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We believe in connecting people with nature.
Most of our programs are FREE and open to the public. Check our calendar and join the fun! Recent happenings:
April 12, 2025 - Olmsted County's First Crane Count
Today ZVAS volunteers and residents of Olmsted County participated in the area’s first-ever crane count, organized through the International Crane Foundation based in Baraboo, Wisconsin. It was a chilly but clear morning as 12 dedicated volunteers gathered under the setting moon at 5:30 am to watch the sunrise, remaining at their observation sites until 7:30 am. Volunteers were stationed at several locations across Olmsted County, including wildlife management areas, parks, and other public lands. A total of 12 Sandhill Cranes were reported: 6 were seen, and 6 were heard calling at five different sites: County 9 Marsh 2 Chester Woods 4 RCTC Soccer Fields 1 Willow Creek Reservoir 3 Silver Creek Reservoir 2 While not every participant had the chance to witness these impressive birds or hear their iconic trumpeting calls, all enjoyed a peaceful morning surrounded by the sounds of other birds waking up. A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success! Report by Jim Sullivan April 12, 2025 - Crane Count & Field Trip to Armstrong Wetlands & Rice Lake State Park
ZVAS took part in two events today - our first Annual Olmsted County Crane Count and our annual Field Trip to Armstrong Wetlands/Rice Lake State Park. The Crane Count took place between 5:30 - 7:30 am at various locations. We don't have an official tally/report for that event yet but this reporter found 2 at the County 9 Marsh and I know several others were found elsewhere. It was chilly waiting in the dark while the sun came up - but so wonderful to hear the marsh come alive with bird song! Nine people went on the field trip to Armstrong/Rice Lake. The wind was very strong and very cold coming over the lake. We were disappointed that both areas were very quiet. No shorebirds (other than Killdeer) were found. Ducks were far from shore and hard to focus on as they bobbed up and down in the waves. We did eventually found lots of birds - but they weren't easy to get like on some trips. The bird list below includes those found by Sandy Hokanson (at County 9 Marsh during the Crane Count), those found by the participants of the Armstrong trip, and also those found at the Kalmar Landfills on the way back to Rochester. Many thanks to Terry & Joyce Grier for leading the field trip today and we look forward to Jim Sullivan's report on the Crane Count in a day or two. Happy birding! Today's Species List (55 total): Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Canvasback, Redhead, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Ring-billed gull, Pied-bill Grebe, Double-crested Cormorants, American White Pelicans, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Horned lark, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, American Robin, American Goldfinch, House Finch, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal Report by Sandy Hokanson April 10, 2025 - Woodcock Walk at Chester Woods
Thirty people took part in our "Woodcock Walk" last night at Chester Woods. It was cloudy and a bit chilly but that's spring in Minnesota. We saw or heard at least 8 woodcocks, but as usual they were difficult to see against the cloudy sky and not everyone got a good look. Most were able to hear their distinctive "peent" calls and a few of us got pretty good looks as a couple birds flew across the road in front of us. They're rarely seen during the day as like to be in dense, shrubby areas that are slightly damp and hard to walk through. They use their long flexible bills to probe the mud for worms and other small edibles. Woodcocks are interesting little birds that have a funny little walk. Learn more, listen to their calls and watch some video here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Woodcock The Woodcocks will be displaying for the rest of April so you still have plenty of time to see them on your own. Thanks to Mike Degerstrom and Dave Gross for leading tonight's walk! April 5, 2025 - Bird Walk at Quarry Hill
It was sunny this morning on our walk around Quarry Hill but oh my goodness that north wind was cold! About 3 dozen people joined us on the walk and we some great birds. An Osprey, a Bald Eagle and a flock of 24 Pelicans flew overhead while a pair of Blue-winged Teal and a Bufflehead Duck swam in the pond. In the woods we found a couple of newly arrived Golden-crowned Kinglets and an Eastern Phoebe. And near the feeders we found most of the "usuals" plus a Brown Creeper and a couple of Pine Siskins. We saw or heard 29 species and found a few other hints of spring including Pussy Willows and a few green buds on the underbrush. It won't be long before the early spring wildflowers will be up. It only gets better from here! Many thanks to Terry and Joyce Grier for leading (and the other ZVAS members who spread out through our big group to assist). Photos by Brendan Lanpher and Sandy Hokanson. Today's Bird List: Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Bufflehead, Mourning Dove, American White Pelican, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, American Robin, House Finch, Pine Siskin. American Goldfinch, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal Zumbro Valley Audubon needs your help to pay for programs, printing brochures and outreach supplies to teach kids and adults about nature. Donate to Zumbro Valley Audubon via giveMN.org
© ZVAS 2023 - Zumbro Valley Audubon Society - PO Box 6244 - Rochester, MN 55903
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