Bryan Park Bird Walk ? April 6, 2008
The Bryan Park bird walk first began on April 9, 1994 as a weekly research survey to protect the birds from a proposed golf course. The course would have removed three-fourths of the forest covering the 262-acre park. The azalea garden loop is open from April through May 15th each year. The azaleas are beginning to bud, but the Eastern Redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) are in full and glorious bloom.
The bird walk was opened to the public in 1995 on a monthly basis. Phebe Van Valen has been the longest and most faithful RAS member to attend these walks. Thanks go to Jerry Uhlman today for his keen eyes and showing the group the song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We welcome newcomer Matt Snow. Fifteen birders and one very wet dog completed the walk in the light/moderate/heavy rain today. Twenty-one species were observed from Shelter 1 during the heavy rain. Codes w = winter visitor, y = year round resident, and s = summer breeder
Species:
Pied-billed Grebe w
Great Blue Heron y
Canada Goose y
Wood Duck y
Mallard y
Ring-billed Gull w
Domestic geese y
Mourning Dove y
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker y
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker w
Downy Woodpecker y
Northern Flicker y
Pileated Woodpecker y
Blue Jay y
American Crow y
Red-winged blackbird s
Carolina Chickadee y
Tufted Titmice y
White-breasted Nuthatch y
Brown Creeper w
Carolina Wren y
Ruby-crowned Kinglet w
Blue-gray gnatcatcher s
Eastern Bluebird y
Hermit Thrush w
American Robin y
Brown Thrasher s
European Starling y
Yellow-throated Warbler s
Eastern Towhee y
Chipping Sparrow y
Song Sparrow y
White-throated Sparrow w
Dark-eyed Junco w
Northern Cardinal y
Red-winged Blackbird s
Brown-headed Cowbird s
American Goldfinch y
Heard yesterday (4/508) Northern Bobwhite
Seen yesterday (4/5/08) Northern Rough-winged Swallows
