 Roma Lenehan explaining habitat provided Over 20 people joined bird and warbler expert Roma Lenehan for a two mile, early morning birding hike to Frautschi Point, the Biocore Prairie and the Picnic Point Marsh. On this beautiful morning, even the Gray-crested flycatcher looked brilliant in the golden sunlight. The air was filled with urgent bird calls and joyous songs, and the group was rewarded with spotting a total of 60 different species. The warblers were still hanging out in the tops of the tall blooming oaks, feasting on plentiful food, along with emerging critters and bugs, while toxic oak chemicals were still absent. On a short side trip toward Raymer's Cove, the group flushed a male Wood duck that flew toward the lake. But the female Wood duck, silhouetted against the blue sky, flew into a hole of an oak tree trunk about 10 feet above the ground. At the Biocore Prairie, we surprised some Swainson's thrushes, now ten times more common than the Gray--cheeked thrushes. Indigo buntings were in the pine trees along the old field. They will soon be feasting on the dandelion seeds maturing in the meadow. At the Picnic Point marsh the birders were rewarded with sights of the Green heron, Sora rail, and Sandhill cranes. This was a most fascinating field trip, not only because of the many birds present, but also because Roma shared her vast knowledge with regards to location, habitat, food, migration, and individual bird calls and songs and identification of many birds. Experienced birders like Marty Evanson, Susan Slapnick and others also helped inform the group. Susan Slapnick also provided the list of birds, in the order they were seen. Friends hosts: Galen Hasler, Gisela Kutzbach, Peter Fisher. Bird photos were taken by Marj Rhine
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Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
P.O. Box 5534 Madison, WI 53705 UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website Documents |
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