March 2013 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane and Wolf Oesterreich.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
March 31, 2013: March Photo Collage
March 2013 photos from the blog by Kevin Kane and Wolf Oesterreich.
March 30, 2013: Last of the Ice
Two Canada Geese search for food on top of a very thin layer of ice in the lagoon under the bluff. 3/28/13 (Kevin Kane)
March 29, 2013: Erv's Field Notes #55
Crows at sunset over the central pond. 3/28/13 (Kevin Kane)
Friday, March 29, 2013. Sunny, warm, southerly breeze, Temp. 55 degrees F. Beautiful day.
After a cold month with several days of snow the warm weather has brought out lots of park users. Snow melt has filled most of the wetland ponds and the main lake is nearly full as well. I parked on Harrison Avenue and walked around the south lake. A plethora of waterfowl were evident and I am sorry I didn’t bring my spotting scope. On the wetlands near the parking lot I saw four Blue-winged Teal, a pair of Canada Geese and two Gadwall. About 20 Shovellers were dabbling in Pond F of the north wetland. Ring-billed Gulls and American Crows were flying around everywhere and a flock of about 75 gulls were sleeping on the ice in the western half of the south lake; the eastern half is open water. A pair of unmarked Trumpeter Swans were on the edge of the ice in the center of the lake and several dozen Canada Geese were on the ice near the south shore. I scanned a large flock of ducks in the open water just beyond the ice and identified the following: Canvasback, Redhead, Ringed-Neck Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, and an American Coot. I probably could have seen more species had I brought my spotting scope. An immature Bald Eagle was standing on the ice near the flock of gulls; it later flew southeast towards the Skunk River. A flock of about 15 Canvasbacks flew in from the southwest, dipped low over the flock of ducks in the water and then made several passes over the lake before regaining altitude and flying northward. The ponds near Stonebrooke are still mostly frozen but a large flock of Ring-billed Gulls and a couple of Herring Gulls were on the ice there. Kevin Kane's blog had spectacular photos this week from Wolf Oesterreich of a pair of White-fronted Geese and a Ring-billed Gull in flight.
Erv Klaas
Friday, March 29, 2013. Sunny, warm, southerly breeze, Temp. 55 degrees F. Beautiful day.
After a cold month with several days of snow the warm weather has brought out lots of park users. Snow melt has filled most of the wetland ponds and the main lake is nearly full as well. I parked on Harrison Avenue and walked around the south lake. A plethora of waterfowl were evident and I am sorry I didn’t bring my spotting scope. On the wetlands near the parking lot I saw four Blue-winged Teal, a pair of Canada Geese and two Gadwall. About 20 Shovellers were dabbling in Pond F of the north wetland. Ring-billed Gulls and American Crows were flying around everywhere and a flock of about 75 gulls were sleeping on the ice in the western half of the south lake; the eastern half is open water. A pair of unmarked Trumpeter Swans were on the edge of the ice in the center of the lake and several dozen Canada Geese were on the ice near the south shore. I scanned a large flock of ducks in the open water just beyond the ice and identified the following: Canvasback, Redhead, Ringed-Neck Duck, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, American Widgeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, and an American Coot. I probably could have seen more species had I brought my spotting scope. An immature Bald Eagle was standing on the ice near the flock of gulls; it later flew southeast towards the Skunk River. A flock of about 15 Canvasbacks flew in from the southwest, dipped low over the flock of ducks in the water and then made several passes over the lake before regaining altitude and flying northward. The ponds near Stonebrooke are still mostly frozen but a large flock of Ring-billed Gulls and a couple of Herring Gulls were on the ice there. Kevin Kane's blog had spectacular photos this week from Wolf Oesterreich of a pair of White-fronted Geese and a Ring-billed Gull in flight.
Erv Klaas
Thursday, March 28, 2013
March 28, 2013: Ring-billed Gulls
On the south lake ice and hunting over Pond M were over 40 Ring-billed Gulls. (Amongst them were 2 adult Herring Gulls, the first ones seen this year.) 3/28/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
March 27, 2013: North Wetlands
This composite photograph shows the north wetland complex, as viewed from the northwest corner of the Upland Trail. 3/25/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
March 26, 2013: Greater White-fronted Geese
Greater White-fronted Geese over the south lake. 3/23/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese have been migrating northward. Hundreds have been stopping at the Park, mostly on the south lake and Pool F. Their vernacular name "speckle-bellies" comes from the black markings on the belly. Their laugh-like call distinguishes them from the honking Canada Geese.
Wolf. Oesterreich
Thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese have been migrating northward. Hundreds have been stopping at the Park, mostly on the south lake and Pool F. Their vernacular name "speckle-bellies" comes from the black markings on the belly. Their laugh-like call distinguishes them from the honking Canada Geese.
Wolf. Oesterreich
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
March 25, 2013: Immature Bald Eagle
Immature Bald Eagle. 3/23/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Immature Bald Eagles have been a constant presence for most of the month. Lately, a group of 3 have been hanging out out together. I've seen them perched in the trees at or near the bluff area. A 4-year bird (not quite complete white head and tail) and 1 to 2 adults have also been observed. Sometimes you may have the privilege of watching an eagle dive-bomb at a group of waterfowl on the south lake, either for "fun" or to locate a potential meal. On the 20th, I saw two large birds fly from the Skunk River area over to the south lake. I soon realized that it was an adult Bald Eagle chasing a Greater White-fronted Goose. The eagle matched exactly the goose's turns as they circled over the water. After a minute the eagle broke off and flew back towards the river.
Wolf. Oesterreich
Wolf. Oesterreich
Sunday, March 24, 2013
March 24, 2013: Before the Snow
Looking northeast from cove in southwest corner of the south lake to the bridge on Saturday before the new snow on Sunday. 3/23/13 (Kevin Kane)
Saturday, March 23, 2013
March 23, 2013: Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal, 3/23/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
The first and only pair (so far) of Blue-winged Teal has been seen at Pool J (middle wetland complex) since the 19th. They are hanging out with Canada Geese and Lesser Scaups. A single male Green-winged Teal has also been present for the past 2 days.
Wolf. Oesterreich
The first and only pair (so far) of Blue-winged Teal has been seen at Pool J (middle wetland complex) since the 19th. They are hanging out with Canada Geese and Lesser Scaups. A single male Green-winged Teal has also been present for the past 2 days.
Wolf. Oesterreich
March 22, 2013: Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron, 3/22/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
A Great Blue Heron has been observed at the Park since the 19th, usually near the weir between Ponds M and N (south wetland complex). With cold nighttime temperatures causing ice to form over open waters makes it hard for the bird to find places to feed. This photograph shows the heron taking flight from the mudflat at the SW corner of the south lake.
Wolf. Oesterreich
A Great Blue Heron has been observed at the Park since the 19th, usually near the weir between Ponds M and N (south wetland complex). With cold nighttime temperatures causing ice to form over open waters makes it hard for the bird to find places to feed. This photograph shows the heron taking flight from the mudflat at the SW corner of the south lake.
Wolf. Oesterreich
Friday, March 22, 2013
March 21, 2013: North Farmland
This is the farmland north of the park that has been purchased for residential development, looking south from the highway. The trees in the center of the shot are those surrounding Jensen Pond. 3/20/13 (Kevin Kane)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
March 20, 2013: Northslope
Cold day at the park looking across the nothwest hills. Part of Wolf's monthly time series. 3/20/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
March 18, 2013: Where's Spring?
Trees in the southern part of the park are bathed in a setting sun but coated with snow that came from the northwest after our most recent snowfall. 3/11/13 (Kevin Kane)
Monday, March 18, 2013
March 17, 2013: Erv's Field Notes #54
Canada Geese in flight over north lake on a sunny February day at near sundown. 2/23/13 (Kevin Kane)
In previous field notes and on Kevin’s blogs, Wolf and I have mentioned several different names for geese observed at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. These include Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose, Ross Goose and Snow Goose (blue and white phase).
Here I will just talk about the various forms of Canada Geese. Let’s start with the definition of a species. Taxonomists (people who name species) first used morphological characters to describe and name a species. One of the most famous taxonomists was the Swedish naturalist, Carl Linneaus (1707-1778), who spent his entire life describing and naming preserved plants and animals brought to him by explorers of the new world. Linneaus devised a binomial system of nomenclature, that is, each species was given two Latin names, the genus and species. This system is still in use today. Closely related species were given the same genus name. Later, a trinomial system came into use for closely related species, to designate what zoologists called the subspecies and botanists called a variety.
In the mid-20th Century, biologists agreed that morphological characters were no longer sufficient to fully describe a species. For example, sometimes males and females of the same species were so different morphologically that they were named as separate species. The great ornithologist, Ernst Myer, devised a biological definition of a species that has been widely adopted. This definition states that a species is a population of individuals that interbreed, or that can potentially interbreed with each other, but cannot interbreed with other populations. Many populations show geographical variation in their morphology and biologists use the subspecies designation to identify them. Not surprisingly, biologists often disagree in these designations leading to confusion in the naming systems. This is very evident in the world of Canada Geese. This species has a great amount of geographical variation across its range in North America and many subspecies have been named to designate the many subpopulations. One long-time student of Canada Geese claimed that he could recognize 135 subspecies. However, in 1991, at an International Symposium on the Canada Goose held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gerald Shields, presented a thorough analysis of the phylogeny of North American Canada Geese based on mitochondrial DNR. He showed that Canada Geese can be divided into two major groups which last shared a common ancestor about one million years ago. One group, which is primarily continental in its breeding distribution, is composed of all large bodied subspecies consisting of seven subspecies. The second group, which breeds in coastal Alaska and Arctic Canada includes four small-bodied subspecies. More recently, it has been shown that several subpopulations of the smaller Canada geese can be considered as a full species. Thus, under the rules of nomenclature, the name for the Cackling Goose had precedence, so the Richardson’s Canada Goose now is called the Cackling Goose, Branta hutchensii.
This is a long-winded preamble to explaining what we observe at Hayden Park. The most numerous of the geese wintering in Ames is the Giant Canada, Branta canadensis maxima. The Giant Canada is a non-migratory subspecies breeding mostly in Midwestern states although it has been introduced into southern states as far south as Florida. A small number of a slightly smaller goose, Branta canadensis interior, is present. The Interior Canada is difficult to distinguish from the Giant Canada in the field. This subspecies breeds along the western shore of Hudson Bay in Canada and winters from Iowa south to Louisiana. A few dozen Cackling Geese have been using the park this winter. This species breeds in the arctic regions of northern Canada and most of this population winters in northern Missouri at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Cackling Goose is not much bigger than a Mallard duck and has a very short bill. Otherwise it looks like all of the other geese in the flock. So, the next time you are out at the park, take along a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope and see if you can pick out these three kinds of geese that all look like alike at first glance. I’ll say more about the other three species of geese in a later note.
Erv Klaas
In previous field notes and on Kevin’s blogs, Wolf and I have mentioned several different names for geese observed at Ada Hayden Heritage Park. These include Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose, Ross Goose and Snow Goose (blue and white phase).
Here I will just talk about the various forms of Canada Geese. Let’s start with the definition of a species. Taxonomists (people who name species) first used morphological characters to describe and name a species. One of the most famous taxonomists was the Swedish naturalist, Carl Linneaus (1707-1778), who spent his entire life describing and naming preserved plants and animals brought to him by explorers of the new world. Linneaus devised a binomial system of nomenclature, that is, each species was given two Latin names, the genus and species. This system is still in use today. Closely related species were given the same genus name. Later, a trinomial system came into use for closely related species, to designate what zoologists called the subspecies and botanists called a variety.
In the mid-20th Century, biologists agreed that morphological characters were no longer sufficient to fully describe a species. For example, sometimes males and females of the same species were so different morphologically that they were named as separate species. The great ornithologist, Ernst Myer, devised a biological definition of a species that has been widely adopted. This definition states that a species is a population of individuals that interbreed, or that can potentially interbreed with each other, but cannot interbreed with other populations. Many populations show geographical variation in their morphology and biologists use the subspecies designation to identify them. Not surprisingly, biologists often disagree in these designations leading to confusion in the naming systems. This is very evident in the world of Canada Geese. This species has a great amount of geographical variation across its range in North America and many subspecies have been named to designate the many subpopulations. One long-time student of Canada Geese claimed that he could recognize 135 subspecies. However, in 1991, at an International Symposium on the Canada Goose held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gerald Shields, presented a thorough analysis of the phylogeny of North American Canada Geese based on mitochondrial DNR. He showed that Canada Geese can be divided into two major groups which last shared a common ancestor about one million years ago. One group, which is primarily continental in its breeding distribution, is composed of all large bodied subspecies consisting of seven subspecies. The second group, which breeds in coastal Alaska and Arctic Canada includes four small-bodied subspecies. More recently, it has been shown that several subpopulations of the smaller Canada geese can be considered as a full species. Thus, under the rules of nomenclature, the name for the Cackling Goose had precedence, so the Richardson’s Canada Goose now is called the Cackling Goose, Branta hutchensii.
This is a long-winded preamble to explaining what we observe at Hayden Park. The most numerous of the geese wintering in Ames is the Giant Canada, Branta canadensis maxima. The Giant Canada is a non-migratory subspecies breeding mostly in Midwestern states although it has been introduced into southern states as far south as Florida. A small number of a slightly smaller goose, Branta canadensis interior, is present. The Interior Canada is difficult to distinguish from the Giant Canada in the field. This subspecies breeds along the western shore of Hudson Bay in Canada and winters from Iowa south to Louisiana. A few dozen Cackling Geese have been using the park this winter. This species breeds in the arctic regions of northern Canada and most of this population winters in northern Missouri at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The Cackling Goose is not much bigger than a Mallard duck and has a very short bill. Otherwise it looks like all of the other geese in the flock. So, the next time you are out at the park, take along a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope and see if you can pick out these three kinds of geese that all look like alike at first glance. I’ll say more about the other three species of geese in a later note.
Erv Klaas
March 16, 2013: Immature Bald Eagle
This immature Bald Eagle was 1 of 5 found at the Park Saturday morning. Present were 3 immatures, 1 4th-year, and 1 adult. 3/16/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
March 15, 2013: Central Wetland
This composite photograph shows Pool F and the highlands to the W, NW & N. The pool contains water again and many waterfowl are congregating there. 3/15/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
March 14, 2013: Southwest Ponds
Looking north across the southwest pond complex. 3/11/13 (Kevin Kane)
Friday, March 15, 2013
March 13, 2013: Swamp Sparrow
This Swamp Sparrow is 1 of 3 found along Pool F's outflow channel (below the trail) and represents the first ones I've seen this year at the Park. They were in the same general area as the 2 Virginia's Opossum. A single Song Sparrow was also present. 3/13/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Thursday, March 14, 2013
March 12, 2013: Virginia Opossum
This is the second of two Virginia Opossums found today along Pool F's outflow channel (below the trail). The first one was smaller and darker. 3/13/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
March 11, 2013: Snow and Sun
After a day of more snow, the sun finally came out right before sunset casting long, orange shadows over the blueish white snow of the park. 3/11/13 (Kevin Kane)
Monday, March 11, 2013
March 10, 2013: Eagle Soars over Bluff
Snow-covered along the east side of the bluff. An immature Bald Eagle sails by (upper left), with a perched Red-tailed Hawk (near right edge, center). 3/11/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
March 9, 2013: Cattails
Snow-covered cattails at Pond J, surrounded by frozen water. The pond had been dry for months. 3/11/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
March 8, 2013: Northern Cardinal
To me the first sounds of Spring are calling Northern Cardinals. 3/11/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Saturday, March 9, 2013
March 7, 2013: Ding Darling video on Iowa Public TV this week
Wildlife on the edge of the city. 2/25/13 (Kevin Kane)
This week, Iowa Public TV is broadcasting the production “America’s Darling: the story of J. N. “Ding” Darling.” Paul Skrade and Erv Klaas are interviewed in the production.
Ding Darling was an cartoonist for the Des Moines Register in the early 1900’s and is well known for his political cartoons, many about conservation. He was the commissioner of the Iowa Fish and Game and the head of the U.S. Biological Survey, which was the forerunner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He was influential in the establishment of the first Cooperative Research Unit—which was at Iowa State College! He started the Duck Stamp program, and he was the first president of the National Wildlife Federation . The show is very informative and entertaining. The schedule for this week and in early April is:
Fri, March 8, 2013 5:00 PM (IPTV World)
Sat, March 9, 2013 8:44 PM (IPTV World)
Sun, March 10, 2013 2:00 PM (IPTV)
Mon, April 8, 2013 9:00 PM (IPTV)
Enjoy it, if you have a chance. You can see the “trailer” here: http://www.iptv.org/video/detail.cfm/32597/jdd_20130211_americas_darling
Bonnie
Bonnie S. Bowen, Ph.D.
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology
Department of Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology
and Natural Resource Ecology & Management
Thursday, March 7, 2013
March 6, 2013: Canada Geese on Trail
These Canada Geese have come up onto the trail to feed on the grass along the edges and to poop on the trail. 3/7/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
March 5, 2013: Landing
Two geese overhead are ready for landing on the south lake. 2/23/13 (Kevin Kane)
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
March 4, 2013: Reflections in Open Water and Ice
Sunset on the north lake - looking west over the boat ramp. 2/23/13 (Kevin Kane)
Monday, March 4, 2013
March 3, 2013: February Photo Collage
February photos from the blog by Kevin Kane, Erv Klaas, and Wolf Oesterreich.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
March 2, 3013: Wolf's February Species Report
Mallards on the ice shelf of the lake. 3/2/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
A total of 53 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the highest February among 16 years of records. February 2005 and 2011, with 40 species each, were the previous high total.
Based on citations in the 3rd Edition of “The Birds of Story County, Iowa,” by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Hank Zaletel (2001), plus my personal updates to the records, the Ross’s Goose first observed on the 19th may be an extreme early Spring record for Story County (former record set on 9 March 1991 at Hendrickson Marsh). Other extreme early Spring records include the male Wood Duck on the 16th (former record set on 19 Feb 2005 at AHHP), the male Lesser Scaup on the 17th (former record set on 19 Feb 2002 at Hallett’s Quarry), the female Common Goldeneye on the 4th (former record set on 21 Feb 2011 at AHHP), the Hooded Merganser pair on the 18th (former record set on 20 Feb 2011 at AHHP), and the Pied-billed Grebe on the 18th (former record set on 5 Mar 2000 at Hallett’s Quarry). The continued presence of the Tundra Swan and the American Black Duck (through mid-month) are also noteworthy.
Listed below, following the species’ names, are the date(s) of sighting(s), plus the occasional miscellaneous information regarding numbers, gender (♂=male, ♀=female), age (im=immature, ju=juvenile, abp=adult breeding plumage, ad=adult, anb=adult non-breeding), color phase (b=blue, w=white), and location (BY=back yard). The order follows the 53rd Supplement (2012) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 12th Supplement to the 7th Edition (1998).
AVIAN
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 13 (21), 14 (8), 15 (32+), 16 (12+), 17 (18+), 18 (38+),
19 (70+), 20 (85+), 21 (6+), 22 (10+), 23 (23+), 24 (17+), 25 (4)
ROSS’S GOOSE: 19-22 (1 ad w), 24-25 (1 ad w)
CACKLING GOOSE: 1-7, 9-25
CANADA GOOSE: 1-28
TRUMPETER SWAN: 2 (7 ad + 2 ju), 3 (9), 4 (5 ad + 2 ju), 7 (4 ad), 16 (8), 17 (5 ad + 2 ju), 18 (8),
19 (11 ad + 3 ju), 20 (9 ad + 2 ju), 21 (21 ad + 8 ju), 22 (7 ad + 4 ju), 23 (13 ad +
6 ju), 24 (6 ad + 2 ju), 25 (2 ad + 4 ju), 26, 27 (18 ad + 6 ju), 28 (12 ad + 6 ju)
TUNDRA SWAN: 2-4 (1 ad), 16 (1 ad), 18 (1 ad), 21 (1 ju), 23 (1 ad + 1 ju), 27 (1 ad + 1 ju)
WOOD DUCK: 16-17 (1♂), 25 (2♂)
GADWALL: 18 (4♂ + 1♀), 25 (5♂ + 5♀), 27 (2♂ + 1♀), 28 (3♂ + 3♀)
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 2-5 (1♂), 13 (1♂), 16 (1♂)
MALLARD: 1-25, 27-28
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 1 (1♂), 3-4 (1♂), 10 (1♂ + 1♀), 16-17 (1♂ + 1♀), 18 (4♂ + 3♀)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 18 (2♂)
CANVASBACK: 16-17 (1♂)
REDHEAD: 12-13 (3♂ + 1♀), 14-15 (1♂ + 1♀), 24 (1♂ + 1♀), 25 (3♂), 27-28 (3♂)
RING-NECKED DUCK: 17 (1♂), 18 (2♂), 23 (1♂ + 1♀)
LESSER SCAUP: 17 (1♂), 18 (26♂ + 5♀), 25 (4♂ + 2♀), 27 (2♂), 28 (1♂)
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 4-5 (1♀), 13 (2♂), 14 (3♂ + 1♀), 15-16 (2♂ + 1♀), 17 (3♂ + 1♀),
18 (6♂ + 1♀), 19 (2♂ + 1♀), 20-21 (3♂ + 1♀), 22 (5♂ + 2♀), 23 (5♂ + 1♀),
24 (5♂ + 2♀), 25 (4♂ + 2♀), 27-28 (3♂ + 2♀)
HOODED MERGANSER: 18 (1♂ + 1♀)
COMMON MERGANSER: 10 (1♂), 21 (1♂)
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2-5, 18 (1♂ by), 25, 28
PIED-BILLED GREBE: 18 (1)
BALD EAGLE: 5 (1 im), 6 (1 ad), 7 (1 ad + 1 im), 9 (1 ad), 13 (1 ad + 1 im), 15 (1 ad + 3 im), 16 (2 ad),
18 (1 im), 19 (1 ad + 1 4th-year), 20-21 (1 ad + 1 im), 22 (1 ad), 24 (1 ad + 1 im),
27-28 (1 ad)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 8 (1 ad)
COOPER’S HAWK: 10 (1 im BY), 16 (1 im BY), 17 (1 ad BY), 25 (1 im BY), 28 (1 im BY)
RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (4), 3-6 (2), 7 (1 im BY), 9 (1), 10-11 (2), 14 (2), 16 (2), 17 (1 im BY),
18-19 (1), 21 (1), 22 (4), 23-24 (1), 25 (1 BY + 2), 27 (1)
AMERICAN COOT: 18 (1)
KILLDEER: 25 (1)
ROCK PIGEON: 22 (1), 27 (1)
MOURNING DOVE: 3 (1 BY), 12 (1), 16 (1 BY), 25 (6), 26-27 (1 BY)
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1, 3-4, 9-12, 17-18, 22, 27
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-12, 14, 16-19, 21, 23-27
HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1-3, 6, 8-10, 12, 16-18, 23-25, 27
NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 3 (1)
AMERICAN KESTREL: 22 (1♀)
MERLIN: 4 (1♀)
NORTHERN SHRIKE: 3-4 (1), 7 (1), 14-15 (1), 22 (1)
BLUE JAY: 2-3, 8-10, 23-24
AMERICAN CROW: 1-4, 6-11, 15-25, 27-28
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-28
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1, 3, 5-6, 9-12, 15-17, 19-20, 23-24
BROWN CREEPER: 6 (1)
EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-3, 5-9, 11-12, 15, 17-20, 23-27
CEDAR WAXWING: 8 (~30), 9 (4 BY)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-4, 7, 9-11, 14, 16, 18-24, 26-28
SONG SPARROW: 1 (5), 2-3 (6), 4 (5), 5-6 (2), 8 (2), 9-11 (1), 15 (1), 16 (2), 18-19 (1), 20-21 (2),
22 (1), 27 (3), 28 (8)
HARRIS’S SPARROW: 2-3 (2 BY), 5 (3 BY), 6-10 (1 BY), 15 (1 BY), 16-17 (2 BY), 18 (1 BY),
19 (4 BY), 20 (2 BY), 24-25 (1 BY), 26-27 (3 BY)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-28
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Oregon): 2 (1 BY), 9 (1 BY), 11 (1 BY), 25-26 (1 BY)
NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-28
PURPLE FINCH: 17 (1♀ BY)
HOUSE FINCH: 1-28
COMMON REDPOLL: 26 (1 BY)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-10, 13-20, 24-28
HOUSE SPARROW: 1-28
MAMMALIAN
WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (3), 2 (3 + 2♂), 3 (1), 6 (2), 9 (11), 13 (13 + 1♂), 21 (1 BY), 22 (17),
25 (9), 26 (2 BY), 27 (1 BY + 1), 29 (5 BY)
FOX SQUIRREL: 4-7, 9-10, 12, 14, 22, 25-29
EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-6, 12-13, 15, 23, 25-29
Wolf. Oesterreich
A total of 53 avian species was recorded this month, ranking this month as the highest February among 16 years of records. February 2005 and 2011, with 40 species each, were the previous high total.
Based on citations in the 3rd Edition of “The Birds of Story County, Iowa,” by Stephen J. Dinsmore and Hank Zaletel (2001), plus my personal updates to the records, the Ross’s Goose first observed on the 19th may be an extreme early Spring record for Story County (former record set on 9 March 1991 at Hendrickson Marsh). Other extreme early Spring records include the male Wood Duck on the 16th (former record set on 19 Feb 2005 at AHHP), the male Lesser Scaup on the 17th (former record set on 19 Feb 2002 at Hallett’s Quarry), the female Common Goldeneye on the 4th (former record set on 21 Feb 2011 at AHHP), the Hooded Merganser pair on the 18th (former record set on 20 Feb 2011 at AHHP), and the Pied-billed Grebe on the 18th (former record set on 5 Mar 2000 at Hallett’s Quarry). The continued presence of the Tundra Swan and the American Black Duck (through mid-month) are also noteworthy.
Listed below, following the species’ names, are the date(s) of sighting(s), plus the occasional miscellaneous information regarding numbers, gender (♂=male, ♀=female), age (im=immature, ju=juvenile, abp=adult breeding plumage, ad=adult, anb=adult non-breeding), color phase (b=blue, w=white), and location (BY=back yard). The order follows the 53rd Supplement (2012) to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds and the 12th Supplement to the 7th Edition (1998).
AVIAN
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE: 13 (21), 14 (8), 15 (32+), 16 (12+), 17 (18+), 18 (38+),
19 (70+), 20 (85+), 21 (6+), 22 (10+), 23 (23+), 24 (17+), 25 (4)
ROSS’S GOOSE: 19-22 (1 ad w), 24-25 (1 ad w)
CACKLING GOOSE: 1-7, 9-25
CANADA GOOSE: 1-28
TRUMPETER SWAN: 2 (7 ad + 2 ju), 3 (9), 4 (5 ad + 2 ju), 7 (4 ad), 16 (8), 17 (5 ad + 2 ju), 18 (8),
19 (11 ad + 3 ju), 20 (9 ad + 2 ju), 21 (21 ad + 8 ju), 22 (7 ad + 4 ju), 23 (13 ad +
6 ju), 24 (6 ad + 2 ju), 25 (2 ad + 4 ju), 26, 27 (18 ad + 6 ju), 28 (12 ad + 6 ju)
TUNDRA SWAN: 2-4 (1 ad), 16 (1 ad), 18 (1 ad), 21 (1 ju), 23 (1 ad + 1 ju), 27 (1 ad + 1 ju)
WOOD DUCK: 16-17 (1♂), 25 (2♂)
GADWALL: 18 (4♂ + 1♀), 25 (5♂ + 5♀), 27 (2♂ + 1♀), 28 (3♂ + 3♀)
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK: 2-5 (1♂), 13 (1♂), 16 (1♂)
MALLARD: 1-25, 27-28
NORTHERN PINTAIL: 1 (1♂), 3-4 (1♂), 10 (1♂ + 1♀), 16-17 (1♂ + 1♀), 18 (4♂ + 3♀)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL: 18 (2♂)
CANVASBACK: 16-17 (1♂)
REDHEAD: 12-13 (3♂ + 1♀), 14-15 (1♂ + 1♀), 24 (1♂ + 1♀), 25 (3♂), 27-28 (3♂)
RING-NECKED DUCK: 17 (1♂), 18 (2♂), 23 (1♂ + 1♀)
LESSER SCAUP: 17 (1♂), 18 (26♂ + 5♀), 25 (4♂ + 2♀), 27 (2♂), 28 (1♂)
COMMON GOLDENEYE: 4-5 (1♀), 13 (2♂), 14 (3♂ + 1♀), 15-16 (2♂ + 1♀), 17 (3♂ + 1♀),
18 (6♂ + 1♀), 19 (2♂ + 1♀), 20-21 (3♂ + 1♀), 22 (5♂ + 2♀), 23 (5♂ + 1♀),
24 (5♂ + 2♀), 25 (4♂ + 2♀), 27-28 (3♂ + 2♀)
HOODED MERGANSER: 18 (1♂ + 1♀)
COMMON MERGANSER: 10 (1♂), 21 (1♂)
RING-NECKED PHEASANT: 2-5, 18 (1♂ by), 25, 28
PIED-BILLED GREBE: 18 (1)
BALD EAGLE: 5 (1 im), 6 (1 ad), 7 (1 ad + 1 im), 9 (1 ad), 13 (1 ad + 1 im), 15 (1 ad + 3 im), 16 (2 ad),
18 (1 im), 19 (1 ad + 1 4th-year), 20-21 (1 ad + 1 im), 22 (1 ad), 24 (1 ad + 1 im),
27-28 (1 ad)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK: 8 (1 ad)
COOPER’S HAWK: 10 (1 im BY), 16 (1 im BY), 17 (1 ad BY), 25 (1 im BY), 28 (1 im BY)
RED-TAILED HAWK: 1 (4), 3-6 (2), 7 (1 im BY), 9 (1), 10-11 (2), 14 (2), 16 (2), 17 (1 im BY),
18-19 (1), 21 (1), 22 (4), 23-24 (1), 25 (1 BY + 2), 27 (1)
AMERICAN COOT: 18 (1)
KILLDEER: 25 (1)
ROCK PIGEON: 22 (1), 27 (1)
MOURNING DOVE: 3 (1 BY), 12 (1), 16 (1 BY), 25 (6), 26-27 (1 BY)
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER: 1, 3-4, 9-12, 17-18, 22, 27
DOWNY WOODPECKER: 1-12, 14, 16-19, 21, 23-27
HAIRY WOODPECKER: 1-3, 6, 8-10, 12, 16-18, 23-25, 27
NORTHERN FLICKER (Yellow-shafted): 3 (1)
AMERICAN KESTREL: 22 (1♀)
MERLIN: 4 (1♀)
NORTHERN SHRIKE: 3-4 (1), 7 (1), 14-15 (1), 22 (1)
BLUE JAY: 2-3, 8-10, 23-24
AMERICAN CROW: 1-4, 6-11, 15-25, 27-28
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE: 1-28
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH: 1, 3, 5-6, 9-12, 15-17, 19-20, 23-24
BROWN CREEPER: 6 (1)
EUROPEAN STARLING: 1-3, 5-9, 11-12, 15, 17-20, 23-27
CEDAR WAXWING: 8 (~30), 9 (4 BY)
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW: 1-4, 7, 9-11, 14, 16, 18-24, 26-28
SONG SPARROW: 1 (5), 2-3 (6), 4 (5), 5-6 (2), 8 (2), 9-11 (1), 15 (1), 16 (2), 18-19 (1), 20-21 (2),
22 (1), 27 (3), 28 (8)
HARRIS’S SPARROW: 2-3 (2 BY), 5 (3 BY), 6-10 (1 BY), 15 (1 BY), 16-17 (2 BY), 18 (1 BY),
19 (4 BY), 20 (2 BY), 24-25 (1 BY), 26-27 (3 BY)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Slate-colored): 1-28
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Oregon): 2 (1 BY), 9 (1 BY), 11 (1 BY), 25-26 (1 BY)
NORTHERN CARDINAL: 1-28
PURPLE FINCH: 17 (1♀ BY)
HOUSE FINCH: 1-28
COMMON REDPOLL: 26 (1 BY)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: 1-10, 13-20, 24-28
HOUSE SPARROW: 1-28
MAMMALIAN
WHITE-TAILED DEER: 1 (3), 2 (3 + 2♂), 3 (1), 6 (2), 9 (11), 13 (13 + 1♂), 21 (1 BY), 22 (17),
25 (9), 26 (2 BY), 27 (1 BY + 1), 29 (5 BY)
FOX SQUIRREL: 4-7, 9-10, 12, 14, 22, 25-29
EASTERN COTTONTAIL: 1, 3-6, 12-13, 15, 23, 25-29
Wolf. Oesterreich
Saturday, March 2, 2013
March 1, 2013: Two Lakes
Panoramic view of both the north and south lakes from the bridge looking north. 2/25/13 (Kevin Kane)
Friday, March 1, 2013
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