I received a call from Danny Stark (currently one of my ISU ornithology students) that he had found a flightless/injured American Bittern in Ames behind the Wheatsfield Co-Op earlier this evening. The bird was captured and while it was alert/ not outwardly injured it was also in very poor body condition overall. It was immediately transported to the ISU Wildlife Care Clinic for veterinary care.
This appears to be the earliest spring record by a whopping 17 days with the earliest spring record being 24 March, 1979. I'm not overly optimistic about the bird's chances for recovery, but still hold a little hope that this wayfarer can continue on with its migration when it's a bit more seasonally appropriate. Kevin Murphy, Ames -- Kevin T. Murphy Graduate Assistant Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management 43 Science II Building Iowa State University Ames, IA 50010 [email protected] --- 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]
