Winter Birds - February 26th 2023

Field trip leader Chuck Henrikson and Friends host Diana Tapia Ramon greet people as they gather around Paul Noeldner's FUN set up.

About 30 people including several UW students and families with kids enjoyed taking part in some or all of the February 26, 2023 1:30pm 4th Sunday "Winter Birds" Bird and Nature Adventure at UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve led by Chuck Henrikson. Participants included several people from outside Madison and Monressori teacher who enjoys connecting kids with nature. A UW eye researcher shared the interesting fact that hawks have two fovea (concentrated eye receptors) for both far and close focus which contributes to their 20-2 visual acuity (8 times sharper than human) as a Red-tailed Hawk perched nearby to greet the group at the Picnic Point entrance. On the walk a winter-only visitor to Wisconsin the Dark-eyed Junco, also affectionately nicknamed the Snowbird, was spotted along with a number of year round resident species and early migrants including Sandhill Cranes and Red-winged Blackbirds. 

An Eastern Towhee at work!

The highlight was an almost invisible until pointed out well cameoflaged Eastern Towhee busily kicking aside snow dusted leaf litter to rustle up some grub for lunch right next to the Picnic Point Path only 20 feet or so from the enthralled flock of birders.  The outing ended with a welcome campfire to cap a beautiful winter walk and count up the bird sightings.  Everyone is already looking forward to next month's 4th Sunday Bird and Nature Adventure, "Early Migrants".

Report and photos by Paul Noeldner.