On February 8, 2019, 13 young birders and their families met Executive Director Tyler Harms and volunteer leader Kevin Murphy for a weekend of winter birding in Duluth, Minnesota for our Northern Minnesota Weekend 2019.  The plan was to visit Sax-Zim Bog, a world-famous winter birding location where one could delight in several boreal bird species including both Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls, birds for which the area is known, as well as others like Boreal Chickadee, both Evening and Pine Grosbeak, and Canada Jay.  Despite a somewhat stressful and treacherous drive for all on Friday the 8^th, spirits were still high and excitement was in the air when we met briefly Friday evening to welcome everyone and discuss logistics.  We also started our trip list with a Common Raven that was seen earlier that afternoon by one of the young birders in the hotel parking lot.  Then, it was off to prepare for an early morning with boreal birds on our minds!

After a quick breakfast on Saturday morning, we loaded our van, which was to be later named the “Snowy Owl” (I’ll let you guess the color), by 6:00 AM in order to arrive at Sax-Zim Bog before sunrise to search for Great Gray Owls.  By the time we reached the Bog, the Snowy Owl was recording an ambient temperature of -26° F!  Still somewhat sleepy from the early morning, we were quickly awakened by the sight of a large owl flying across the road upon entering the Bog.  We scanned the treeline in the twilight with hopes high of locating our #1 target bird (Great Gray Owl) in the first 10 minutes of the trip, but it was a Great Horned Owl that elevated our hopes.  Still a fun bird to see!  Because of the extremely cold temperatures, much of the birding is done from the comfort of a heated vehicle.  Therefore, we continued to search for owls along both McDavitt and Admiral Roads, two areas known to be frequented by Northern Hawk and Great Gray Owls.  With no owl luck by sunrise, we stopped briefly at the Admiral Road bird feeders.  Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls were numerous at this location, both of which were life birds for many, along with some Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Siskins, and the occasional Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and Red-breasted Nuthatch.  This is also a known location for Boreal Chickadee and, while some had fleeting glimpses of a single individual, not all were able to see the chestnut-colored relative of our common Black-capped.  We planned to stop by later.

After the feeders, we headed towards an area known for lekking Sharp-tailed Grouse.  We searched this area for some time with no luck, so we continued to the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Visitor’s Center for more feeder watching.  Pine Grosbeaks were again numerous at this location, and all enjoyed close looks of this species along with more Common Redpolls, Black-capped Chickadees, and others.  We also saw what was believed to be a Common Raven in the distance and added Red Squirrel to our mammal list.  Back in the Snowy Owl, we then headed to the northwest corner of the Bog for a visit to Mary Lou’s feeders.  It was here that we saw our first Evening Grosbeaks of the trip, another life bird for all.  The vibrant colors of these birds made it worth standing for several minutes in the cold watching them come and go from the feeders.  While there, we also heard and saw more Common Ravens in the distance.  We then decided to look once more for Sharp-tailed Grouse and check for an actual Snow Owl (not our van) at a location on the south end of the Bog before lunch.  Though we did not see either of these birds, we did stop en route to put the spotting scopes on two Canada Jays foraging along the roadway.  Another target bird checked off the list, we headed for the Wilbert Café in the Cotton, Minnesota for a delicious lunch and time to warm up.  Little did we know things were about to get very exciting that afternoon!

Near the end of our lunch, Kevin received information that a Northern Hawk Owl was just located in the Bog.  We quickly loaded the Snowy Owl and headed for the location.  We arrived, donned are warmest clothing, and started out for a hike on a narrow snow trail into the Bog in search of our #2 target bird.  After hiking for about a half mile, we joined several other birders and photographers to view a gorgeous Northern Hawk Owl perched high a spruce tree.  It was very cooperative, and all were able to get great views of the bird through the spotting scopes.

Excited from seeing one of our top target birds, we hiked back to the Snowy Owl to continue our afternoon.  We received a tip from some fellow birders that a Great Gray Owl was seen not 10 to 15 minutes earlier just around the corner from where we were currently standing.  We decided to become a bit more methodical in our search for Great Grays, so we carefully scanned the aspen and spruce trees along Admiral Road and turned down Kolu Road, an area where Great Grays hadn’t been seen yet but the habitat looked appropriate.  As we slowly drove down Kolu Road, we were rewarded for our patience.  About 15 yards off the road, we located a Great Gray Owl hunting in an aspen stand!  All were plastered to the windows, staring in awe at this majestic bird.  What an amazing experience to see the tallest of the North American owls!  After the Great Gray, we quickly headed for the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog Visitor’s Center where we were treated to a fantastic program from Lead Naturalist Clinton about the history of the Bog and its many plants and animals.  A huge thanks to Clinton for taking time to speak with us!

Based on a tip from Clinton, we left the Visitor’s Center for the Warren Nelson Memorial Bog to look for the elusive Black-backed Woodpecker.  The scenery was spectacular as we quietly walked along the boardwalk listening intently for tapping among the many black spruce trees.  We hiked to the end of the boardwalk, seeing Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and Black-capped Chickadees along the way.  We stood, dead quiet, at the end of the boardwalk for five or more minutes.  Listening and watching intently, we finally saw a woodpecker fly overhead and land in a nearby spruce.  There it was!  A Black-backed Woodpecker was working up the tree before it flew away briefly only to land directly in front of us at the base of a tree, providing better looks than any of us could ask for!

We left the Bog to return to Duluth, but not without adding both Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse to our bird list and a quick stop to see a Porcupine high in a tree!

On Sunday morning, we headed back to the Bog to look for Sharp-tailed Grouse and Boreal Chickadee in order to complete our target list for the weekend.  We went directly to the Racek Road feeders, a known feeding location for grouse, to wait and watch.  We did so for about 30 minutes with no luck, so we decided to head to Admiral Road for the Boreal Chickadee.  On the way there, we stopped to look at a Canada Jay and had brief looks at a Northern Shrike.  Good thing we stopped, because it was then that Sharp-tailed Grouse were reported at the Racek Road feeders.  We had just missed them!  We headed back to the feeders along with several other birders (testament to how challenging these birds are to see in the Bog).  We joined several others to see three grouse picking below the feeders.  Only one target bird left!  We headed back towards Admiral Road for the Boreal Chickadee.  Not long after turning onto the road, a large raptorial bird flushed and flew across our path.  We quickly put binoculars on the bird – a Northern Goshawk!  The bird continued flying and landed in a distant tree, allowing us time to put the spotting scopes up and study the bird to confirm the identification.  We then continued to the Admiral Road feeders and waited only a couple minutes for a Boreal Chickadee to show up on the peanut butter feeder.  Our target list was complete!  We headed back to Duluth, extremely pleased with the great end to a fun weekend.

This trip would not have been possible without the assistance of volunteer leader Kevin Murphy.  Thanks also to the young birders and their families for braving the wintery weather and driving conditions to join us for a bird-filled fun weekend!  You can view photos from our weekend here.

Our sixth year of providing fun, educational, family-friendly programs on birds and the outdoors in Iowa, 2018 was one to remember for Iowa Young Birders.  We hosted ten field trips across the state starting with our Junior Duck Stamp Day at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge and ending with a brisk morning at Cedar Lake near in Cedar Rapids.  From Dudgeon Lake in eastern Iowa to the wetlands of northwest Iowa and even over the border to Fontenelle Forest in Nebraska, we saw 128 species of birds that included many life birds and many great memories for young birders.  And best of all, 147 young birders, friends, and families spent 30 hours of fun in the Iowa outdoors!

Pictured to the right (in the red shirt), young birder Bobby joined us at Fontenelle Forest for his first Iowa Young Birders field trip.  Excited about his newly found passion for birds and bird illustration (he is a very talented artist), Bobby had Prothonotary Warbler on his target list for the day.  Nearing the end of the morning, we ventured from the mature forest high about the Missouri River to the wetlands of the Missouri River floodplain near the Hitchcock Wetlands Learning Center.  As we walked along the trail, listening intently for the loud, "Sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet" song of the male Prothonotary, we talked about Prothonotary Warbler habitat and ongoing conservation efforts for this vibrant yellow songbird.  As we neared the viewing platform at the end of the trail, we heard it...a male Prothonotary was singing to the left along the wetland edge.  We hurried along, listening and searching carefully for a quick glimpse.  Then, as if wanting to show off, the male Prothonotary Warbler appeared at close range moving slowly in the shrubs near the water.  Everyone on the trip, including Bobby, was locked on to this beautiful bird, fully immersed in that moment when you realize that nature is quite amazing.  Not only was this a life bird for Bobby, but was also a memory that will last a lifetime.  This is but one of the many amazing stories from our exciting year that are captured in the photos above.

Our amazing year of stories and memories could not have happened without the support of our many members, sponsors, and volunteer leaders.  Each year, these folks make our programs possible through financial gifts, spreading the word about our events, showing a young birder a new life bird, and simply providing suggestions and encouragement to keep us going. We are extremely grateful for these dedicated individuals and organizations for supporting the future of birding and bird conservation in Iowa! 

We can't wait for 2019!

On November 10, 20 young birders, parents, grandparents, and volunteers ventured out on a brisk fall morning to Cedar Lake in Cedar Rapids in search of migrating waterbirds.  We had some target birds including Snow and Greater White-fronted Goose, American White Pelican, and Dark-eyed Junco, but we were most excited to see what was visiting this birding hotspot!

Before starting down the trail on the north side of the lake, a flock of Canada Geese sounded their welcome while flying overhead, and an occasional Ring-billed Gull cruised by searching for a snack in the icy-cold water.  As we started down the trail, we were drawn to the northwest corner of the lake where there was a large congregation of waterbirds.  Before reaching our vantage point for viewing the waterbirds, however, we were excited to see one of our target species, Dark-eyed Junco, as well as other landbirds including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, and White-breasted Nuthatch.  With scopes set up, we then turned to the water on which both male and female Mallards were numerous, allowing us to carefully observe characteristics of this dimorphic species.  Also present were numerous Ring-billed Gulls, some more Canada Geese, a single Pied-billed Grebe, and single Cackling Goose.  And the best part?  As if on cue, a single Snow Goose and single American White Pelican flew in to join the other waterbirds as if they both knew we wanted to see them!

Further up the trail, young birder Oliver scouted a pond near the trail where several Mallards were resting out of the brisk wind and very close to the trail.  We were surprised to see a female Hooded Merganser among the Mallards, again allowing a nice comparison of characteristics between these two very different ducks.  We were also surprised to see a Red-headed Woodpecker along the trail, and both Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers where in the area as well. 

After a quick break to warm up at our vehicles, we headed off toward the south end of the lake to look for more waterbirds.  Along the way, we found a Red-tailed Hawk perched upon a light pole who later was feasting on a recent catch.  We added more waterbirds to our list on the south end of the lake including small groups of Double-crested Cormorants, Common Goldeneyes, Ruddy Ducks, and Buffleheads as well as a couple more Pied-billed Grebes.  We finished the morning by summarizing the characteristics of all the waterbirds on our list – it was a diverse group!

A huge thanks to the young birders, parents, and grandparents who bundled up to join us on this cold morning.  Thanks also to Coralee Bodeker and Fawn Bowden for helping lug a second spotting scope along to view the many waterbirds and for keeping our species list which you can view here.  You can also view photos from our trip here.

Iowa Young Birders is grateful for the leadership of our Board Members, and we want you to meet them!  In the coming months, we'll interview each of these amazing folks to learn more about them and their interests!  Up first - Board Chair Kathy Solko-Manternach.

Name:  Kathy Solko-Manternach

Position with Iowa Young Birders:  Board Chair

Current town:  I live in Nevada, Iowa with my spouse Steve

Home town:  Mankato, Minnesota

Kathy with grandson Jonas

What sparked your interest in birds/nature?

While growing up in Mankato, Minnesota, I often went traipsing through the woods with my dad as he hunted or just to take a walk. I was also lucky enough to spend long hours on various Minnesota lakes while growing up. We took family vacations to northern Minnesota and I was Dad’s early-morning fishing partner. I remember seeing my first eagle on one of those lakes. The north woods were the perfect venue to fall in love with the out of doors and the birds that surrounded us. In addition, Dad was an avid backyard birder and I was his partner in keeping the feeders clean and filled. Even after I left for college the various seeds and suet would be waiting so that dad and I could spend time feeding the birds and catching up. I helped him shovel through many a large snow drift to replenish the feeders.

What is your favorite bird?

My favorite bird is the Common Loon. I love the wailing call, the stark black and white coloring and their antics as they dive. I suppose that is why my favorite birding and outdoor space is near or on the water, whether that be a lake, the ocean or a river.

Do you have young birders in your family?

Grandson Ravi (13 years old), granddaughters Indira (5 years old) and Anjali (3 years old).

How did you first learn about Iowa Young Birders and do you remember your first IAYB field trip?

I first learned of IAYB through our daughter who suggested this might be a fun activity to take our grandson to. Steve and I ended up getting grandson, Ravi a membership for Christmas when he was 9 years old and we went on our first birding adventure with him in January. Even though we were on the banks of the Mississippi in a snowstorm, we had a great time counting eagles and identifying gulls. That first trip was the start of many IAYB adventures with our grandson who is now 13.

What has been your favorite IAYB trip thus far?

It is difficult pick a favorite IAYB outing because each has its own special highlights and memories. Ravi helped me spot a Burrowing Owl through a scope in the grasslands of Colorado. Funny how I thought that little owl was a lump of dirt (insert eye roll from grandson)! We all loved the cacophony of sound as the Tundra Swans gathered near Harpers Ferry. We could barely see them through the snow but we could certainly hear them. There has been many an Iowa park that we would not have visited if not for our IAYB adventures.

What motivated you to become an IAYB Board Member?

With several years of involvement in IAYB it became important to me to support the Iowa Young Birders Program whether that is through being a board member or through monetary donations. Any organization needs active member involvement to remain viable. IAYB is a program that gets kids and families outside together; meeting other kids and families while having a fun learning experience.  Kids can not only learn about birds through sight and sound but we all learn about habitat and conservation as we wander over Iowa’s beautiful country side.

Why do you feel exposing kids to birds and nature is important?

I believe that respect for nature is a life lesson that IAYB members begin learning at an early age. Respect for nature; respect for others in the group are life lessons that IAYB members will carry throughout their life.

Light rain and a brisk wind didn’t stop 15 young birders, parents, grandparents, and volunteers from setting out on a search for migrating wetland birds in northwest Iowa on October 6.  And it certainly didn’t stop the birds either, because we ended the morning with more than 40 species!

What better way to start a birding trip?  With delicious donuts of course!  Many thanks to Kaitlin Anderson and Mary Barrick with Palo Alto County Conservation Board for hosting us and providing a pre-birding snack for all attendees.  After our treats, we left the Lost Island Nature Center en route to the first wetland but were immediately distracted by bird activity.  Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting about in the trees, and volunteer leaders Lee Schoenewe and Joe Jungers quickly spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch in a nearby tree.  As we worked to position ourselves for some great looks at the Red-breasted Nuthatches (yes, another appeared a short time later), we also noticed a couple Brown Creepers in the area.  In the distance, we heard White-throated Sparrows calling and later were able to see one at close range.  Both Orange-crowned and Palm Warblers made a quick appearance, and a cooperative Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was spotted high in nearby tree.  Yes, we were supposed to be searching wetlands, but who could pass up these great birds?

Our first wetland stop was in Lost Island State Park near the beach, where 29 Great Egrets, 2 Great Blue Herons, and a single Belted Kingfisher were seeking refuge from the brisk wind.  It was a quite a sight to see so many egrets in one small spot!  We continued to Lost Island Lake Marsh where our hope was to locate both Le Conte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows.  Hiking through the grass near the wetland, it didn’t take us long to flush a small, pale sparrow flying low and quickly diving into the grass.  It was a Le Conte’s Sparrow, but unfortunately the wind discouraged this bird from remaining visible for all to see.  However, we also flushed a Song Sparrow on the walk which allowed us to note the drastic differences in size, color, and flight behavior of the two species.  Near the end of our walk, we heard Sandhill Cranes calling in the distance and were able to locate them in flight a short time later.  We finished at this location with great looks at a couple Harris’s Sparrows and a young Northern Harrier hunting in the distance.

We made a couple quick stops at other wetlands to continue our search for the elusive Le Conte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows.  Although we were unsuccessful in our search, we were not disappointed as young birders were able to see Blue-winged Teal and Pied-billed Grebe through the scope and a kettle of Turkey Vultures high above, obviously successful in their search for warm, rising air.  By this time in the morning, we were all wishing they would share some warm air with us!

What a great fall birding trip this was!  Many thanks to volunteer leaders Lee Schoenewe and Joe Jungers for finding us some great birds and, again, to Kaitlin Anderson and Mary Barrick with Palo Alto County Conservation Board for hosting us.  And a huge thanks to our young birders and their families for braving the cold to join us for a morning of outdoor adventure!  You can view photos from our trip here and our species lists below:

Lost Island Lake State Park

Lost Island Lake Marsh

Dewey's Pasture

Twenty-one young birders, parents, grandparents, and volunteers kicked off the fall birding season with an exciting morning of birding at Red Rock Reservoir on September 8, 2018.  Our target bird list included everything from Ruby-throated Hummingbird to Pileated Woodpecker.  When you start the morning off seeing warblers from the parking lot, it’s hard not to be excited!

We spent the morning below the main reservoir at both Ivan’s and South Tailwater Recreation Areas.  Immediately from the parking lot at Ivan’s, we spotted a couple American Redstarts in a nearby tree hyperactively looking for insects.  We quickly checked one species off our target list by spotting a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a feeder in the campground.  We slowly moved toward the river, carefully watching the treetops and enjoying the extremely pleasant fall weather.  Once at the river, we noticed both Caspian Terns and Ring-billed Gulls foraging over the water as well as a large, mixed flock of migrating swallows overhead.  We walked farther along the river and stopped to carefully examine an adult male Mallard in non-breeding plumage, making a list of characteristics that help us identify the bird such as the dull yellow bill, overall brown color, and purple speculum on the wing.  The occasional Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture cruised overhead, and several flocks of American White Pelicans were seen taking advantage of breeze throughout the morning.

Next, we started down the paved trail between Ivan’s and South Tailwater Recreation Areas.  Although the birds were quiet initially, we enjoyed capturing and examining a Cricket Frog and watching what we all felt was the largest Snapping Turtle in Iowa crawl through the mud in a nearby off-channel wetland.  A Great Blue Heron posed nicely in the water for us allowing young birders long, close looks through the spotting scope.  As we continued along the trail, we were greeted by White-breasted Nuthatches, a Warbling Vireo, and Red-bellied Woodpecker.  We were drawn off the trail for a bit to explore a nearby shale deposit with a stream running through it.  What an interesting geological feature!

Once back on the trail, we found a little hotspot of bird activity in which we saw a Black-and-White, Magnolia, and Golden-winged Warbler while a Carolina Wren and Yellow-throated Vireo sang to us from nearby.  We turned back towards the parking lot and, on the return trip, added Ovenbird, Swainson’s Thrush, and Red-eyed Vireo to our species list among others.  A cooperative Belted Kingfisher perched on a limb near the wetland was an exciting bird for young birders.  Back at the parking lot, the bird activity was even hotter than earlier and young birders spotted several Chestnut-sided Warblers, a Bay-breasted Warbler, and another Black-and-White Warbler low in the brush.  What a great finish to the morning!

This trip could not be possible without the assistance of Marla Mertz with Marion County Conservation Board.  We’re grateful to volunteers from the Red Rock Lake Association for their leadership on the trip and for providing snacks.  And as always, many thanks to our young birders and families for attending!  You can view photos of our trip here and our species list here.

On August 18, 2018, eleven young birders, parents, grandparents, and volunteers met at Memorial Park in Ottumwa for a morning of birding in southern Iowa.  The morning started off cool and overcast but quickly warmed up when the sun appeared.  Lucky for us, the birds were hot all morning!

Our target bird at Memorial Park was the Mississippi Kite, a unique Iowa bird.  Memorial Park is one of two regular nesting locations for this species in Iowa, and the nesting pair had returned for another southern Iowa summer.  It didn’t take long for us to find the small family as one of the adults was perched in the top of a White Pine tree near the parking lot as young birders arrived!  However, this was only the beginning of what continued to be an amazing spectacle as both adults actively hunted overhead, showing off their talent in aerial acrobatics.  The two juvenile birds were also present, continuously calling to remind their parents of their hunger and expected receipt of any captures.  After an hour of watching in awe, we decided it best to leave for our second destination despite the desire to watch these birds even longer.  This was a life bird for all young birders present, and for the parents and grandparents as well!

Next, we traveled south of Ottumwa to Pioneer Ridge Nature Area.  Owned and managed by Wapello County Conservation Board, Pioneer Ridge contains a variety of habitats that makes birding this location very exciting.  Although the temperature was rising quickly, the birds were still quite active and we were immediately greeted by Gray Catbirds and American Goldfinches.  Several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were also putting on a great show, chasing each other along the edges of a nearby pond.  We stopped along the trail to examine a Baltimore Oriole nest and spotted two young Great Crested Flycatchers in the distance.  Later on our hike, we took a break in a nearby barn shelter to search for bats in the rafters (beneath the piles of guano) and enjoyed close-up views of a Black Swallowtail butterfly captured by one of our young birders!

We finished our hike at a nearby pond.  A pair of Belted Kingfishers were hunting and chattering nearby as the young birders accumulated quite the collection of snail shells from the water.  A great place to finish a great morning!  I’m grateful to all who attended to make this morning a ton of fun and to Kornelia Robertson for sharing some great photos from our trip.  You can view photos from our trip here as well as a species list from Memorial Park here and Pioneer Ridge Nature Area here.

It was a mild sunny day as 13 young birders, parents, and grandparents gathered in Johnson County to learn about Eastern Bluebird nesting and to assist with checking boxes along an established nest box trail.  We were lucky to have Jim Walters with the Johnson County Songbird Project join us, and he started us off on this fine morning by sharing his knowledge of Eastern Bluebird biology gained from many years of experience monitoring nest boxes.  Jim was gracious enough to let us visit his farm, which has been in his family since he was young and contains many diverse habitats that host a variety of bird species.  Anxious to see some baby bluebirds, we started off down the trail!

It wasn’t long before we encountered one of Jim’s nest boxes, strategically built with a hole large enough for bluebirds to enter but small enough to deter other birds from using the box and with a small screw on the side that released the front of the box for access.  Jim tapped gently on the side of the box with his screwdriver, a subtle warning to an attending parent that we’re coming in.  The young bluebirds were left unattended for the morning, likely so mom and dad could search for food.  Jim slowly removed the front of the box to reveal a small nest constructed mostly of grasses from the nearby prairie.  Inside the nest was a family of baby bluebirds, not older than a couple weeks, quietly resting and enjoying the pleasant weather.  All young birders excitedly, but quietly peeked inside the nest box before leaving the baby bluebirds to their morning nap.  The was a first for many young birders present!

We checked a few other boxes along the trail, including one that contained a House Wren nest and another that contained a white Eastern Bluebird egg, which is a rare occurrence in a species that lays light blue eggs.  We continued along the trail into the woodland on Jim’s farm.  Highlights included recently fledged Eastern Wood-Pewees showing off their newly-acquired flycatching skills, a singing Wood Thrush and Eastern Towhee, and later at least two singing Acadian Flycatchers.

We finished the morning with two additional stops, the first of which was to check a Purple Martin colony near the entrance to Jim’s farm.  The colony was very active with adult Purple Martins flying and foraging about.  Jim cranked down the martin house, which looks like an apartment building compared to the Eastern Bluebird nest boxes, and we carefully checked one of the dwellings.  Inside was four baby Purple Martins, not more than one week old, enjoying a morning nap just like the baby bluebirds we saw earlier.  Next, we stopped along Highway 1 to check an American Kestrel nest box.  Jim removed a long extension ladder from his truck, a necessity for checking these boxes that are mounted on telephone poles at least 10 feet up.  Young birders took turns carefully climbing the ladder to peek in at the five baby kestrels inside the box, who were nearly ready to leave the box.  What an exciting way to finish off a fun and educational morning!

We’re extremely grateful to Jim Walters with the Johnson County Songbird Project for sharing his knowledge with us and for allowing us to visit his Johnson County farm.  You can view photos from our trip here as well as our species list here.

On June 2, 2018, 17 young birders, parents, and grandparents gathered at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in Bellevue, Nebraska for our joint Iowa Young Birders and Omaha Youth Birding Group field trip.  A string of thunderstorms earlier that morning left behind cool air and sunshine and sparked some activity in the birds!  We were excited to get started!

We started down the boardwalk into the forest with birds singing from all directions.  We were immediately greeted by a singing Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and stopped a bit further down the trail to listen to singing House and Carolina Wrens.  We chatted a bit about the preferred habitat of the House Wren compared to one of our target species, the Scarlet Tanager, and how we could use that knowledge to help us identify and locate these different birds.  While learning about this, a Wood Thrush was serenading us from a distance.  We were also lucky to see a pair of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds while stopped, one of which appeared to be carrying nesting material.  All this excitement and we were only 10 minutes into our trip!

We continued down the boardwalk and quickly noticed that American Redstarts were numerous in the forest.  We were offered many great looks at these hyperactive, colorful warblers as they flitted and foraged through the treetops.  We learned how to distinguish between males and females of this species based on color and were even lucky enough to observe some territorial displays of two males in the presence of a female.  Other great birds in the forest included Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Tufted Titmouse, and Eastern Wood-pewee.

We finished the morning at the Fontenelle Forest wetlands below the Nature Center, a habitat quite different than that in which we birded earlier in the morning.  And as no surprise, we quickly noticed the bird community was a bit different as well.  We heard both a Common Yellowthroat and Song Sparrow singing along the trail, along with Tree Swallows foraging on the wing overhead.  We were very lucky to hear both Willow and Alder Flycatchers singing nearby, allowing us to easily compare the songs of these nearly indistinguishable species.  The “icing on the cake” for our visit to the wetlands, however, was a pair of Prothonotary Warblers.  The male was frequently singing and offered great looks to all.  This was a life bird for several young birders present, a fantastic way to end a fun morning with friends and family!

We’re grateful to Fontenelle Forest for hosting us and to Bob Wells and Tisha Johnson with the Omaha Youth Birding Group for their leadership.  And as always, many thanks to the young birders and their families for joining us on another fun and educational trip!  You can view photos from our trip here and species lists for both the Nature Center and wetlands below:

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center 

Fontenelle Forest wetlands

It was another pleasant spring day in Iowa as 12 young birders, parents, and friends embarked on a search for birds at Dudgeon Lake Wildlife Area near Vinton, Iowa.  Dudgeon Lake is well known for hosting a variety of birds including Prothonotary Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Pileated Woodpecker, all of which prefer the vast expanse of flooded forests found on the area.  It is also a favorite location of young birder Coralee Bodeker, who served as co-leader and local expert on our trip.  As we gathered in the parking lot, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo sang from across an adjacent pond and several Great Crested Flycatchers were vocalizing in the nearby trees.  These birds excited us all to search for more!

As we started down the road, we immediately heard a Gray Catbird singing in the shrubs and learned the call note of a nearby Rose-breasted Grosbeak (a quick squeeze of a squeaky toy).  We stopped to watch a male American Redstart foraging low in a tree and listened to an Indigo Bunting singing along the edge of an open field, all the while numerous Turkey Vultures were soaring overhead and Tree Swallows cruising by.  Further up the road we encountered both a Wilson’s Warbler and a Tennessee Warbler, our first two migrants of the trip.  While hiking down the road, we also stopped to admire a baby Painted Turtle and baby Snapping Turtle found by young birder Andi, as well as several turtles basking on logs in the water.

Next, we started down a trail towards some ponds in search of waterbirds.  We were greeted by a singing Common Yellowthroat and a pair of Red-winged Blackbirds.  Further along, we spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker perched high on a snag and were able to get great views through the spotting scope.  Approaching another pond, we spotted an American Coot and later a Spotted Sandpiper foraging along the shore.  We started back towards the vehicles, hearing a singing Warbling Vireo and later seeing a Green Heron flying away over a pond.  It was a great finish to a great morning!

Many thanks to Coralee Bodeker and her family for helping organize and lead this trip!  We’re also grateful to volunteer leaders Linda Rudolph and Bill Scheible for joining us on this fine morning.  You can view our species list here and some photos from our trip here.