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From: | [log in to unmask][log in to unmask], 5 Jun 2012 16:05:15 -0400635_US-ASCII Things were fairly quiet at Blendon Woods Metro Park this morning. Gone is the migration rush and the resident species are down to the task of rearing the next generation. Although we had birds singing along much of the trails there was little activity or movement. We managed to get decent looks at a few species, mostly on the Brookside Trail. Several came as a surprise but most were to be expected. We observed a male Cerulean Warbler, a Yellow-throated Warbler, several Red-eyed Vireos, and a family of Tufted Titmice. Heard but not observed were Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Ovenbird, [...]43_5Jun201216:05: [log in to unmask] |
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Date: | Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:51:47 -0400 |
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Today’s nice weather was too good to waste and the time left to monitor
Prothonotaries is getting shorter. I headed into the back 40 at Area N and
along Big Walnut Creek in Galena (Delaware County). The water level at Hoover
Reservoir continues to drop like a bathtub missing its plug and I was able
to walk in areas that normally would require wading with hip boots. The
Prothonotary Warblers established their territories back in late April and
early May when there was plenty of water below the nest boxes and natural
cavities. Now with the severe lack of rain the water has receded to the point
that the majority of my nest boxes have dry ground under them. The
Prothonotaries though are persistent and dedicated parents and have tufted it out,
incubating their eggs; hatching the young and seeing them fledge the nest.
I didn’t see much evidence of hatchlings still in the nest today, but I
found fledglings in good numbers in the back areas of the preserve. The
fledglings were raising a racket and this made locating them an easy task. At one
point there was so much activity that I sat on the trunk of a downed tree
for a half hour enjoying the show. The youngsters were chasing the adults
through the foliage stopping to vigorously flap their wings, flare their
tails and stretch their necks to get in the adults face to beg for a handout.
It worked pretty well. They were oblivious to my presence and some came to
within feet of me. I enjoyed the show but it is the first hint of the
oncoming southern migration. On average Prothonotaries begin migration in mid to
late July with the adults departing first. The juveniles follow later and
with only a small number of exceptions they are gone by late July. The
occasional pair that has a second brood sometimes is found as late as early
August.
Birders might consider getting their spotting scopes ready for the
shorebird migration. Mudflats continue to grow along the shore at Hoover
Reservoir. Unless there is significant rain soon the mudflats should be extensive by
mid July. They may also get a chance to scope in the Bald Eagle juveniles
as they have taken a liking to the cottonwood trees at the edge of the
reservoir.
Charlie Bombaci
Hoover Nature Preserve
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