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Some good bird sightings in our area:
May 2009, Woodbury County,
IA
An OSPREY pair has
returned to the nest near Brown's Lake where they nested and fledged 3 young last year. The pair was observed in early
April adding nesting materials to last year's nest. In early May they appeared to be sitting on eggs, so we will watch and
see if they are successfull in fledging more young again this year!
July 2009--3 young Osprey were confirmed in the nest!
July 25, 2009--Both adults were on the tower and the 3 young were in the nest! One of the young flew around the tower a few times and landed on the tower about
5 rungs below the nest. (It seemed to be having a hard time getting back up to the nest). A second young was exercising its
wings and flying up above the nest just a short distance and coming back down into the nest. The 3rd young was hunkered down
low in the nest most of the time but did come up higher in the nest later on. It is most likely the youngest of the 3.
August 9, 2009--All 3
young were present at the nest area. All 3 have been seen flying. It appears to be a
successfull nesting with 3 young fledged for the 2nd straight year!
May 2009 Ida Co., IA
A SURF SCOTER was found in early May at Crawford Creek Recreation Area in Ida county. This rare
inland migrant is rare in our area.
April 2009 Woodbury Co., IA
A SANDHILL CRANE was found in late April 2009, at Sandhill Lake which is an old oxbow southwest
of Salix, IA. This bird is not commonly seen in our area.
April 2009 Woodbury Co., IA
A SNOWY PLOVER was found in late April 2009 at a dairy pond southeast of Luton, IA . This bird
is rare in Iowa, but a second one was also seen about the same time in central Iowa. The National Geographic Field Guide shows
the range of this bird further to the southwest and west when it migrates north during the summer.
March 2009, Sioux City, IA
A Carolina Wren has been a regular visitor to the feeders of a Sioux City residence for several weeks. It was first seen
on November 11, 2008 and was still present on March 15, 2009. The National Geographic Field Guide states that the Carolina
Wren is found in the concealing underbrush of moist woodlands and swamps and in wooded suburbs. It is non-migratory, but after
mild winters, resident populations expand north of their normal range. After harsh winters, range limits retract. The range
map shows it residing in the southeastern portion of the United States and up to the southern half of Iowa. It sings a loud
vivacious, melodious song at any time of day or year.
Other local sightings of Carolina Wrens include Stone Park, South Ravine, and Ponca State Park, but it is unusual to have
one at a feeder on a regular basis for such a long period of time. On March 5th, it was also heard singing its
song several times. It is a little larger than the more common House Wren that migrates here to nest in the summer.
February 2009 Woodbury Co.,IA
A Prairie Falcon was found
near the dairy farm just south of Luton, IA., in Woodbury
County on February 12, 2009. It was 1st seen dive bombing
and aggressively interacting with a Red-tailed Hawk. It later flew to the field to the west and perched on the ground. It
then took off and flew to the dairy barns to the east and ‘strafed’ the thousands of starlings around the barns.
It did not appear to be hungry as it seemed more like it was just ‘playing’ with them. This bird was still present
on February 14 and may hang around awhile since it has a good food supply available.
This bird is another welcome winter visitor to our area! Per the National Geographic Field Guide, it preys chiefly
on birds and small mammals. It inhabits dry, open country, prairies and is a more westerly species. It is a rare migrant and
winter visitor to the ‘western’ midwest. Falcons are powerful hunters and are distinguished from hawks by their
long wings which are bent back at the wrist and narrow and pointed.
| Snowy Owl North Of Luton |
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| By Tucker Lutter |
January 2009 Woodbury
Co.,IA
Woodbury
County has been blessed with some uncommon winter visitors the last half
of January. A SNOWY OWL was first discovered on January 26th near the Owego Wetlands Complex and a 2nd
SNOWY OWL was found the next day a few miles to the north at the Luton Wildlife Area north of Luton.
It’s unusual to have one, but to find two made it even more exciting! The Snowy near Owego was still present on February
14th, but the one north of Luton has not been seen recently.
Up to 9 Short-eared Owls have been
at Owego plus a flock of Common Redpolls, several Rough-legged Hawks, and Northern Shrikes. Roads in the area have also had
some Lapland Longspurs and good numbers of Snow Buntings. These nice sightings by area birders makes this long winter a little
easier to bear!
| Barrow's Goldeneye-Southeast of Luton, IA |
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| By Tucker Lutter 11-16-08 |
Sunday 16 November-2008, Southeast of Luton, Woodbury Co., IA
A beautiful adult male Barrow's Goldeneye was found on a dairy farm
pond southeast of Luton. The last known record of this bird in Woodbury county was in February through April of 2002, December
2002, and March 2003. This more westerly species is a rare visitor to our area!
| Snowy Owl-Broken Kettle Grasslands |
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| By Tucker Lutter 10-24-2008 |
Friday 24 October-2008, Broken Kettle Grasslands, Plymouth Co.,IA
A SNOWY OWL was seen on North Ridge Road just south of Butcher Road. It was first seen perched on
a post along the road and was later observed resting in a picked corn field. It later flew back to the road and
landed on top of a light pole for a few minutes. It was last seen flying west towards Joy Hollow Scout Camp on Butcher
Road. It appeared to be a first year bird. A beautiful white visitor from the far north that is a rare visitor to our area.
Thurs. 10 July-08, Sioux City, Woodbury Co.,IA
A residence on the west side of Sioux City had a pair of Coopers Hawk's nest in their neighborhood. 2 young fledged
and since that time the family has put on quite a show. They fly back and forth in the neighborhood doing a lot of screeching
and interacting and are fun to watch.
They show little fear of humans and allow them to approach rather closely. One of the juveniles even landed on top
of a visitors car and was there for several minutes! It is very unusual for them to nest so close to humans.
Tues. 24 June-08, Bacon Creek Park, Woodbury Co.,IA
The Cooper's
Hawk nest at Bacon Creek had one adult at the nest and there were at least 2 young in the nest with whitish down color. This
nest was first used in 2004 and the Hawks have nested there in 4 of the last 5 years.
Sun. 22 June-08, Osprey nest in Woodbury County, IA
(This nest was 1st observed by local birders early April 2008)
An Osprey nest in Woodbury County had 2 adults with one delivering a fish to the nest. At least one young
was observed in the nest so far. DNR personnel report this to be the 1st nesting of an Osprey in Woodbury County
since European settlement!
6-30-2008=At least 2 young observed on nest!
7-9-2008=2 good-sized young exercising their wings--adult male brought
a fish to the nest--adult female brought more nesting material to the nest.
7-14-08=3 young and both adults observed at nest!!
7-31-08=All 3 young have left the nest but are still
using it as home base. They take short flights and perch in various places. They perch on top of the tower by the nest, on
a platform about a 3rd of the way up the tower, on hiline poles by the road, or on the big
hiline towers across the road. The adults are still bringing fish to the nest. The adults were 1st spotted at the nest in
early April so they have been there for 4 months. It has been a busy summer for the 1st nesting of Ospreys in Woodbury County
since European settlement and so far a successful one!
8-2-2008=All 3 young and both adults at nest and tower. The young were
feeding and taking short test flights.
8-5-2008=1 adult found fishing at Snyder's Bend.
8-7-2008=All 3 young returned to nest near sundown. No sign of the adults.
8-13-2008=The 2 adults and 3 young continue to use the nest and surrounding
area of Brown's Lake as a home base. They are still being seen in the area at dusk.
9-3-2008=1 Osprey on light pole near the nest.
9-16-2008=It appears that the Woodbury County Ospreys were successful in raising 3 young.
Ospreys were in the nest area for 5 months from early April to early September. 3 were observed at Snyder's Bends (4 or 5
miles to the south) on 9-16-08. It is not certain that these were from the nest but they were doing a lot of hovering like
they might be practicing their fishing skills. It has been fun and exciting watching them over the summer and we hope they
return to nest next year. We will be looking for them!
Mon. 16 June-08, Jones Creek Pond, Monona Co.,IA
The pair of Trumpeter Swans
at Jones Creek Pond near Preparation Canyon State Park had 7 good sized whitish/grayish cygnets swimming with them. They have
been nesting there for several years.
April/May 2008, Warblers in Woodbury County, IA.
The spring migration of Warblers in Woodbury County may have been one of the
best in modern times! All regular warblers on the IOWA list were seen EXCEPT: Black-throated Blue, Cerulean,
and Yellow-breasted Chat.
A total of 33 species of Warblers were seen. Some of the highlights were:
Pine, Prothonotary, Prairie, Hooded, Connecticut, Golden-winged, Worm-eating, Mourning, and Blue-winged.
February 2008, Great Horned Owl Nests at Owego Wetlands Complex in Woodbury County,
IA
2 Great Horned Owl nests with young were found in old cottonwood trees--1 at the old town site and
1 on Garner Avenue. The old town site nest was also successful in the year 2006.
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