Here are this morning's sightings/call returns we got at the west end of the marsh while calling marsh birds
Least bittern Pied billed grebe Common moorhen Black terns (Which have become probably the most common bird at the west end of the marsh!!!) Virginia rails Northern oriole Caspian tern Trumpeter swan Marsh wren RW blackbird Blue winged teal Green heron Blue herons (some nests in the heronry are beginning to fledge) Mallard Canada geese I checked on the sandhill crane nest last Thursday, and the nest was empty.I didn't see any eggshells nearby so I'm assuming the nest was successful. The cranes have been spotted intermittently by other staff over the past little while, but it may not be the pair with the confirmed nest.I've seen up to 4 cranes at a time together so there are likely some juveniles and some other areas where I suspect more cranes may have nested. In any case, I'm keeping my eyes open for the family.does anyone know what kind of area cranes will travel with their young? Also, the other summer researcher for least bitterns has a confirmed sighting of a yellow rail.she spotted it at 5 feet away from her while doing her surveys in Mud Lake (the main part of the marsh.) Okay.I think that's it for the past little while.on another note, no monarch butterflies here as of yet! Julie Kee Research assistant Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre [EMAIL PROTECTED] 705 526 7809 ext. 205 Wye Marsh is located off highway 12 in Midland. Take 400 north to hwy 12 west, follow through till Midland, across from the Martyr's Shrine.
