot, just that it looks like a decent location for one.
I believe there are at least two small Cliff Swallow nesting colonies in Champaign County. I found one of them last year, under a bridge on a rural road SE of Ivesdale.
Theoretically it looks like a good spot for Cliff Swallows. Lots of big stone buildings with substantial overhanging eaves. Several bridges over the Boneyard. And the creek is covered just to the east and west of this spot, flowing through very large concrete culverts. Plus lots of mud along the creek (Cliff Swallows build mud nests). I'm not saying there's a nesting colony in this spot, just that it looks like a decent location for one.
I believe there are at least two small Cliff Swallow nesting colonies in Champaign County. I found one of them last year, under a bridge on a rural road SE of Ivesdale.
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