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.

Loud Geese

Date: Feb 14, 2014
Time: ~ 1pm
Location: Capitol Lake
Temperature: 10°F
Wind: 15-20 mph
Skies - stratus

I have mentioned before how Pierre is on the flyway for Canada geese. In the winter we get thousands of geese in town, a large number of which land on Capitol Lake, nestled between the Governor's mansion and the Capitol.

Canada geese by themselves or in small flocks are loud. In numbers this large, they are really loud. I don't know a word other than loud, but if there is one feel free to use it.

In this video you can hear the geese. You can also hear wind, and cars passing.