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Bird Sightings!

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Some good bird sightings in 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

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.
 
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.