Today, Ann Mitchell and I assisted this morning's Lab of O's Bird Sleuth Summer Educator Retreat bird walk in Stewart Park (7-8:30am). Participants included a middle school teacher from Los Angeles who teaches an eighth grade ornithology elective for 80 students in addition to a birding section in her 7th grade science class. Her district supports her in offering this class, and she got a grant to buy binoculars for the class! They go out once a week to bird and four days are spent in class. She was very excited to get 23 new life birds on this outing. There were also two Peruvian Amazonian tour guides among many educators.
It was a gorgeous morning and very bird active along the shore. Jody simultaneously met another group out at Cass Park. Highlights included: three Green Herons flying from the Swan Pond and then from willow to willow down the shoreline and back around to the pond. They "chirped/squawked" loudly within the trees. I don't remember seeing these guys last year, and I am wondering if they are part of the migration Dave Nutter announced? Last year, I recall the American Bittern was hanging out in this pond for most of the summer. Did it return? Other highlights for participants: Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, female or immature Hooded Merganser hanging out with 4 Mallards, Northern Flicker adult and immature, Fish Crows and American Crows calling, Wood Frog calling, Cedar Waxwing, DC Cormorants, GB Gull, highly cooperative Kingfishers, female Wood Duck, 3 Brown-headed Cowbirds, Osprey, kingbirds begging and being fed by a parent at the pond, ... I think Jody said we got about 46 species today compiled. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
