Morning Birding Species List | May 24, 2017

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 6:30AM – 8:30AM
Weather: sunny
Location: North Star Nature Preserve

Species Identified
Canada Goose (pictured above) Mallard Great Blue Heron Spotted Sandpiper Broad-tailed Hummingbird Red-naped Sapsucker Norther Flicker Steller’s Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Black-capped Chickadee		White-breasted Nuthatch Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Orange-crowned Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Chipping Sparrow Fox Sparrow Lincoln’s Sparrow Song Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird

Comments:

Our main quarry this crisp, frosty morning, remained elusive, living up to their life histories! One faint Wilson’s Snipe was heard about a half hour before the class began, but otherwise the snipes, Virginia Rails, and Soras of North Star did not reveal themselves to us during this outing. We learned about the expansive, high-quality habitat these unique birds breed in as ground nesters, as well as the value of the preserve’s management that protects these vulnerable birds. We learned that rails and snipes are detected more often by ear than by sight, played recorded vocalizations of each species, and listened for these birds among the dawn chorus at several locations. Many other bird species were observed, underscoring the quality and value of North Star Nature Preserve.  Mammal sightings included elk, deer, and black bear (observed just prior to the class).

~ Rebecca Weiss, ACES Bird Guide 

 

Photo by Dale Armstrong