One of the annual measurement games I play is whether I can hit 100 species for the year by the end of March. In northern Iowa it is not that easy. Today I reached that threshold with a Golden-crowned Kinglet at Huston Park and then picked a female Brewer's Blackbird out of a mixed flock in Dewey's Pasture for number 101. This has been a different year.
The shallow lake management drawdown has begun at Virgin Lake south of Ruthven in Palo Alto county. Yesterday I had 47 Greater Yellowlegs, half that many Lessers, a single Least Sandpiper and lots of Pectoral Sandpipers in the southwest pool of that wetland complex. In combination with all the teal, it was an early concentration of shallow water mud lovers. I also had a sighting of Ed Thelen working along the dry lakeshore looking for indian artifacts instead of birds. The shorebird and waterbird habitat being created there this year will be very attractive. I would encourage any birders traveling through the area this year to put Virgin Lake at the top of your stop spots. May the birds be with you! Lee A. Schoenewe Spencer --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
