Field trip March 23, 2014

MARCH 23, 2014. The season opened with a successful Bird and Nature Walk guided by Paul Noeldner and sponsored by the Friends and the Madison Audubon. A dozen people and two children met at the shed by the Eagle Heights community Gardens on this chilly but sunny day. Co-leaders were Yun-Wen Chan and Will Waller. After docent table hot chocolate and introductions and singing the Bluebird song 'Here Comes the Laughing Springtime' the group set out to discover cavity nesting habitat and also spotted a number of dangling Oriole nests, bowl shaped Robin nests, and other types of nests.  Two Red-tailed hawks circled Eagle Heights Gardens overhead and posed for scope viewing. Other posing highlights were a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker. 

The resident Sandhill pair was spotted by some as they stepped through the prairie but magically  disappeared in the garden area.  Three were seen flying at the end of the refreshingly sunny early Spring snow melt walk.  Gisela K spotted them on the playing fields by the 1918 marsh on the way home. Contacts made at the walk resulted in volunteers to organize a Bluebird Box Build event and to update and monitor the Bluebird trail. 
Plan to come along on the next Bird and Nature Walk on the 4th Sunday in April. It's great fun.

8 Canada Goose       
2  Mallard       
1 Cooper's Hawk       2 Red-tailed Hawk       3 Sandhill Crane       1 House Finch
2 Ring-billed Gull      

2 Mourning Dove       
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker       
1 Northern Flicker       
1 Blue Jay       
3 American Crow       
2 Black-capped Chickadee
2 American Goldfinch

1    White-breasted Nuthatch       
1    Eastern Bluebird       
4    American Robin       
2    American Tree Sparrow       
3    Northern Cardinal       
4    House Sparrow     
2    Red-winged Blackbird