NEWSLETTERS ~ CURRENT PROJECTS ~ BUTTERFLY COUNT ~ CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT ~ NATIVE PLANTS & PRAIRIE ~ VOLUNTEER
News and Projects
|
December 17, 2022 - ZVAS Christmas Bird Count
For most of our counters the day started at 7:15 am when we all met at Silver Lake to divide into teams. A few hardy birders started much earlier to search for owls. Though experienced "owlers" they were only able to find two Great Horned Owls on count day. On a brighter note, it was probably the prettiest count day we've ever had. Recent snowfalls covered everything in a white frosting and it felt like we were walking through a Christmas card. Temps stayed steady at 18 degrees, but a stiff breeze kept everyone bundled up in open areas. Preliminary totals show that our teams found 58 species plus 8 more during count week, a total of 12,274 birds! These included nearly all of our "regular" winter birds and several less common species including: Swans, Ruddy Duck, Great Blue Heron, Coots, Shrike, Field Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow & Lapland Longspur. We noted that Tufted Titmouse are becoming more common (14 found) and large numbers of Cedar waxwings (298) and Snow Buntings (180) we're seen. Read the full story, see more photos and see the complete species list here: 
Remembering Bob Ekblad
Longtime birder Robert "Bob" Ekblad passed away on November 27, 2022, at the age of 77. He was well known in the birding community and will be greatly missed. Read on to learn more about Bob's life and how he impacted those around him. December 3, 2022 - Bird Walk at Quarry Hill
Despite blustery winds, single digit temperatures, and icy trails, ten hardy people showed up for the December monthly bird walk at Quarry Hill Nature Center. You can't keep birders inside, so we went out hiking for almost an hour. While staying in the protection of the woods, we saw 14 different species of birds, all regular winter residents. The highlight was when we scared a red-tailed hawk off it's roost a hundred feet ahead of us. It was quite a surprise because we had not seen it in the top of a tree further along the path. The group continued watching birds inside the nature center while they warmed-up, and then went to look at the Nature Art Show which was also in going on inside the center. ZVAS's own Sandy Hokanson was quite busy showing her artwork at the show. Birds seen: Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Cardinal, White-throated Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk, Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker & Blue Jay. Photos and report by Terry Grier November 22, 2022 - Red-shouldered Hawks, Cerulean Warblers & much more
Last night at Quarry Hill Jon Stravers talked with us about the work he's been doing to monitor Red-shouldered Hawk and Cereulean Warbler populations in the driftless area in northern Iowa. Jon began surveying Red-shouldered Hawks in the early 1970s. At that time the Iowa Ornithologists Union believed the birds were barely holding. But Jon's surveys revealed that the reproductive success of nests they located was a healthy 60-70% and that the hawks returned to the same territories in subsequent years. The population has been fairly steady for years, but severe flooding along the Mississippi in recent years has altered the habitat and caused a drop in nesting success. For many years Jon was laser-focused on the hawks. Then in the early 2000s his son tipped him off to the presence of Cerulean Warblers. These tiny, uncommon blue warblers share some of the same habitat requirements as Red-shouldered Hawks: tall, large-diameter trees, deciduous riparian forests with small canopy openings, and often associated with steep valley slopes. He monitors them and often guides birders to see them in the Yellow River State Forest. Jon's work is fascinating and he shared many fun stories. Sadly, funding for his work has been severely cut in the past few year. To help raise funds, he formed the BIG BLUE SKY band which ties together his passion to connect music with the natural world. Proceeds from performances are used to help fund the Driftless Area Bird Conservation projects. Find out more about his work at driftlessareabirdconservation.com and about the band at bigbluesky-dabc.com . He welcomes donations and inquires about his work November 12, 2022 - Tundra Swan Field Trip
There was snow on the ground early Saturday morning but that didn't stop our group of nine birders from traveling south to Brownsville on the Mississippi River to see the migrating Tundra Swans. The skies stayed gray, with a couple peaks of sunshine, and also a few quick snow flurries. Temps stayed around 34F but the north wind made it feel a little colder (we all kept our gloves and hats on!). The Swans were a bit further out than we would have preferred, but there were good numbers of them along with many Pelicans. We saw a great assortment of waterfowl including Ring-necked Ducks, Shovelers, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallards, Woodies, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasbacks, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Pied-bill Grebe, Coots and Canada Geese. Bonus birds were a lone Great Blue Heron and several Sandhill Cranes. Ring-billed Gulls and Bald Eagles cruised overhead on a regular basis. We had a great time spotting birds and highly recommend making the trip to see the Swans before they head east to their wintering area on the Chesapeake. More swans are still coming down from the north, and they should be around through the end of November if the water stays open and ice free. Many thanks to Terry and Joyce Grier for leading this field trip. Photos by Sandy Hokanson. November 5, 2022 - Bird Walk at Quarry Hill
Gray skies and light rain couldn't keep nine birders away from Quarry Hill this morning for our monthly walk. And birds were quite active - foraging for seeds low along the trail edges and in the native plantings. We did a quick walk around the pond and found six species of sparrows including White-crowned, White-throated, Song, Swamp, American Tree, and Dark-eyed Junco. We also saw buches of Goldfinches in their winter colors and got a quick glimpse of a Red-breasted Nuthatch. As the rain got heavier we headed back to the Nature Center and watched from the warmth of the bird room for a while before heading home. It was a fun morning, and we need the rain - but now it's time for some hot chocolate! Species seen today: Mallard, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue jay, Black-capped chickadee, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, House Sparrow (which are actually finches), American Goldfinch, House finch, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile), White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal October 26, 2022 - Improving the Haverhill WMA Parking Lots
For years the west and south parking areas at the Haverhill Wildlife Management Areas near the Silver Creek Reservoir were overgrown and heavily rutted. After a rain they became an unusable muddy mess. Now, thanks to work done by Tri-County Pheasants Forever (with some assistance from the MN DNR), these lots have been graded smooth and covered with fresh gravel. Updating infrastructure may not be a "sexy" project - but it's one that truly benefits birdwatchers and everyone who appreciates nature by giving us safer access to these areas. ZVAS is proud to have supported this project with a $400 donation for materials costs and we thank everyone who was involved with the project. October 25, 2022 - Red-headed Woodpecker Program at Quarry Hill
At last night's program Dr. Elena West shared her research and talked about what's being done to help Red-headed Woodpeckers in Minnesota. These once common birds have experienced a population decline of nearly 95% since the 1960s. These losses are likely due to a combination of things including habitat loss, pesticide use and lack of nesting trees, but more research is needed to fully understand what's going on. Dr. West's team monitors nesting activity, habitat preferences (oak savannah) and tracks the birds using leg bands, remote audio recorders, and even miniature "backpacks" attached to the birds which relay data about their movements during nesting and migration. While most birds move south each winter, a few birds stay in Minnesota if they have access to enough food (mainly insects & acorns) and open water. They will come to feeders as well. Dead trees are in high demand for cavity-nesting birds of all kinds. Starlings and flying squirrels can severely lower a Red-headed Woodpeckers chance of nesting success. Young birds are tagged right before fledging so their movements can be tracked. In one case a researcher followed the beacon to a large bull snake - which had eaten the tagged bird - transmitter and all! At least the transmitter was still working - but it shows some of the challenges these birds face. What can we do? If you have woodland property and can safely do so, please leave your dead trees standing. Clear invasive plant species and encourage native plants that support insects. Volunteer your time reviewing computer files (it's easy - no special expertise needed) at https://z.umn.edu/woodpeckercams. Find out more about the Red-headed Woodpeckers at Cedar Creek at https://www.rhworesearch.org/the-project October 5, 2022 - Root River Walk
This morning a small group of five birders walked the loop at Root River County Park A gray and chilly start soon gave way to blue skies and our jackets were no longer needed. The fall colors were brilliant in the sun with lots of gold and ochre tones and some spectacular reds. We found and American Toad, a very late Monarch, a wooly bear caterpillar and 25 species of birds - though many of these were "heard only". All the leaf cover made it easy for the birds to evade our eyes and cameras. A Meadowlark flew over as we started out. White-throated Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers were numerous throughout the park. We also came across several Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets - feasting on an abundant supply of gnats. Eastern Towhees were calling, as well as a Tufted Titmouse. Most of these birds will be heading south soon - we hope you can get out and enjoy them before they're gone. Species seen or heard: Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Photos by Sandy Hokanson & Joan Leof October 1, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
Sixteen people came out for our walk at Quarry Hill this morning. There were a few sprinkles early and the skies were gray - but the birds were quite active. The rain stopped before we got very far along and we actually stayed near the pond for the entire walk as there were so many birds feeding there. We saw large numbers of Cedar Waxwings, Robins and Sparrows Of the 29 species we found, my favorites were a Black-throated Green Warbler (sorry no photo) and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. We also saw a Dark-eyed Junco and several White-throated Sparrows (you know what that means - winter is coming!). The leaves are starting to turn colors and the whole park has taken on a very autumn harvest feel. Get outside while you can and enjoy it. Species seen or heard: Mallard, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Photos by Sandy Hokanson September 27, 2022 - Program at Quarry Hill
Last night we hosted our first in-person program since the pandemic began and it was oh so good to be together again! Marcial Cordova's presentation (with help from interpreter Eric Matteson) about the Guacamayas Biology Station in Guatemala was fascinating. Marcial is the head bander and biologist there and he described the area they work in (north of the Tikal ruins) and how students are trained to assist in catching, banding and documenting specific birds each November - March. Marcial's station is just one of a network of stations spread throughout the region and is a cooperative effort between public agencies, private organizations and independent bird banders in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. About 770 bird species can be found in Guatemala and at one point he showed photos of several birds that had been netted while the audience tried to identify the natives vs. the migrants. It's surprising how many birds we have in common and it's important that habitat is preserved both here in the U.S. and on their wintering grounds in Central America. Rob Schulz, Executive Director and Vice President of Audubon Minnesota and Jackie Fallon from the Midwest Peregrine Society were in attendance. Jackie was very interested in a possible collaboration with Marcial to monitor raptor migration. ZVAS is a supporter of the Guacamayas Biology Station. It was a great evening in which many new connections were made and we thank all those who made it possible. September 25, 2022 - Quarry Hill Tour
This morning we gave our guest speaker, Marcial Cordova from Guatemala, a guided tour of Quarry Hill Park. We traveled through the Oak Savannah, the upper Quarry, along Silver Creek and through the woods and found 32 species of birds including some that Marcial had never seen before - Red-breasted Nuthatch and Ruby-crowned Kinglet to name just a couple. Black-capped Chickadees - which are so common here - were also a new bird for him. We even found 6 species of warblers - pretty good for this late in the season. Marcial is the head bander at a MoSI Winter Bird Monitoring Station in Guatemala. He'll tell us about the work he does there and the birds we have in common tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7pm at the Quarry Hill Nature Center. This program is free and open to the public. Species seen today: Canada Goose, Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Bay-breasted Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Thanks to Eric Matteson, Joan Leof, Lance Vrieze, Terry Grier and Sandy Hokanson for helping out this morning. Photos by Sandy Hokanson. September 24, 2022 - Sparrow Walk at Kalmar
Our Sparrow Walk on Saturday started out on the gloomy side. Here's what leader Jerry Pruett had to say about the trip: "The day started out overcast but it wasn't raining. 14 participants met in the parking lot for the trip. Soon Jim Peterson located a LeConte's Sparrow, one of our targets. We walked slowly through the tall wet grass along the outlet stream towards the dike. We refound the LeConte's but unfortunately it was not very co-operative and stayed down in the grass then flew across the water and disappeared out of sight. We also saw Marsh Wren, Tennessee Warbler and Common Yellowthroat skulking in the grasses. From the dike outlet we walked north along the fence line and got relatively good looks at a Palm Warbler and a nice Northern Harrier. Several Meadowlarks were visible flying over the grasslands. At the higher parking lot we climbed onto the dike. We saw Ruddy Duck and Cormorant on the water. We then walked back to the lower parking lot, cutting through the tall grass rather than taking the road. Some of us got nice looks at a Sedge Wren. Back at the parking lot we said our goodbyes. Four of us then went to the South Landfill to check out that area. We were lucky to find a Nelson's Sparrow and had a Franklin's Gull fly over as we left. Everyone left about 10 a.m. It wasn't a real birdy day. The birds were hidden and not everyone was able to see all the birds. We didn't rack up a very high species count either, no Song Sparrow, Savannah, Henslows, Bobolinks, or other birds we might expect. But we did get some nice birds for some of the people. I would judge the day as a success, but later this week or next weekend may be a lot better." Birds seen at the East Landfill Kalmar Reservoir: 1 Canada Goose, 1 Ruddy Duck, 25 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon), 2 Mourning Dove, 1 Double-crested Cormorant, 1 Great Blue Heron, 1 Green Heron, 1 Northern Harrier, 2 American Kestrel, 2 Blue Jay, 1 American Crow, 25 Tree Swallow, 12 Barn Swallow, 3 Sedge Wren, 1 Marsh Wren, 1 LeConte's Sparrow, 7 Eastern Meadowlark, 30 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Tennessee Warbler, 2 Common Yellowthroat. 1 Palm Warbler Birds seen at the South Landfill Reservoir 40 Killdeer. 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 Franklin's Gull, 1 Northern Harrier, 2 Bald Eagle, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 7 Tree Swallow, 3 Barn Swallow, 1 Marsh Wren, 1 Nelson's Sparrow, 6 Eastern Meadowlark, 1 Palm Warbler Photos by Terry Grier & John Weiss September 3, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
This morning 23 folks walked up to the Oak Savannah at Quarry Hill to see what we could find. The main group started from the west end of the park and a smaller group came up from the east side. We eventually met in the middle and compared notes. The weather was picture perfect but the combination of deep shade and bright sun made it difficult for us to get really good looks at the birds we found - mostly giving us just quick glimpses before they hid behind clumps of leaves. Not many were calling either which added to our challenges. We did note that several Monarch Butterflies are still in the area gathering nectar at the many wildflowers still blooming (goldenrods, asters, guara and more). Combined, both groups saw and/or heard the following species: Blue Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Pigeon, Starling, Hairy WP, Downy WP, Red-bellied WP, Northern Flicker, Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Crow, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Catbird, House Wren, Yellow-throated Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Indigo Bunting, Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Wood Peewee, Redstart, Nashville Warbler Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and a flycatcher species we couldn't identify, Photos by Sandy Hokanson September 1, 2022 - Chimney Swift Sit
Winds out of the north have been very favorable for migration the past few days so we thought there would fewer birds at our "Swift Sit" tonight - but the Swifts must have delayed their travel plans and we were happy to watch as just under 600 Chimney Swifts entered their roost at Assisi Heights for the night. That was close to 100 more than we saw on August 26th. It was another beautiful evening with clear skies and temps in the mid 70s. The Swifts didn't seem to want to settle for the night and circled for a long time before starting to enter the chimney around 8 pm, finishing at 8:30 pm. We also saw several Common Night Hawks, Crows, Robins, Wild Turkeys, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatch and several deer. Thanks to Assisi Heights for allowing us on the grounds for a second night! Note that Assisi Heights is closed to the public, please do not enter the grounds without permission. Learn more about Chimney Swifts and hear their calls here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift Photos by Sandy Hokanson August 26, 2022 - Chimney Swift Sit
Last night 16 people came out for our "Chimney Swift Sit" at Assisi Height. The weather was near perfect but the Swifts surprised us by arriving 15 minutes before our "scheduled" show time. Over 200 had already entered the chimney by 7:45, but fortunately there were many more yet to arrive and everyone got to see the birds as they circled the chimney and eventually dove in to roost for the night. We estimated at at least 500 Swifts were present. As a bonus, we also saw a couple Common Nighthawks, a Red-tailed Hawk, some Blue Jays, Robins, several White-tailed Deer and even saw a Barred Owl fly through the nearby trees as we were ending the program. Chimney Swifts gather in large groups like this each autumn and travel together as they migrating to South America for the winter. They'll all be gone by early September, not to return until next May. We'd like to thank the folks at Assisi Heights who granted us permission to visit this private site last night. Learn more about Chimney Swifts and hear their calls here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chimney_Swift Photos by Sandy Hokanson and Joanna Park August 23, 2022 - Monarch Tagging at Quarry Hill
More than 100 kids and adults had a great time up in the Oak Savannah at Quarry on Tuesday afternoon. They were there to catch, hold, tag, and release Monarch butterflies. Monarch counts have been very low this year and we were a bit worried that we wouldn't be able to find enough for everyone. But on the day before the event our volunteers searched the Rochester area and found plenty. These pre-caught butterflies were kept in coolers overnight in glassine envelopes (not too cool - just cool enough woke them up. Some were placed inside a walk-in screen tent so visitors could be inside with them. Others were pre-tagged for release. There were several displays explaining the Monarch's life cycle, what the caterpillars eat (milkweed) and even a microscope to examine the tiny scales on their wings. After seeing all the exhibits, kids and adults walked up the hill to the savannah to try catching their own monarchs to tag - and many did catch at least one! There were plenty of pre-caught butterflies for those that missed. Everyone who wanted to got to experience holding a Monarch and the tickling feeling of their tiny claws. In all nearly 150 Monarchs were tagged and sent on their way to Mexico. Many thanks to Joel Dunnette, Jill Danielson and the many other Zumbro Valley Audubon and Quarry Hill volunteers who caught butterflies, worked at the displays, tagged and recorded butterflies, did the organizing, setup, cleanup and all the other tasks that needed to done to host this fun event! Photos by Sandy Hokanson August 20, 2022 - International Crane Foundation field trip
On Saturday, August 20 13 people carpooled to Baraboo, WI to visit the International Crane Foundation. Our tour started with a history of the Institute which was founded in 1971 by Cornell University Ornithology students Ron Sauey & George Archibald. We then went on a guided tour of the displays and saw all 15 species of Cranes in the world. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the cranes, where they come from and the threats to their long term survival. North America is home to two species of cranes. The Sandhill Crane which is the most numerous crane species and the Whooping Crane which is considered to be the most threatened. The Demoiselle Crane (named by Marie Antoinette) is the smallest crane at 3' tall and 6 pounds, and the Siberian Crane is the largest at 5' tall, 21 pounds and is the most water loving crane. After a picnic lunch on the grounds we split into 2 groups. Some walked the trails at the Crane Foundation while 5 of the group drove to the Aldo Leopoldo Foundation. Aldo is best known for his book “ The Sand County Journal “. After looking at the displays telling the story of Aldo’s time working for the National Forest Service and his emerging conservation ideas, we drove to the “Shack “ that he and his family spent summer vacations at located near the Wisconsin River. At the shack we saw photos of his children & wife and heard stories about them. The family planted thousands of trees to restore the property that had been logged, ravaged by fires and overgrazed by dairy cows. The shack isn’t very large, but Aldo, his wife and their 5 children all fit inside. By today’s standards that would be unthinkable !! Thanks to Joan Leof for arranging this field trip and to the three people who drove. Trip report and photos by Terry Grier. August 11, 2022 - Whitewater SP Pollinator Garden
The pollinator garden at Whitewater State Park is bursting with late summer native plants which attract butterflies and insects of all kinds. On Thursday, ZVAS President Joel Dunnette hosted a small group of native prairie enthusiasts from a Wild Ones chapter based in Northfield. He talked about the history of the garden and his involvement over the years. Originally created by former Park Director Dave Palmquist, Joel initiated an expansion of the garden in 2012 which doubled its size. Many volunteers continue to improve the site under his direction and work to control the inevitable invasives that creep in. What's blooming changes weekly throughout the year - be sure to take a look when you're in the area - it's located right in front of the Visitor Center. Find out more about Wild Ones SE MN Prairie Partners at https://semnprairiepartners.wildones.org/ Photos by Sandy Hokanson August 9, 2022 - Chester Woods Walk
A small group of us were happy to show a couple from southern California around Chester Woods this morning. While looking for both birds and butterflies we compared climates (their summer includes temps over 100f for months). We have many of the same birds, but some of our common birds they never or rarely see. For instance we have Baltimore Orioles - they have Bullocks and Hooded Orioles. We have Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - they have Black-headed Grosbeaks. We have Eastern Bluebirds - they have Mountain Bluebirds.... Pretty fun walk and altogether we found 32 birds species and several butterflies (though numbers are still low) including Monarch, Viceroy, Great Spangled Fritillary, Northern Crescent, Eastern Tailed Blue, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Common Wood Nymph and Northern Pearly Eye. We also found the biggest, baddest giant puffball ever... check the photos! Birds: Wood Ducks, Mallards, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood Peewee, Great crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Goldfinch, Field Sparrow, eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Common Grackle, American Redstart, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting. Photos by Sandy Hokanson August 6, 2022 - Quarry Hill Walk
The sky was cloudy and thick with humidity on our walk around Quarry Hill this morning. We had a hard time getting clear looks at birds with most staying well-hidden in the dense leaf cover. Overall the park seemed very quiet - perhaps waiting for tonight's predicted rain storms. Our group of 15 did manage to see and/or hear 21 species overall. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were chasing each other near the feeders and Indigo Buntings were active and singing on the north side of the pond. Thanks to Terry and Joyce for leading this trip! Species: Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow, House Finch, Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Robin, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Chimney Swift, Gray Catbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Mallard, Cedar Waxwing, House Wren, Eastern Wood Peewee. Photos by Sandy Hokanson July 24, 2022 - Our 24th Annual Butterfly Survey
Stormy weather, covid, a sprained ankle and a case of heat exhaustion made our 24th Annual Butterfly Survey challenging!. But our remaining counters rallied and headed out with clip boards in hand. Exact numbers are still being verified so there may yet be a few changes, but it looks like we identified 28 species with a total of 441 individuals. (To compare, last year we found 32 species and 713 individuals - so this year's number are on the low side.) Over the past 24 years we've cumulatively found 67 species in our little corner of SE Minnesota, but never more than 42 in a single year (2007). Monarchs were scarce with only 43 seen. On average we find 110 monarchs each year, though in 2018 we found 313. Numbers were low for many species. But Viceroys, Clouded Sulphurs, Northern Pearly Eyes, Eastern Tailed Blues and Azures all had counts close to average. More details and photos here... July 16, 2022 - BUG HUNT at Chester Woods
Look what I found!!! A large group of nearly 40 kids and adults came out to our Bug Hunt at Chester Woods this afternoon. The kids had a great time searching the nearby prairie and woods for insects of all kinds. Then they would rush back to the shelter where leader Joel Dunnette helped them transfer their finds into a container for up close looks and ID help. Many kids were also able to hold the larger insects like dragonflies. Joel showed the kids how insects can live inside a leaf or the stem of a plant and how many bugs need a very specific plant to live - like monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed leaves. We even found some teeny tiny eggs that something laid on a blade of grass - perhaps they were Skipper eggs - we're not sure. In just over an hour we found grasshoppers, katydids, dragonflies, damselflies, fireflies, bumblebees, beetles, ants, leafhoppers, moths, butterflies, crickets & more. It was an exciting afternoon! Many thanks to Joel for his enthusiasm in teaching us about the insect world in a safe and fun way! (And everything was released back to the prairie at the end of the day.) Photos by Sandy Hokanson July 9, 2022 - Butterfly walk at Chester Woods
Today a small group of us were out at Chester Woods checking out the butterflies in preparation for our survey later this month. We found at least 14 species but were a bit frustrated that many wouldn't sit still long enough for us to identify or even get photos - still it was a pretty fun walk on a perfect summer afternoon. Widow Skimmer Dragonflies were numerous and we spotted at least one Halloween Pennant Dragonfly plus some Bluet Damselflies. We also saw and heard several great birds including Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Dickcissels, Cedar Waxwings, Green Heron, eastern Kingbirds and more. Butterflies seen included: Common Sulphur, Cabbage White, Great Spangled Fritillary, Small Fritillary (probably Meadow), Monarch, Viceroy, Question Mark, Eastern-tailed Blue, Common Buckeye, Grass Skipper - unidentified species, Crescent, Coral Hairstreak, Banded or Edwards Hairstreak, Mourning Cloak July 2, 2022 - Walk at Quarry Hill
The sun was out this morning when our group of more than two dozen folks gathered up for a walk around Quarry Hill. We split into two groups and then wandered about the park as the skies quickly clouded over. We found 35 species of birds, many plants in bloom and some very interesting mushrooms. We witnessed Orioles, Red-eyed Vireos and Robins bringing food to their young but it was hard to get good looks through the heavy leaf cover. We also found turtles, fish, mushrooms, squirrels and insects. There's a lot to see in the woods and prairies now so we encourage you to get outdoors and enjoy summer's abundance. Thanks to Terry and Joyce Grier for leading today's walk! Species seen or heard today included: Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle. Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting June 28, 2022 - ZVAS Community Picnic
What an adventure! Eighteen people came out to our picnic last night at Chester Woods. By 5:30 we were all set up in Shelter #7, happily eating and talking when a few sprinkles suddenly turned into a downpour with strong winds that blew the rain sideways right into the shelter. We scrambled to get things covered up but we all got pretty wet. But hey, we're outdoors people - a little water can't stop us! The rain didn't last long and the sun was soon shining again so we cleaned up and headed off down the Chester Lake Trail to see what we could find. We didn't dind the Western Grebe that had been seen, but did see a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Goldfinches, Brown Thrasher, Blue Jays, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallows, Robins, Eastern Wood Peewees, Kingfisher, Canada Geese, Yellow-throated Vireo, Ruby-throated hummingbird and Great-crested Flycatcher. We also found many blooming plants of interest including Sasparilla (yes sasparilla roots were used to make a root beer like beverage years ago), Harebells, Canada Anemone, Campions, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Milkweed, Maryland Figwort, Columbine, Tickseed, Brown-eyed Susan and many, many more. Several of our group got excited to find some blooming Pylora - either Shinleaf or the round-leafed American Wintergreen - we weren't quite sure - near the trail. The water on the lake was still and calm, reflecting the shore and sky. Big beautiful white cumulus clouds piled up to the east - a really beautiful sight and an evening to remember! June 12, 2022 - Counting Kestrel Chicks
Every spring Kirk Payne gets his portable banding station ready for June when the Kestrel chicks will be old enough to be banded. Nesting season can vary a bit though and this year a pair of Kestrels on Kirk's property enjoyed an early success. He banded five chicks there at the end of May - quite early! On June 12 the chicks in two more boxes - one near Eyota and one near the Kalmar south reservoir - were ready to be banded. Kirk and Greg Munson, along with few other volunteers met to document the process. Greg climbed up to each box and placed the chicks in a yellow bucket with a soft towel in the bottom. Once on the ground each chick was swiftly weighed, sexed and examined for parasites. All appeared healthy, fat and relatively parasite free. (Our cool weather this spring may have kept the parasites down - unlike last springs very hot weather). The Eyota nest had three females and one male, all estimated to be about 21 days old. The Kalmar nest had the opposite - three males and one female, and they were younger - only about 17 days old. In general, Kestrel chicks leave the nest (fledge) at between 28 - 31 days old. One at a time, each chick was banded with its own unique code. Volunteers held the banded chicks until all were done, then the birds were returned to the yellow bucket for a ride back up to the nest. It was interesting to see how some of the chicks were very calm throughout the process, while others didn't seem too happy and wanted us to know! The adult kestrels hovered and flew nearby during the banding process but otherwise didn't come too near. Kirk said he's never had the parents attack him - unlike Peregrine Falcons which will attack anything coming near their nests with enough force to do serious bodily damage. Our thanks to Kirk, Greg and the other volunteers who take the time to monitor all the many nest boxes in our area each year for active nests. ZVAS is very proud to support efforts to increase the Kestrel population. Learn more about Kestrels here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/overview June 11, 2022 - Field trip to Weaver Dunes
Our field trip through Weaver Dunes and the surrounding area yielded a treasure trove of plants, birds, frogs, turtles and insects. The day was overcast and we got sprinkled on for the first couple hours - but we also had a few bursts of sunshine. Joel Dunnette led our small group of 6 across the dunes in a looping trail where we found dozens of plant species including silky prairie clover, hairy hawkweed, beach heather, alum root, prairie smoke, cream indigo and more. Birds sighted included Lark Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Towhees, Cedar Waxwings and more. We even had a trio of Great Egrets do a flyover. We saw several leopard frogs in the wet grass, one garter snake and noticed the burrows of several mammals. Deer scat and coyote scat were found and damselflies were plentiful. It was fun to find patches of British Soldiers lichen and earth star mushrooms - new species to everyone in our our group except Joel. Besides exploring the dunes, we also visited some small ponds and wetter areas nearby and found Wood Ducks, Black Terns, Kingfishers, Green Herons, several turtles - snapping, painted and Blandings which we helped cross the road. The snapper was quite large and in the process of digging a nest to lay her eggs very near the edge of the road. After taking her photo we left her alone. The amount of plants and animals we saw is too long to list - at least 45 species of birds plus all the plants and insects - but this area - which seems so empty when you're just driving by - is literally teeming with life if you just stop and take a few moments to look closer. It was well worth the visit and we want to return on a sunnier day. Thanks to Joel for sharing his extensive knowledge of this area! Photos by Sandy Hokanson June 4, 2022 - Birdsongs at Chester Woods and Quarry Hill
This morning we hosted two birding events. The first took place at Chester Woods where Michael Degerstrom helped our group of 12 identify bird songs. Birds are difficult to spot now with the tree canopy fully leafed out, so knowing their songs and calls is a great help and makes a walk that much more enjoyable. Our group found 60 species at Chester Woods (many were heard only - full list below). There are many tools available to help learn bird songs. One of the most popular is the MERLIN app (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ ) developed by the Cornell Lab. With this free app you can record birds singing on your smart phone and it shows you in real time what is singing. Michael also recommends bird song training CDs by John Fieth (available on Amazon). Plus, there are many other websites that can help you as well, including: There are many other websites that can help you as well, including: Nathan Pieplow: https://earbirding.com/blog/author Bird Song Hero: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/features/bird-song-hero/bird-song-hero-challenge Bird-sounds.net: https://www.bird-sounds.net/ Larkwire: https://www.larkwire.com/ Chester Woods species: Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Ring-necked Pheasant, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Sedge Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, American Goldfinch, Grasshopper Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Ovenbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel On our walk at Quarry Hill we found 28 species before the rain, which had been a light sprinkle, started getting more persistent, causing us to end our walk earlier than normal. Once more we heard more birds than we saw - but were delighted to watch a pair of Barn Swallows close up as they gathered mud near the pond and worked at building their nest under the eaves of the pavilion. Thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading the Quarry Hill walk. Species seen at Quarry Hill included: Canada Goose (with many goslings of assorted sizes), Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting May 21, 2022 - Rock Dell Bird Walk
10 birders met this morning for a terrific walk through Rock Dell WMA this morning. Led by Michael Degerstrom and Brendan Lanpher, we tallied 52 species as a group. Highlights were some terrific looks at Red-headed woodpeckers, a Lark Sparrow, Dicksissel, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager and 8 species of warblers, among others. Several spring wild flowers were also blooming and a Monarch Butterfly was spotted. Species list: Canada Goose, Wild Turkey, Ring-necked pheasant, Rock Pigeon, Mourning dove, Killdeer, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed hawk, Red-headed woodpecker, Red-bellied woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Traill's Flycatcher (Alder/Willow), Least flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested flycatcher, Eastern kingbird, Yellow-throated vireo, Red-eyed vireo, Blue jay, American crow, Black-capped chickadee, Horned lark, Northern Rough-winged swallow, Tree swallow, Bank swallow, Barn swallow, White-breasted nuthatch, House wren, Gray catbird, Eastern bluebird, American robin, American goldfinch, Clay-colored sparrow, Field sparrow, Lark sparrow, Song sparrow, Bobolink, Eastern meadowlark, Red-winged blackbird, Brown-headed cowbird, Black-and-white warbler, Tennessee warbler, Common yellowthroat, American redstart, Magnolia warbler, Blackburnian warbler, Yellow warbler, Chestnut-sided warbler, Scarlet tanager, Northern cardinal, Indigo bunting, Dickcissel Photos by Terry Grier, Gary Miller and Brendan Lanpher May 19, 2022 - Kutzky Park Bird Walk
The grass was covered in dew this morning and we all ended up with wet shoes - but did find a lot of birds on our last scheduled Kutzky Park walk of the season. Eight people started the walk at 6:30 am and we were joined along the way by a couple others. It was nice to see a Great Blue Heron fly over early on. We found several American Redstarts, Blackpoll Warblers and Yellow Warblers. Red-eyed, Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos all made appearances along with several flycatchers - including an Olive-sided. We found 10 species of warblers and were hoping to see a Mourning Warbler that had been found by another birder but couldn't locate it. The tree canopy is nearly fully leafed out so although we could hear birds everywhere - getting a good look required patience and timing. Spring migration continues through the end of the month so keep looking for birds! Species list: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Oive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder/Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Many thanks to Mike Degerstrom for leading this walk. Photos by Sandy Hokanson May 17, 2022 - Kutzky Park Bird Walk
A good variety of birds, including one rarity, were found this morning during our bird walk at Kutzky Park. The trees are leafing out, which made it difficult to get good looks at the birds, but fortunately two members of our group of 10 were very experienced at birding by ear. Leader Mike Degerstrom and Paul (visiting Rochester for one day) were able to identify many birds by sound alone. Paul was also the first to notice several yellowish warblers feeding in rocks along the bank. One of them fanned its tail and about the middle half of the tail had an obvious white pattern, contrasting with the darker base and ends of the tail. Paul & Mike conferred and knew that this was not a Redstart and could only be a female Hooded Warbler - an extremely rare find for Kutzky! Species list: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron (flew overhead), Turkey Vulture, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Tennessee Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Canada Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting Many thanks to Mike Degerstrom for leading this trip. Photos by Sandy Hokanson May 15, 2022 - Field trip to Hok-si-la Park
Seventeen birders found trees full of warblers during our field trip to Hok-si-la Park in Lake City. Blackpoll, Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers were quite numerous and we all got good looks at these not so common birds. We were also pleased to find a Prothonotary Warbler near the entrance to the park. In fact, birds were so numerous that it took us nearly an hour just to leave the parking lot area. We saw 61 species including 19 species of warblers. Surprisingly, we didn't see a single Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Sunny skies and a cool breeze contributed to a very good day! Species list: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Mallard, Double-crested Cormorant, American White Pelican, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Gray Catbird, American Robin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Canada Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting Many thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading this trip. Photos by Sandy Hokanson and Joanna Park May 14, 2022 - It was a BIG day for birding!
In celebration of Global Big Day our teams of spotters scattered throughout the Rochester area looking for as many bird species as we could find. We concentrated at three main areas - Silver Creek Reservoir, County 9 Marsh, & Chester Woods. Other individual birders created lists from Quarry Hill, Kutzky Park, Root River Couty Park, Izaak Walton Wetlands, Cascade Lake, Cascade Meadows and the Kalmar Reservoirs. When all the lists were combined we totaled 136 species! That's a big jump from 2021 when we found 101 species. Read more, see photos, and get the complete species list here > May 12, 2022 - A Visit to Honey Tree Farm
We were privileged to visit Steve William's Honey Tree Farm in Mower County today. The heat was intense, but Steve and his wife Bonnie were wonderful hosts - showing us around the former farmland that they are restoring back to a natural landscape - and they've done a fantastic job! We saw nearly 70 species of birds and the bluebells were at their peak. After the farm visit we also did a quick look at the nearby Wolf Creek Wildlife and Wetland Area which is being restored by Tom Oots - another great area! Please note that these locations are private property. Do not enter them without permission from the owners. May 12, 2022 - Early Bird Walk at Kutzky Park
Twenty Tennessee Warblers were seen on our early Thursday morning walk at Kutzky Park yesterday. It's always fun to see masses of birds! Our seven birders were also presented with a mystery bird. Could that really be a Hooded Warbler they were seeing? That would be a rare sighting. With increased leaf cover it was hard to get a good look, and even the photos they did get weren't very clear. Alas, after much consultation throughout the day it's now thought the bird was likely a female/immature Wilson's Warbler - which is still a very fine bird. More Flycatchers are being seen in the park now as well. The complete species list is below. Many thanks to Mike Degerstrom for leading the walk. Species list: Wood Duck, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Flycatcher species (maybe Eastern Wood-Pewee), Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Ovenbird, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal In honor of our mystery bird were posting a link to a comparison between a Wilson's Warbler and a Hooded. They do look a lot alike! Click the link below and use the arrows to see a female Wilsons next to a female Hooded side by side. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/.../species-compare/64456381 May 10, 2022 - Lunch Hour Birds at Kutzky Park
At today's lunchtime walk at Kutzky Park we had 17 participants and were happy to find a couple new species- a Philadelphia Vireo and a Gray-Cheeked Thrush. We found 11 warblers compared to 12 this morning (we couldn't re-find the Blackpoll), but were super happy to find the Philadelphia Vireo as it's not a common bird. All in all we saw or heard 36 species - the full list is below. Many thanks to Lance Vrieze for leading this walk. SPECIES: Mallard, Turkey Vulture, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Philadelphia Vireo, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren, European Starling, Gray Catbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Photos by Sandy Hokanson Photos by Sandy Hokanson May 10, 2022 - Early Birds at Kutzky Park
A beautiful morning greeted the 11 birders who gathered at Kutzky Park this morning at 6:30 am to see what they could see. Combined we saw 34 species with some good looks at Palm Warblers, Nashville Warblers, a Blackpoll Warbler, Black & White Warblers, a Swainson's Thrush and more. A total of twelve warblers were seen, Several Catbirds were singing in the brush along the banks while the warblers favored the tops of the trees. Full species list is below. Thanks to Brendan Lanpher for leading this morning. It will be interesting to see if more species will be found at our noon walk here today. Species: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Double-crested Cormorant (9 flying over), Downy Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Swainson's Thrush, American Robin, House Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Photos by Sandy Hokanson May 7, 2022 - Spring Wildflower Walk at the Izaak Walton Wetlandsl
Another big group came out this afternoon for our 2nd walk of the day - the Spring Wildflower Walk at the Izaak Walton Wetlands. We again split into two groups and slowly walked around with heads down looking at the emerging plants. Blooming or nearly blooming found included Virginia Bluebells, Spring Beauty, Rue & False Rue Anemone, Trout Lily, Bloodroot and Violets. We predict many more blooms will open up in the next several days and by next weekend the ground should be a sea of Bluebells in some areas. Many other plants were also up but not quite ready to bloom. These included, Jacobs Ladder, Nodding Trillium, Wood Anemone, Wild Geranium, Blue Cohosh, False Solomon's Seal, Wild Ginger and May Apple. Of course, we weren't able to identify everything. There's a lot to see and the next couple weeks is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the area. Note: One group also spotted some great birds including a Black-throated Green Warbler, a Nashville Warbler a Green Heron and a Red-shouldered Hawk Many thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading the walk and a special shout out to David Marks the President of the Rochester MN Izaak Walton League, who came along and shared some of the history of the area. Photos by Sandy Hokanson and Terry Grier May 7, 2022 - Bird Walk at Quarry Hill
What a fine morning for a walk at Quarry Hill! We had a large group so decided to split into two groups. Together we saw a total of 32 species, but only 1 warbler - a yellow-rumped - which was a bit disappointing. Highlights included a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Broad-winged Hawk, a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a Spotted Sandpiper, and a couple Baltimore Orioles. There were lots of turtles on the pond and both groups found Garter Snakes. It's a great day to be outside - don't miss it! Many thanks to Terry and Joyce Grier for leading. Species list: Canada Goose (with goslings), Mallards, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer, Pigeons, Ruby-throated hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree swallow, Black-capped chickadee, White-breasted nuthatch, House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American robin, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumped warbler, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, Goldfinch, Eastern Phoebe, Mourning Dove Photos by Sandy Hokanson, Joanna Park and Terry Grier May 5, 2022 - Kutzky Park Bird Walk Double Header
Yesterday we hosted two walks at Kutzky Park (one early morning and one over the lunch hour. A total of 18 people came out and we were able to find 31 species of birds throughout the day. It's still a bit early for the main influx of warblers that we're all waiting for. Over the next two weeks we should see many more species arrive. Highlights yesterday included a Mallard hen with ducklings (already!), watching three Great Blue Herons fly over in the morning, a group of pelicans flying over in the afternoon, and spotting a Veery and a Clay-colored Sparrow which are both uncommon in the park. The full species list is below. Many thanks to Mike Degerstrom for leading the morning walk and to Lance Vrieze for leading the noon walk. Our next walk is at 9am at Quarry Hill on Saturday, May 7 - see you there! Species List (both walks combined): Canada Goose, Mallard, American White Pelican, Mourning Dove, Great Blue Heron, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, American Crow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Wren, European Starling, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Veery, House Sparrow, House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak Photos left to right by Sandy Hokanson, Dave Gross & Joanna Park May 3, 2022 - Kutzky Park Bird Walk
Today was our first walk of the season at Kutzky Park. Fifteen folks came out over the lunch hour and together we found 31 species of birds. The weather was a bit cool but the sun came out eventually and warmed things up a bit. Highlights included 5 species of warblers (Palm, B&W, Yellow, Yellow-rumped & Northern Waterthrush). a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a White-crowned Sparrow and a Winter Wren. The complete species list is below. We have several more walks scheduled at Kutzky in the coming days - you can see the schedule on our website at https://www.zumbrovalleyaudubon.org/calendar.html Species List: Mallard, Robin Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Starling, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House finch, Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Winter Wren, Mourning Dove, Yellow-rumped warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Crow Many thanks to Joyce and Terry Grier for leading the walk. Photos by Sandy Hokanson April 29 - 30, 2022 - Three events / Two days
ZVAS has been busy! Three events in the past two days - Arbor Day, Earth fest, and the International Owl Festival. Many thanks to volunteers Joel Dunnette, Greg Hokanson, Ruthann Yaeger, Eric & Herta Matteson, Joyce & Terry Grier, and Joan Leof who staffed our tables and engaged with the hundreds of people who came out. It was great to see everyone in person again and to talk about birds and nature. We have a lot of bird walks and field trips coming up in May - be sure to check out event calendar and give one a try. Photos from the Owl Festival by Sandy Hokanson April 24, 2022 - Armstrong Wetlands / Rice Lake Field Trip
WINDY! That was the word of the day on our field trip to the Armstrong Wetlands and Rice Lake State Park this morning. At times the wind was so strong it was blowing over our scopes and making it nearly impossible to take photos or even look through binocs. Despite that, our group of 11 birders found some excellent birds. Some highlights of the trip included 4 Cattle Egrets, a Ross's Goose, a flock of 50+ Common Redpolls, a Wilson's Phalarope, a flock of 30+ Lapland Longspurs (some in breeding plumage), a Yellow-throated Warbler (sorry we weren't able to get a photo of it), and an Eastern Towhee. We also noted the the spring wildflowers are finally starting to leaf out at Rice Lake. Hepatica was actually blooming on the south side of the park. At the end of the trip we all felt the trip was well worth the discomfort. Many thanks to Terry & Joyce Grier for leading this trip and to an anonymous birder who pointed out the Wilson's Phalarope. We saw or heard 67 species today: Greater White-fronted Geese, Ross's Goose, Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Pied Bill Grebe, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phalarope, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, European starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Redpoll, House Sparrow Photos by Sandy Hokanson April 23, 2022 - Reservoir Field trip
Although the temperature was in the 60s, strong winds threatened our head gear and made it difficult to hold cameras and scopes steady during our Reservoir Field Trip this morning. Twenty people visited the County 9 Marsh, Willow Creek Reservoir, Cascade Lake, Kalmar South Reservoir & Kalmar East Reservoir. The big numbers of waterfowl seen in the area over the past week were not found. Last night's strong southerly winds likely encouraged them to move north. But we had several great finds as well. At Kalmar East we found two Yellow-headed Blackbirds and watched an Osprey catch a fish. At Kalmar South a pair of Northern Harriers were hunting in the fields, Meadowlarks were singing and chasing each other and a Rough-legged Hawk flew over just as we were leaving. At Willow Creek we saw Ruby & Golden-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Bluebirds, Field Sparrow and our only warbler of the day - a Yellow-rumped. At Cascade Lake a Spotted Sandpiper made a brief appearance and several Horned Grebes are still around. All in all we were able to see or hear 60 total species. Not bad for an April morning! Many thanks to Lance Vrieze, Michael Degerstrom and Brendan Lanpher for guiding this trip! Species list Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Virginia Rail (heard only), American Coot, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Sandhill Crane (flew over the Heintz parking lot), Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, Field Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal April 19, 2022 - Woodcock Walk at Chester Woods
Originally scheduled for April 14, extremely high winds and cold temps convinced us to reschedule this walk to the 19th. The weather was better, in the 40s with a light wind, but the skies were cloudy. Seventeen people showed up and waited patiently for the Woodcocks to do their stuff. We heard our first "peent" calls at about 8:10pm. We eventually heard at least 4 different birds peenting and and also heard the "winnowing" sound of their wings in flight... but we never got more than a glimpse of a flying bird. The birds should keep displaying through much of May so we encourage folks to try again on another night when the skies are clear, then wind is calm and the weather is warm. Thanks Jim Peterson for leading this trips. Sorry we didn't get any photos - it was too dark! April 16, 2022 - Root River County Park Walk
Gray skies, snow pellets, 26 degrees and brisk north winds accompanied our eight bundled-up birders as they made the trek around Root River County Park this morning. But the birds rewarded us for our trouble. Highlights included least a Northern Harrier, an Eastern Phoebe, several Hermit Thrushes, a couple Fox Sparrows and a dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets plus several Golden-crowned Kinglets (though most of our photos of those lightning fast Kinglets were blurry). Not surprisingly, spring flowers were mostly absent, though we did find some budding Snow Trillium. We're guessing that next weekend will be much better for flowers. By the end of the walk we were all ready to get back into our cars to warm up. Happy birding! Species list: Common Grackle, Bald eagle, Northern Harrier, Pheasant (heard only), Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Fox Sparrow, Junco, Song Sparrow, Brown Creeper, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden Crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Robin, Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Cardinal (heard only), Canada Geese, Wood Ducks (heard only), Blue Jay, Eastern Phoebe and a possible Field Sparrow. Photos by Sandy Hokanson and Joanna Park April 2, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
Gray, drizzly weather greeted our group of 13 birders this morning at Quarry Hill, but the rain didn't dampen our spirits. Early arrivals to the walk were excited to hear a Woodcock doing its "peent" call near the east side of the parking lot ... but we weren't able to get an actual look at the bird. On the pond the Canada Geese and Mallards were engaged in some rather loud and aggressive territorial disputes. Eggs can be seen in a goose nest on the island. (Please do not disturb them). In the woods we found a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker but didn't get great views - still - it was a first of year bird for everyone. And many birds, including Juncos, Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Cardinals, Chickadees, Downy, Hairy & Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Blue Jays were taking advantage of the free food in the feeders. We also spotted a few Pine Siskins nearby. Surprisingly we didn't see any sparrows or House Finches. Spring migration has begun so keep your binoculars at the ready! Many thanks to Terry Grier for leading the walk. Photos by Sandy Hokanson. March 31, 2022 - ZVAS Program - Tracking Great Blue Herons
A big thank you to Wildlife Biologist Danielle D'Auria for her presentation last night about tracking Great Blue Herons. We learned a lot about how the birds are captured and fitted with solar tracking devices, as well as their nesting and feeding habits. And even though these big birds seem common - their numbers have actually declined more than 50% in the past 40 years. To see a recording of last night's program click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/w_BbsH8S5BP6XGCzA-5WWYZe35Ohb8OoywBEOLRrfXE2EK1ANSxyGh8GsfWnP6mm.efb1RGl9e5iWGUu8 Access Passcode: 1e=r!^b+ As most of you know, a Great Blue Heron Rookery is seriously threatened be development here in Rochester. If you'd like to learn more about that issue be sure to visit: https://savetherookery.org/take-action To sign their petition click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe83TTwWyTA-ykvBOpkxtZ_Un7uW7JxkFqX2Ga1z7-bYZny4A/viewform Keep a watch out for Great Blue Herons - they are being seen in our area now! March 12, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
The sun gave the illusion of warmth at Quarry Hill this morning - but we all had cold fingers and toes by the end of our walk. Seven of us worked our way around the pond and through the woods, but most of the birds were found close to the Nature Center's bird feeders. Cardinals were actively singing and chasing each other. We saw several Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Juncos, a pair of Pine Siskins, a Blue Jay and four Canada Geese flew over head. As it warms up over the next few days and weeks the birds will become more active and early migrants will start appearing. Late March and April are when to look for waterfowl following open water north. Several of us have already seen Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds so we know more are on the way. March 5, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
Heavy rain early this morning left puddles everywhere at Quarry Hill - but then the clouds thinned and the sun came out long enough for walk. Ten birders gingerly walked around the pond carefully avoiding both mud and some very icy spots. The resident Cardinals were singing and we heard and/or saw several Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy, Hairy & Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Gold finches, Crows, Canada Geese and even got a quick glimpse of a Pine Siskin. Not a lot, but spring is coming fast. As conditions weren't ideal today we've decided to host another walk at Quarry Hill at 9am Saturday, March 12. See you there. 
March 1, 2022 -Birds and Cold Weather Adaptations
Tonight Dr. Sahas Barve talked to us via Zoom about how birds have adapted to the low oxygen levels and extreme cold weather of high altitudes - especially in the Himalayas. While you'd think not many birds would choose to live in such areas - the opposite is true - with nearly a 10th of all species worldwide living and/or breeding at high altitudes. In a nutshell, these birds have adapted with longer feathers, a higher proportion of downy feathers and lungs and circulatory system that gets them the oxygen-rich blood they need to survive. Thank you Dr. Barve - your program was fun and engaging! February 5, 2022 - Quarry Hill Walk
Despite cold and windy weather, Terry and Joyce Grier plus 5 people came to Quarry Hill for the monthly bird walk on Saturday. They only saw a few birds along the trails, but many were seen after returning to the center's bird viewing area, including lots of juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, blue jays, goldfinches, downy and hairy woodpeckers, many house sparrows, and a crow. The highlights were a brown creeper close enough to see that it was banded, plus both male and female purple finches by the feeders (2 were banded at QH the day before). Not a lot of birds, but still a good day of birding. Photos by Terry Grier January 26, 2022 - Birds of Peru
Black-throated Flower Piercers, Horned Screamers. Creamy-crested Spinetails, Golden-headed Quetzals ... those are just a few of the stunning, awesomely-named birds Terry & Joyce Grier showed us during their talk, "The Birds of Peru", last night on Zoom. Also included were quick tours of Lima, the Peruvian coast and the ruins at Machu Picchu. While in Peru they saw more than 400 bird species (out of more than 1800 possible) plus dozens of beautiful butterflies, amphibians, mammals & more. It was a perfect tour for us Minnesotans on a very cold winter night. Thank you Terry & Joyce for sharing your adventure! Photos by Terry Grier January 15, 2022 - Golden Eagle Survey
Today a couple teams of birders from ZVAS helped out with the Annual Golden Eagle Survey sponsored by the National Eagle Center. Sunny skies, newly fallen snow and crisp temps made it a great day to search for birds. We won't have the totals for a few days yet - but I know one ZVAS team found 3 Golden Eagles and my team (Sandy H, Terry G, Joyce G and Dave G) also found 1 Golden Eagle perched at the far end of a valley with no road access. (We've seen birds there in past years as well. We came back a couple times to check the spot hoping to get photos of it in flight - but no luck. Of course we see lots of other birds on these surveys as well. We found 2 Kestrels, at least 17 Red-tailed Hawks, more than 100 Bald Eagles, at least 7 Eastern Bluebirds, 50+ Tree Sparrows, several Common Red Polls and even a Coyote (a first for our group). We all had a great time. Even in Winter it's amazing what you can find! We'll post the survey numbers when they become available. Photos by Sandy Hokanson. January 1, 2022 - Whitewater Christmas Bird Count
Several ZVAS members helped out during Whitewater State Park's 2021 Christmas Bird Count On New Year's Day. Temps hovered near zero, and it was windy with gray overcast skies - but that can't stop dedicated birders who want to get their year lists off to big start. All teams combined found 35 species and 3,676 individuals birds including a Kingfisher, a Winter Wren, 10 Gray Partridges, 2 Golden Eagles and a Pintail Duck (the complete list is shown at the end of the photos). The bird of the day was definitely the Dark-eyed Junco with more than 2,100 being found! Many thanks to everyone who participated including Sandy Hokanson, Joyce & Terry Grier, Jerry Pruet, Jim Peterson, Jeff Stephenson and especially to Sara Holger for hosting this fun event. Photos by Terry & Joyce Grier and Sandy Hokanson. January 1, 2022 - Quarry Hill Bird Walk
6 people braved the cold for the first monthly Quarry Hill walk of 2022. There were a lot of familiar birds around the feeders, of course, and we had nice looks at a brown creeper. The birds still have to eat when it is this cold, so go out and see them! Species seen included: Mourning Dove, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Crow, Black-capped chickadee, White-breasted nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House sparrow, House finch, American Goldfinch, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Northern Cardinal. Photos by Brendan Lanpher (who also led this walk) |
|
