Spring Birding Workshop Highlights
Posted by admin | Under Recent Field Trips Friday May 4, 2012
On Sunday, March 25, our club enjoyed a special presentation by Anthony Gonzon, coordinator of the Delaware Breeding Bird Atlas. He told us how this amazing project is helping to discover how many species of birds are nesting in Delaware, and what kinds of habitats they are using. We tested our skills by identifying a variety of nests and eggs from the collection at Ashland Nature Center, then went outside to search for signs of nesting birds.
Newly-arrived Tree Swallows were investigating the nest boxes near Hawk Watch Hill, and we found several old nests from American Robins under the roof of the pavilion. At the Ashland Lodge, we found the nests of Barn Swallows, ready to filled up when these migrants soon return to their traditional nesting site. And we were very lucky to have great looks at Eastern Bluebirds– always a fan favorite!
To wrap up our Spring Birding Workshop, Judy Montgomery helped us create special bird journals for keeping track of our observations. We made notes about the breeding bird evidence we saw, and sketched some of our favorite birds. To give us all a boost, each family took home a hand-crafted nest box to install in their yard. With Spring upon us, soon these boxes will have birds visiting them and starting their nesting cycle. Get ready for a great season of Nesting Birds!