Birds of Easter Weekend

I hope everyone had a happy Easter weekend. We've been busy this week, and I continually struggle to find enough time in the day. Michaela and Danielle visited Grandparents in Minnesota this past week, playing with cousins, hiding Easter eggs, and enjoying family.

I had many long nights working this past week, but Christine and I were able to attend my Spring department meetings in Fond du Lac on Friday and Saturday. On the way to the meetings we stopped at Mead Wildlife Area in hopes of finding Greater-Prairie Chickens for Christine. We were in luck.

While I enjoyed the meetings Christine bummed around town and took in a movie. Saturday afternoon we went for a walk at Horicon Marsh International Education Center and a drive on Dike Rd. It was our first trip to Horicon, and were able to find 60 species in a few hours of looking. A few pictures are below, with other pictures linked here for a Northern Harrier, Pied-billed Grebe, and American White Pelican

American Coot


Savannah Sparrow


American Bittern


Blue-winged Teal


Northern Shoveler

Sunday I finished the Red-shouldered Hawk survey, finding 34 species at 12 points during the morning observations. Eight new species from Thursday morning, but four that I did not find the second time around.

This Friday I'll be at an undergraduate research symposium with my environmental economics class. It should be a fun trip, but of course we have to finish the project yet!

Red-shouldered Hawk Survey

Last month I volunteered for an Owl Survey route and a Red-Shouldered Hawk survey route. I completed the Owl route two weeks ago, but have had trouble getting the Hawk surveys in due to weather. I attempted to complete the survey this past Saturday, but when snowfall started during the second of twelve stops and I had to cancel. With calm weather forecasted I was hopeful that I could complete the first of two routes. Luckily I was able to complete the twelve ten minute observations this morning and only had to deal with fog. Temperature in the 20s caused thick fog around low lying areas early this morning. As a result I took an hour break in the middle of the survey to wait for the fog to burn off, but overall it was a beautiful morning to be outside.

The highlight was finding two Red-Shouldered Hawks, one that flew directly over my head at tree top height! Two survey routes and success on both....awesome!

I'm hoping Christine and I get out birding a couple of times this weekend also. Michaela and Danielle are visiting Grandparents while I have my spring department meetings tomorrow and Saturday in Fond du Lac.

Below is a list of observed species.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Wilson's Snipe
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle