Bird Tour 2005

Spring Bird Tour - Saturday May 21, 2005

The annual FOJ Bird Tour took place at the new FOJ Building this year. There were about 15 people this fine spring morning. After a few minutes of socializing our group went outside for a brief discussion on birds. We were greeted by the trumpeting of three sandhill cranes. We spent the next few minutes just observing the sites and sounds of a great number of different birds. As we headed towards Sportsman park our list of bird sightings started to grow. My complete list will be at the end of this discussion. The migration was coming along with the usual small groups of similar birds. It took the group some time to travel out to the viewing platforms on the river. There were so many birds we were trying to identify. The group was surprised by the sighting of a coyote out in plain view, apparently after the new deer that were being born across the river from us. There were two does giving birth across the river from us. It seems that the coyote knew it was happening The deer were not interfered with by the coyote, at that time. We all got to observe the young bald eagle on the nest. It was quite a site to see. The young eagle was very energetic, running around the top of the nest. We did see the adult eagles that morning as well.

Jerry Aydlott

The List:
eastern kingbird great crested flycatcher song sparrow, male and female common yellow throat, male and female starlings tree swallows barn swallows chimney swifts robins sandhill cranes sharp shinned hawk common crackles	red winged blackbirds mallard ducks, male and female two unidentified shore birds (very small) herring gull bald eagle, male and female Canada geese mourning doves house finch goldfinch bluejays yellow shafted flicker rose breasted Groesbeck, female

The group venturing out