Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Empty Nest Syndrome
This summer as I've worked in the Big Grove meadow, I've had lots of company... the interface between field and forest (wood's edge), is one of the richest environments for songbirds, and I've seen or heard an astonishing array of birds for such a small area (the meadow itself is only a couple of acres). Alas, the empty goldfinch nest in a hawthorn tree is a sign that it's all coming to an end, as the birds are on the move. Some of them have journeys of many thousands of miles ahead of them; a few have already left, and the rest are busy wolfing down as much food as they can, and making little practice flights in ever-increasing flocks. The preserve will be ready for their return in the spring... here is my list of this year's tenants:eastern bluebird, robin, yellow warbler, Kentucky warbler, field sparrow, song sparrow, chipping sparrow, rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, red-winged blackbird, towhee, Baltimore oriole, house finch, goldfinch, wood thrush, catbird, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, cardinal, dove, warbling vireo, house wren, eastern wood pewee, yellow-throated vireo, chickadee, nuthatch, downy woodpecker, yellow-shafted flicker, red-eyed vireo, great crested flycatcher, crow, tufted titmouse, sharp-shinned hawk, wild turkey, pileated woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, and red-bellied woodpecker.
// posted by IBOY @ 9:12 PM 
