Farm Island

Date: Sunday March 22, 2015
Time: 12:00pm CDT
Location: Farm Island
Temperature: 45°F
Wind: ~15mph
Skies: altocumulus

I took a long walk on Farm Island on this early spring day. The cardinals were particularly active vocalizers. I saw or heard chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, flicker, a red wing blackbird, and many robins way at the end of the island. They are still in first wave formation, not spreading out to their territories yet.

I also came upon an unbeknownst to me wetland with hundreds of ducks. When I was approaching it, I heard what I thought at first were chorus frogs. Even though the sound wasn't quite right for a chorus frog, I didn't know what else it could be as it was obvious there were a lot of whatever it was. I finally got close enough to see through the brush to a good sized area full of all kinds of ducks.

I didn't have my binoculars so I couldn't get a good view but I saw coots among them.

I also saw an adult bald eagle.

The video offers some bird sounds (chickadees and cardinals) as well as a view of the terrain in early spring. I come back from these rambles with a lot of burrs and grass in my shoes and pants.

La Framboise Island

Birds are very active on La Framboise: Cardinals, robins, waxwings,  downy woodpeckers.

Date: March 14 2015
Time: 3:25pm
Temp: 70°
Wind: 15-20mph
Skies: altocumulus

This male robin was eating berries off the cedar tree.

Chicago

I'm in Chicago for GLOBE meetings. The walk between the hotel and the meeting room is about a mile, so I get a nice walk to and from each day. Even though I am walking along the Chicago River (a very developed and unnatural riparian area) I have yet to hear or see a robin.

I have seen sparrows, a crow and ducks, and I have heard a cardinal in the park across from where we are meeting but I have yet to see or hear a robin.

I hear it's in the 60's back in Pierre. I can only surmise that the robins are really active and I'm not there to see them.

(sigh)

Male Robin

Date: Thursday March 5, 2915
Time: 5:59pm CST
Location: South Dakota Discovery Center parking lot (James and Sioux Ave)
Temp: 44°F
Skies: Clear
Wind: 5mph

I heard a male robin yesterday. He was vocalizing the "peek and tut" call. As with most birding, I heard him before I saw him. We are in for a week of warmer weather so I anticipate that the robins will really be moving out. Unfortunately, I will be in Chicago. It will be interesting to see what they are doing there.