We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
5620 E. Virginia St.
Evansville, IN 47715
Phone: (812) 476-2473
Fax: (812) 476-2475
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: Closed
Comments:
We're located between Green River Road and Burkhardt north of the Lloyd Expessway. We invite you to visit our store!
October 12, 2009: Colder weather has arrived but the hummingbirds are still active in the tri-state. We still had 2 hummers at our feeders this morning. The latest we have had visits at our feeders was October 17, 2007 so we are getting close to the record.
Birding is slowing down with the passage of these past 2 cold fronts and this week does not hold much promise of getting good looks at warblers. We should start seeing the "Butter Butts" this week along with the yellow-throated warblers. The big excitement for the month should be the return of the raptors at Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area. There is some movement of short-eared Owls in the central part of Indiana and we will be keeping a close eye at BFWA to see when they will show up here. Keep checking back to see when you can start watching owls at Bluegrass.
October 8, 2009: Do you still have hummingbirds? Many people, including us, still have plenty of hummingbirds at their feeders. The Tri-state can typically expect to see hummingbirds at their feeders well into October. Last year I assisted Cathie Hutchenson band several hummingbirds in November and December. Some of those birds were Rufous Hummingbirds. Birds that come through late are typically individuals who were injured, sick or late hatchlings up north. There is very little natural nectar sources available so we always recommend leaving at least one feeder out well into November or even December.
If you have hummingbirds after the 15th of October let us know by emailing us. If you have November hummers we really want to know about it. If you have a digital camera you might want to email us a photo so we can identify the species.
How can you take care of late hummers? The best way is to mix a stronger concentration nectar. If you mix 2 parts of water to 1 part of sugar the nectar will not freeze until the temperatures fall below 28 degrees. You might also hang the feeders in a well sheltered area or very close to an evergreen bush or tree. The hummers will take shelter in the dense cover and spend their evenings resting and getting ready to feed heavily on your nectar feeders the next day.
October 7, 2009: For those of you who were faithfully following this blog earlier in the year I apologize. Time sometimes gets away from us and priorities seem to get readjusted. I have had several people approach me recently and asked me to start blogging again. So, here goes! The biggest event recently is the sighting over the past weekend of at least 5 seperate PEREGRINE FALCONS in and around the tri-state area. I was blessed with a sighting Saturday morning on my way back to the store from our bi-weekly bird walk at Howell Wetlands. As I drove across Main Street on the Lloyd Expressway a large flock of pigeons and other birds started flying helter skelter throughout downtown area. All of a sudden a PEREGRINE FALCON dove through a large flock of pigeons, but was unsuccessful with his pursuit. I quickly pulled over to the shoulder to try to track the bird and watched as he/she recovered from the dive and again gained altitude. Then he dove again into a flock just above the Victory Theater and grabbed a pigeon and dove low for he ground. I looked for the bird for about 20 minutes but never was able to find him and his prey.
The other reports were in Gibson, Posey and Warrick Counties. 3 of the 4 other sightings had photos with them and a positive identification was easy. What does this mean? The first conclusion is that this past weekend was a major migration weekend for the PEREGRINE. They were also sighted in Green, Knox, Floyd and Monroe counties. It also shows that conservation efforts have really paid off. The photos I received from customers showed no bands on any of the birds. That usually is an indication of birds born in the wild. A great sign for the birds' future. The next time you see a flock of birds flushing in every direction, take time to watch the event. You may be surprised by a first time sighting of a falcon.
August 3, 2009: Wow! Has it really been almost a month since I last wrote in the blog? I am sorry! I played hooky from the store on Monday and took a trip up to Goose Pond at Linton, IN. I went with 3 other birders from the Evansville area, Steve Gifford (see his photo blog at www.flickr.com/steve_gifford ), Mel Lodato and Philip Lax. This was Philip's first trip to Goose Pond and he was not disappointed. We sighted at least 53 species of birds, including several White Ibis's and Black-necked Stilts, very rare birds for the state of Indiana. Why the rare birds? That is just a function of the quality of habitat presently at Goose Pond. Other birds of note were a couple of Sedge Wrens, over 200 Great Egrets, well over 100 Great Blue Herons and just as many Green Herons. The fall migration of shore birds was just starting so we were able to see Spotted Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers and the stilts. We were unable to track down the Rosette Spoonbill and the White Pelicans but we are sure they were still there.
Goose Pond is managed by the state of Indiana and in a few short years it has become the mecca for birdwatchers throughout the Midwest. It is located just south of Linton, Indiana on and around St Rt 59. To get there take US 41 north to Vincennes and turn east on St Rt 67. Travel approx. 24 miles northeast to the intersection with St Rt 59. Turn left on 59 and you can't miss it. There is a registration station at the curve. If you would like a map of the property go to: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3106.htm
You can always get an update on the birds at Goose Pond by calling the store. I try to keep a running tally of what is up there. Steve Gifford and I will be going up again on August 19th. This will be a trip focusing strictly on photography and we should get some really good shots. We're taking our waders and/or hip boots so we can reach the back end of the property. I will let everyone know what we find.
July 13, 2009: Took a walk through Howell Wetlands yesterday afternoon and actually found more wildflower species than birds. Things are really quiet in the wetlands right now. Most of the birds have finished nesting and only the goldfinch and indigo buntings are still actively seeking mates. Besides the goldfinches and buntings there were: Grackles, Cardinals, Great Blue Heron, Starlings, Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows, Killdeer, Tufted Titmouse, Muscovy Ducks, Eastern bluebird, Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Red-shouldered Hawk. The amazing part of the wetlands right now is the large number wildflowers blooming in the prairie. This Tuesday evening we will be conducting our first Howell Prairie Prowl of the year. If you come you will see: Prairie Blazing Starr, Rosinweed, Giant Ironweed, Daisy Fleabane, Brown-eyed Susans, Swamp Mallow (Hibiscus), Button Bush, Swamp Buttercup, Black-eyed Susans, Wild Sweet Potato, Joe Pye Weed, Prairie Aster, Gray-headed Coneflower, Prairie Coneflower, Pink and White Gaura, Purple Passion Flower, Trumpet Creeper, Rattlesnake Master, Butterfly Weed, Prairie Dock, Memosa Tree, Mountain Mint, Wild Wood Sienna, Cup Plant, False Indigo, Swamp Hemlock, Wild Carrots, Queen Anne's Lace, Purple Heal-all, Cup Plant, Compass Plant, Purple Coneflower, Wild Bergamot, Niteshade and Prairie Medic. That is an impressive list of wildflowers and the cool thing is that the prairie is just getting started! The Howell Wetlands Prairie will continue to bloom well into October and some will even bloom into early November. Now is the time to start planning on a hike through the wildflowers ever other week. You will be amazed at what you will find each week.
Also, do you know this bird. It is another of the birds we found in Maramont Park in Redmond, WA. What a great local park for the people of Seattle. This is another of my lifelist birds from our trip to Seattle in June. The bird is a Lazuli Bunting and is a member of the family that includes our Indigo Bunting. It's song is very similar. One of the neat things is that people of the Pacific Northwest are just as thrilled to see our cardinals and indigo buntings because they are not found in the Pacific Northwest. No matter where you bird, you will find species that are unique to that area. Keep Birding, Even On Summer Vacation! You might just add more birds to your life list.
The bird in the photo is a Spotted Towhee. It is one of the 21 life list birds I got at our annual meeting in Seattle. It is a beautiful bird with a wonderful song.
Speaking of songs, have you noticed the continued singing of the cardinal, house wren and carolina wren? These birds sing all year long and some say they sing just for the enjoyment of singing but I think we all know it is to attract mates and to warn other males to stay away from their nesting territories. The house wren sings all year but we only hear them during the summer months because of their winter migration.
Hummingbird activity is picking up at the nectar feeders! The first brood of young should have left the nest in the past week or so and the adults are now preparing for their second nesting. We have had a female continualy at our feeders for the past few weeks. She has probably established a nest somewhere in our trees but I have not been able to follow her back to the nest. Look for male and female juveniles in the next couple of days. They will look like the adult female but will probably be hanging out with other juveniles.
American Goldfiches are starting to build nests and you will start to loose them from your feeders any day now. It usually takes about 30-45 days for the adults to nest and raise their young and then you will be graced by the entire family at your feeders in late August or early September, just in time for the males to loose their beautiful yellow and black plumage.
It is a Red-breasted Sapsucker and it was the star of the show during one of our WBU Annual Conference bird walks. The RBSU is only found along the Pacific Northwest Coast. It is one of the 21 life-list birds I was able to add during the past week. My total list of birds seen during our vacation on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Mt. Baker National Forest, Puget Sound and the Seattle areas is as follows with lifers in caps: Osprey, Great Horned Owl, American Robin, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, Warbling Vireo, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Winter Wren, Gray Jay, Stellar's Jay, Oregon Junco, American Crow, NORTHWESTERN CROW, Common Raven, BUSHTIT, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, VARIED THRUSH, PACIFIC LOON, Rock Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Bonepart's Gull, Franklin Gull, Yellow Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Great Blue Heron, Black Tern, Barn Swallow, Northern Flicker (red-shafted variation), Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Barn Owl, SPOTTED TOWHEE, Western Wood Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Tree Swallow, Common Merganser, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, Common Yellow-throat, Marsh Wren, VAUX SWIFT, Red-winged Blackbird, Mallard, BEWICK'S WREN, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, Downy Woodpecker, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, Red-eyed Vireo, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Creeper, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, Wood Duck, Savanah Sparrow, Bald Eagle, LAZULI BUNTING, Ring-billed Gull, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, HEERMAN'S GULL, COMMON MURRE, PIGEON GUILLEMOT, TUFTED PUFFIN, RHINOCEROS AUKLET, MARBLED MURRELET, PELAGIC CORMORANT, Brandt Cormorant, Double-creasted Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, and a lone Turkey Vulture. How is that for a list of birds? We had a great time and birded with some of the best birders in the United States. Most of the birds on this list were seen in city, state or national parks. The next time you are headed for the Pacific Northwest, stop in the store and borrow one of our birding guides. It will really help you add to your life list as well. It's good to be home and we have plenty of stories to tell so stop in the store and ask us to tell you a story or two! We have plenty of photographs to go along with the stories.
June 20, 2009: This morning as I was reading my bible lesson I was enthralled by the dozens of young birds that were coming to the feeders and were in the trees and lawn waiting for mom and pop to feed them. Just for the record, here are the families we presently have in our backyard habitat: Red-bellied woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Eastern Wood Pee-wee, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Common Grackle, Blue Jay, lots and lots of European Starlings and the really exciting discovery this morning was an adult Brown Thrasher feeding 2 juveniles Jim's Birdacious Bark Butter. This is the first time we have had juvenile brown thrashers in the yard and the first time the adults have been coming to the bark butter. When we released Jim's Birdacious Bark Butter last summer we said that it was unlike any food we have ever fed and that remains true to this day. Every bird in the yard is coming to the bark butter feeders. We even had a robin on our deck railing the other day picking up pieces of bark butter that was dropped by the juvenile starlings. We also got to see a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker guard the bark butter log. He/She was more than willing to mix it up with the other aggressive youngsters for his/her beloved bark butter. What a great time of year. I always marvel at those people who think you do not need to feed birds during the summer months. For us, it is one of the best times of the year because you get to see all of the young birds learn how to feed themselves.
One other thought before I leave everyone for a couple of weeks. (we are heading to the Pacific Northwest for some R&R and our annual convention and trade show) With temperatures scheduled to be in the 90's for most of the next 2 weeks, please make sure you are providing some type of fresh water for your birds!!!!!! Birds struggle to find fresh water during the summer months and they need a bunch of water to help them keep cool during these hot days. Please find time to get some type of fresh water to your feathered friends. They will greatly appreciate it.
June 4, 2000: The site has been active but I have been unable to update it because of technical glitches but all seems fixed now. I apologize to those who missed my last posts. You have probably noticed a real reduction in the number of bird songs in the early morning. What just a few short weeks ago sounded like a full symphony now resembles a violin solo. Most of the migrants have made their way through the tri-state and only the residents remain. Most of our resident species are either completing their first brood or are well into incubating their first brood. Wednesday of last week I saw 2 chickadee families, a titmouse family, 2 downy families, a red-belly family, a bluebird family, 3 or 4 starling families, and a Carolina wren family in my small yard. Our feeders are drained very quickly each morning and forget about keeping the Bark Butter feeders filled! On the other hand, we have shot some tremendous videos with our bird cam. The other day we had a male downy feeding his male fledgling. What a thrill to get that on the video card. I will be putting all of my images and videos on the store computer early next week for everyone to see. Keep a sharp eye out around your yard and you will get to see many young.
June 1, 2009: Several customers have come in lately concerned about the lack of hummingbird activity recently. Not to be worried. Female hummers are busy incubating eggs right now and they do not venture far from their nests. This time of year a hummingbird diet contains only small portions of nectar. They usually locate their nests close to a natural nectar source. The males are also concentrating their diets on insects, just like the females. This "lull" in feeder visits should continue for at least another 3-4 weeks until the first brood of young leave the nest and start trying to beef up for their journey south. At the same time, the males complete their last mating with the females and their attention turns to getting fat and sassy and heading south. That is when the feeders start to become very active and the activity continues to increase until it reaches it's peak in early September. Not To Worry Folks! They are still here and in large numbers. The May count at Howell Wetlands was one of the biggest in recent memory. We have lots of hummingbirds in the tri-state and before you know it you will need to fill those feeders on a regular basis. For now just sit back and relax. The feeding frenzy is not far away.
May 30, 2009: You probably thought I had forgotten to write! Not really, we have just been very busy getting ready for our annual WBU convention and show in Seattle, WA.
Birding has slowed down quite a bit recently. Most of the migrants have made their way through the tri-state and the residents are busy raising their young. The hike this morning at Howell Wetlands was full of residents and only one migrant but it was a good one. We found a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER this morning at the rear of the property. We also got really good looks at 3 female BLUE GROSBEAKS. We also got some looks at 2 juvenile RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS who must have fledged VERY recently. The CEDAR WAXWINGS are still in really big numbers. Just stake out the berry trees and you will get excellent looks at them. The PROTHONOTARY WARBLER is still singing his little heart out at the iron bridge. The 3 female BLUE GROSBEAKS were at the southern end of the prairie and at the western edge of the prairie, along Tekoeppel Ave. The wildflowers are really starting to bloom in the prairie. This morning the Beardstongue, coreopsis, butterfly weed, indigo and native honeysuckle were all in full bloom.
This was our last Saturday Morning hike until late September. We will be concentrating on our show orders for the next couple of weeks, then the show and finally some time off for knee surgery. That will keep me out of the wetlands until at least late August.
Keep watch in your backyards! This week we have had the opportunity to watch juvenile DOWNY WOODPECKERS, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, CAROLINA CHICKADEES, TUFTED TITMICE and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in our backyard. I can also hear young EASTERN PHOEBES but have yet to see them. I was cutting the grass yesterday (actually a hay baler would have been better) and an EASTERN WOOD PEEWEE kept following me and picking off insects that I flushed with my mowing. He finally came and sat on the hood of the tractor for a couple of seconds. I guess he wanted a better view of the insect offerings as I scared them up. It was fun to see him up close and personal. Keep an "eagle eye" out in your yard. You will be surprised what you will find. We are now up to 81 species in our yard for 2009.
May 19, 2009: I was having a conversation last evening with one of our customers who joins us regularly on our bird hikes. She asked me when I started birding and have I always been so passionate about it. The quick answers were: 8 years old, when my grandmother purchased a plastic model of a red-headed woodpecker and then insisted that we go out into the country to find the real thing so I could paint it the right colors. The other answer is NO. I also told her that her sons, and the other people who join us on our hikes, have really made me a better "birder" and a more passionate one to boot. A professor once told me the best way to learn is to teach and that is what I am doing now. I used to consider myself a casual birder until I started leading school children and customers on hikes around the tri-state. I realized I needed to make sure I could answer their questions and to make their time with me enjoyable. So, I read all that I could and made sure I could show them things that would ignite their passion. By so doing, I also reignited my passion and now I am a much better birder than I have ever been. Isn't it amazing how much we learn when we choose to teach! Try it some time.
For the record, I added two more species to our annual bird census at Howell Wetlands this morning. During my hike around the area I sighted a WILLOW FLYCATCHER and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO. The WILLOW FLYCATCHER was also a first for me ever at Howell Wetlands. That's what I mean by making myself a better birder. The Willow Flycatcher is a common bird in the midwest but it can go unnoticed by most of the people who walk in the Howell Woods. I knew that come Saturday morning we would run into this little guy again and Philip or one of the other participants would ask me what it was and I'd better be ready to tell them. Instead of just passing it off as "another one of those flycatchers" I stopped and took time to make sure I knew which one it was. I also studied it's song so I would be ready when, or if, this bird showed it's self during one of our hikes. Do I know every bird at the wetlands? NO, BUT I AM LEARNING FAST! Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
May 18, 2009: By now most bluebird landlords have had the opportunity for their first brood to wing their way into the cold, cruel world. We lost our first brood to house sparrows but their second attempt has been successful, as long as we continue keeping an eye on those pesky house sparrows. We have dozens of customers who have had successful broods already this year. We would love to hear from anyone who has had a successful fledging this spring. Each year we try to keep track of how many new bluebirds are fledged in the tri-state. We know the numbers are quite high but what we don't know is what the survival rate is. Keep us informed as much as you can. Photos are always welcome and we will try to post them on our website.
May 17, 2009: We were a little busy yesterday after the bird hike at Howell Wetlands to post the results. Thanks to all our customers who continue during these tough economic times to support Margi and I with our store and mission. Yesterday's hikes were not as productive as some but some very good birds were spotted and we had some really good looks at birds you usually do not get to see up close. Total species count for the two hikes was 51 species. 11 of those were warbler species. We had 3 of those were FOY (first of year) sightings. Just before I pulled into the parking lot Yvonne and Joe Harris spotted 3 GREAT EGRETS flying over the wetlands. These large white heron type birds are beautiful and graceful and I am sorry I missed them but since someone in our group spotted them we get to count them in the yearly total. BTW, Our Howell Wetlands count is now up to 136 species for the year and 167 species since I started keeping track in 2005. A very respectable total for an urban setting such as Howell Wetlands. In addition to the GREAT EGRETS we also spotted several WILSON'S WARBLERS and a couple of ACADIAN FLYCATCHERS. Both are new to the yearly and lifetime list for Howell. The Wilson's Warbler is not a rare bird in Indiana but it is very seldom seen at Howell. We had several counted last week during the Audubon Spring Bird Count so I was not surprised when we spotted them yesterday. I was however, THRILLED. This was only the 2nd or 3rd time in my life that I have been able to record sightings for the Wilson's. The Acadian Flycatcher is also a very good bird to see. It is migrating through right now and we got some very good looks at the bird. Howell Wetlands is still teeming with a good variety of birds right now. A complete listing of the birds seen can be found at the Nature Alert section of this website.
We are still holding bird hikes each Saturday in May, with the last ones being held on the 30th. Hikes start at 7:00 and 8:30am at the Howell Wetlands parking lot. We are also holding a hike this afternoon at 5:00pm at Howell.
May 13, 2009: Many of our customers have been asking how the Ohio Valley Birding Festival and the Audubon Spring Bird Count came out. In one word, GREAT! All of the numbers are in on the OVBF but the Spring Bird Count is still being compiled. Despite the weather, not a single bird hike was cancelled. 95 people took part in the hikes, another 300-400 took advantage of the Family Day activities at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve and we had hikers from Ohio, New Mexico and Tennessee. 134 species of birds were sighted on all the hikes. A list of the uncommon birds found during the festival can be found at our Nature Alert section of this website.
The Audubon Big May Bird Count will have at least 120 species of birds and well over 3,000 individuals. If you would like to become a part of the Tri-state birding community please come to our next Audubon Society Chapter meeting next Tuesday evening at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 19th at the Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve at 7:00pm. See you there.
May 11, 2009: Migrants continue to pour into the tri-state today. This morning there were more tanagers and orioles in our yard than I can ever remember. We also had 5 warbler species in our trees this morning: Magnolia, Mourning, Kentucky, Cape May and Black-throated Green. We also had Warbling Vireos and a Yellow-throated Vireo. Now is the time to visit a local nature area! It does not matter which one. Just show up, take a hike and listen and look. You will more than likely add a significant number of new birds to your life list. This is the peak of migration. Now is the time to spend some time out of doors.
May 10, 2009: The 2009 Audubon Spring Bird Count was held yesterday and a group of us counted Howell Wetlands. A complete listing of the birds we counted can be found at our Nature Alert section of this site. With the 9 new species for 2009 in the record books, we now have found 133 species of birds at Howell Wetlands during the 2009 WBU Bird Hikes. Not bad for an urban setting that just a few years ago was considered a dump and wasteland! The Reader's Digest version of the count at Howell is: Species Found - 84, Individuals Counted - 405. Highlights included: Common Nighthawk, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, lots of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Veery, Blue Grosbeak, and the following WARBLER SPECIES:
TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE, NORTHERN PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, CAPE MAY, YELLOW-RUMPED, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, YELLOW-THROATED, PINE, PALM, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, BLACK & WHITE, AMERICAN REDSTART, PROTHOTARY, WORM-EATING, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. WOW!!! It was an increadible day for warblers. Now is the time to get out and see some of the most colorful birds of the year. The orioles, warblers, grosbeaks and tanagers are really putting on a show right now. Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, Eagle Slough, Howell Wetlands and Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area are teeming with all these colorful migrants. If you would like to borrow a pair of binoculars just give us a call.
May 7, 2009: I spent the day at home yesterday and watched the feeders and read most of the day. Thank God for a rainy day so I didn't have to do yard work! I noticed a lot of strange bird behavior yesterday, most of which I had no idea what was going on. It was verey relaxing to be able to just sit and watch birds for awhile. I know most people think that is all Margi and I do but in reality we do very little sitting and watching. Every once in awhile we need to just STOP and watch for awhile.
It appears we had a final species count of around 200 species of birds sighted during the birding festival. I personally sighted, or heard, 103 species. If I would have gone on the Friday trip I would have added another 41 species to that list. A great weekend for birdwatching. This weekend also promises to be a very special weekend. Saturday is the annual Audubon BIG COUNT DAY here in Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties. We still need people to assist us with our bird counts, especially in Warrick County. I will begin my count early on Saturday morning at Howell Wetlands. I am asking anyone who wishes to count with me to be at the main Wetlands parking lot by 6:00am. I will be there between 3:00 and 4:00am to count owls but the real count does not begin until 6:00am. I will count until noon but others are encouraged to continue the count in those areas we do not get covered. This is a very in-depth count and we will be taking our sweet time with each and every habitat at the wetlands. Please consider joining us for at least part of the count and help us get a good count of the species at the Wetlands. Last year was only 72 species but the year before we hit 101. Out goal this year is once again 100 species.
May 5, 2009: Well, what a weekend! We just concluded another successful Ohio Valley Birding Festival and despite the threatening weather, everyone had a great time. We have not completed the head count or species count but we should be around 150-175 species. I did not go on the Friday trip to Patoka NWR or Cane Ridge NWR but they tallied about 120 species, or so the reports said. I personally had 103 species and never left Evansville, except for a hike at Bluegrass FWA yesterday morning. The birds were not as numerous as last year but we got some really good looks at several warbler, oriole, tanager and thrushes. Highlights included: All 7 major thrush species at Wesselman Woods on Saturday. They were: Bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush and Robin. We counted 27 Swainson's Thrushes on one hike. The real highlight on Saturday was a Tulip Poplar tree at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve that held 16 species of birds: Cedar Waxwings, Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Summer Tanagers, Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-eyed Vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, Palm Warblers, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Black and White Warbler! All these birds in one huge Tulip Tree. It made birding very easy. The tree looked like a Christmas Tree with all the colors jumping around. If you get the time this week, make sure you pay a visit to Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve! Ask the staff to point you to the nearest Tulip Poplar Tree and then just camp out underneath it. Make sure you change positions from time to time to find different viewing angles. You may be treated to a load of colors. Thanks to everyone who made this past weekend a wonderful success.
May 1, 2009: We are just one species away from our target of 120 species at Howell Wetlands. This morning we added the Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird, Tennessee Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, and the Swainson's Thrush. We should be able to notch at least 130 species by the end of the summer and who knows about the fall migration. Maybe 150 is still a remote possiblity.
April 30, 2009: The Ohio Valley Birding Festival kicked off this morning with a rather soggy bird hike at Eagle Slough, led by Steve Heeger. We had 5 diehard birders in attendance and the birds did not disappoint. We ended with 63 species, 14 of which were wood warblers. We also got a really good look at a first year male summer tanager. The birding festival runs through Sunday with 14 more scheduled hikes and lots of interesting activities at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve. We also have several workshops and seminars scheduled at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve and Audubon State Park, in Henderson. For a complete list of events go to the tab on our home page. A complete list of species can be found at the Nature Alert tab on the home page. Hope to see you at many of the events this weekend.
April 29, 2009: Hey Gang! We just got back from spending several days with the grandkids and needless to say bird watching was not part of the activities. Getting a 2 and 4 year old to stand still for bird watching is like trying to herd cats. In fact I think herding cats might be easier. Reports, and photos, are coming in from all corners of the tri-state about Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Warblers and Vireos. This weekend's Ohio Valley Birding Festival could not come at a better time. I would be shocked if the weekend count did not reach well over 125 species of birds and 100 bird walk participants. Please go to the OHIO VALLEY BIRDING FESTIVAL tab for details on all the activities. The walks start at 7:00am tomorrow morning at Eagle Slough and continue all the way until late Sunday afternoon. We hope to see ALL of you at one or two of the activities this weekend.
April 25, 2009: Am I a prophet or what! This was one of our best hike days ever at Howell Wetlands. Species count was only 69 but it was the quality of birds that really made the difference. The spring migration is in full swing and the most colorful birds of the season are now in the house! The complete list will be posted at the Nature Alert section of the website. The FOY (first of the year) species were: GREEN HERON, LEAST SANDPIPER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, GREAT-CREASTED FLYCATCHER, WHITE-EYED VIREO, RED-EYED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, HOODED WARBLER, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING AND THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE! Add this beautiful birds to the Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (they were everywhere!), Yellow-throated Warber, Prairie Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and the Louisiana Waterthrush and you have the makings for a fabulous birding day. Spring birds are at their peak right now. Do not miss an opportunity to see the best the Tri-state has to offer. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OUTSIDE AND THE BIRDS ARE WAITING FOR YOU!!
April 24, 2009: Well, we finally had a visit by Rosey today. (rose-breasted grosbeaks) We had several in the trees and 4 at the feeders for most of the morning. This is about 1 week later than normal. We also had a Eastern Kingbird this morning, a very early visitor to the Griffith zoo. I also heard, but could not but my glasses on, a Prairie Warbler and a Yellow Warbler. They are very elusive birds. This weekend will be a fantastic weekend for migrants. Tomorrow's bird walks at 7 and 8:30 should yield at least 60 species.
April 23, 2009: The weather forecast looks great for spring migrants. We are going to have a major storm front from the south followed closely for 3 or 4 days of high winds from the south. This usually means a major influx of spring migrants into the tri-state. Start looking for Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Orioles. Also, if you get a chance, head out to Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve, Eagle Slough, Angel Mounds or of course, HOWELL WETLANDS. All of these properties are loaded with colorful Wood Warblers. We are receiving reports of Yellow, Prothonotary, Prairie, Black & White, Palm and many other warblers.This is the very best time of the year for colorful warblers.
Join us Saturday morning at 7 or 8:30 at Howell Wetlands main parking lot. We promise to give you good looks at some of our most colorful spring migrants. (pretty confident ain't I!)
April 22, 2009: WOW WHAT A DAY!!! Left the house a little after 5:00am this morning for a great Evansville Audubon field trip to Goose Pond Wildlife Area in Greene County. We had a fabulous day with Lee Sterrenburg as our guide. We tallied 65 species for the day. The highlights included the first Common Loon ever recorded at Goose Pond or Bee Hunter Marsh, a Peregrine Falcon, Ruddy Duck and a beautiful male Yellow Warbler. We also saw and heard plenty of wetland birds such as Sora, American Bittern, Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers and Wilson's Snipe. We also saw several mature and immature bald eagles and was two nests. Goose Pond is quickly becoming one of the premier shorebird sites in the midwest, and in my estimation one of the best in the country. It is managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. We may put together a trip in the near future for our customers. It is something you should not miss.
I also birded Howell Wetlands after we got back from the Goose Pond trip and had real good success with over 34 species in less than one hour. The highlights of the Howell Wetlands walk was a male PRAIRIE WARBLER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, all FOY sightings.
April 21, 2009: The spring migration patterns are in full swing. We have had many reports of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Blue Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles and countless vireo and warbler species visiting the tri-state. While doing yardwork this morning and early afternoon I heard a Warbling Vireo and a Yellow Warbler in my yard. That brings our yearly total to 78 species in our yard. We also had a good news-bad news day as far as bird families go. I am sad to say that we lost our bluebird family to a House Sparrow. I have taken steps to see that it does not happen again! The good news is that we now have a family of mallards on the lake. This morning we saw a female mallard with 11 day ducklings following her down the lake. She brought them ashore in our yard and there she bedded down with all 11 tucking themselves under her outstreached wings. As always with nature, there will be good news and bad news.
April 18, 2009: GREAT DAY FOR BIRDING!!!! What a wonderful day for birding at Howell Wetlands. The spring migration is in full swing and there were really cool birds everywhere. What was new? PALM WARBLER, BLACK & WHITE WARBLER, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, PURPLE FINCH and a single RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. There were also 5 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS hanging out around the oxbow and the creek leading into the oxbow. We got really good looks at both males and females. Philip Lax took some really cool photos of the Prothonotary male singing. I know Steve Gifford also took some great photos as well. The next two weeks are the peak of the birding season and you can bet you will be able to find me most days at the wetlands. To miss this time of the year is to miss God's gifts to us. Plan on catching some of the color soon.
April 17, 2009: I spent 2.5 hours at the wetlands this morning and found 49 species with 4 of them new for the year. The FOY birds were: Solitary Sandpipers, Nashville Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo and Black Vulture. It seems we are a little behind on our spring migrants at the wetlands. Usually for the Earth Day Celebration we have more warblers, especially the yellow and common yellow-throats but no such luck. On the positive side, we still have plenty of Louisiana Waterthrushes, Hermit Thrushes and Wood Thrushes. The Chimney Swifts are back and that is about 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. The hybird teal seems to be gone now with just a male and female Blue-winged Teal remaining. We still had a bunch of Cedar Waxwings at the wetlands this morning, but I didn't get a chance to see my second favorite bird, the Prothonotary Warbler. He was MIA today.
Earth Day At Howell Wetlands is tomorrow, (Saturday)! We will lead 2 bird hikes at our usual times (7 and 8:30) and the games, booths and other activities start at 10:00am. Parking is at the Howell Park Pool lot. The bird hikes will start at the Howell Park side of the wetlands. Shuttles will take you around to the other festivities starting at 9:45am.
April 16, 2009: The warblers have returned just in time for this weekend's Earth Day celebration at Howell Wetlands. Birding Hikes start at 7:00am and then at 8:30am. Meet at the Howell Park parking lot. We will start the hikes at the Howell Park side of the wetlands. I received a call today from another birder and he found the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Common Yellowthroat Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Louisiana Warbler and a Yellow Warbler at the wetlands this morning. In one hour he counted 61 species of birds at the wetlands. Just in time for a wonderful weekend birding experience.
April 13, 2009: This weekend is the 4th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Howell Wetlands Nature Area. Hikes begin at 7:00am and activities, games and workshops begin at 10:00. Come join us for great fun and educational opportunities. Of course we really encourage everyone to take advantage of the numerous hikes throughout the day. Howell Wetlands is one of the most unique areas in the region, and it is right in the middle of Evansville.
Margi and I were thrilled yesterday as we checked a bluebird box we erected at Oaklyn Library on Oak Hill Rd. As I approached the box a female Eastern Bluebird flew from the box. I opend the box and found 6 beautiful pale blue eggs! Thst's right! Right in the middle of town we have a young female who chose to raise her family at Oaklyn Library. It just shows that no matter where you are, if you have enough open space, there is always a chance to have bluebirds nest in your yard. Check them out the next time you go to the library, please, respect the young mother and do not open the box. I will keep everyone informed of the young family's progress.
Here are some photos from this past weekend's bird hikes at Howell Wetlands. Thanks to Steve Gifford for these great photos.
April 12, 2009: Happy Eastern everyone! For those of you who have heard me speak before you know I strongly recommend the Indiana Audubon Society photo site on Flickr. Some of the best wildlife photographers in the country display their photos at www.flickr.com/groups/iasphotos. There is one local photographer on the site who does outstanding work! His name is Steve Gifford. Customers have seen Steve's work in the store during the annual photo contest. His "Fighting Hummingbirds" photo tied for second in the bird category this year. His web page can be reached at this address. Please take time to view Steve's photo pages. The majority of the photos are taken locally. In fact many of them have been taken while on bird hikes sponsored by our store. He's the one carrying the cannon around his neck!. Steve does great work. Make sure to check out his Flickr site.
April 11, 2009: What a great day at Howell Wetlands! The 7:00am hike had treat after treat after treat. We started the day with over 45 tree swallows in a tree right next to the parking lot. From there it just kept getting better and better. On the bridge across west end of the oxbow we found a male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER, one of my two favorite birds. As we were enjoying this beautiful yellow bird, I motioned to Steve Gifford to join us but he was busy photographing two BARRED OWLS who decided to grace the trees along the boardwalk. (See Steve's Flickr here.) We enjoyed the views of the owls and then headed to the northeast part of the park where we found a flowering tree with over 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS (these are my favorite birds). We totaled 55 species in all. You can see a complete list for the day at our Nature Alert page on this website. The weather was beautiful and the company was excellent. Thanks to all who joined me. Join us next week during the Howell Wetlands Earth Day Celebration. Bird Hikes start at 8 and 9 am, but I will be out there very early to scope things out. See you there.
April 9, 2009: HAPPY BIRDDAY KATIE (my daughter) Good day at Howell Wetlands this morning. I stopped by on my way back from a speaking engagement and tallied 48 species. Five of them were new to the 2009 Birding List. They were: Lesser Yellowlegs (shorebird), Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Parula Warbler, Veery (thrush), and Clay-colored Sparrow. I also spotted 2 warbler species but they were too high up with poor lighting to have a positive ID. This weather pattern should move a lot of new spring migrants into the Tri-State. The hybrid teal was back again today. They are now spending most of their time on the east side of the iron bridge. Join us Saturday for our weekly bird hikes! We begin at 7:00am and 8:30am. See you there.
April 8, 2009: Couple of quick notes; Yesterday was supposed to be the date of the Dark-eyed Junco exodus. It is the date when the majority of the Juncos should be gone from the southern 1/3 o Indiana. Well, our Juncos forgot to read the instruction manual. We had 5 at the feeders this morning and even more at the feeding stations at Wesselman Woods Nature Center. Perhaps they like the food and company so well they've decided to postpone returning to their old stomping grounds. What ever the case, we will be losing these little guys soon and the White-throated Sparrows won't be far behind. Enjoy them while you can.
The second point is the return of all of the neo-tropical birds from Central and South America. There is a website called BadBirdz II that actually downloads the radar images each evening from Key West FL. Monday night's radar realy showed the HUGE flocks of birds coming on shore from their spring migration. I usually assume I will see the spring migration flush of warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers and orioles about 10-15 days after these huge overnight radar loops. That would put the first BIG rush at about the 17th - 20th. Just in time for the Howell Wetlands Earth Day bird hikes!! Don't miss those folks. Click on the BadBirdz II like above to watch the radar loops for the previous evening. (make sure you view the radar images from April 6th)
April 7, 2009: May 9 is the scheduled day for the 2009 Audubon Society Annual Spring Bird Count. This year there will be an official count in both Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties. Brian Taylor will be the coordinator for both counts. We need a lot of volunteers to help with both counts. People may help by joining a counting team or simply counting the birds in your back yard. I will be counting Howell Wetlands (that's a shock isn't it?). I encourage everyone to consider joining a counting team and having a wonderful day in nature on May 9th. My count day will begin a little earlier than most people would like but everyone is encouraged to join the count when you can. I will be at Howell Welands around 4:30am to count owls. I will leave the wetlands around noon.
Why are teams necessary? Just last week we did a staff training exercise at the wetlands. Nancy, Kimberly, Jim and Lee Ann joined me for an hour hike through the wetlands. We ended up spotting 39 species of birds on a very difficult day. The only reason we saw that many species is because we had 5 pair of eyes scanning every inch of the understory and canopy. There were several birds I did not see but other members of the group spotted because they were looking in a different direction than I. Studies have shown that you miss almost 25% of the resident birds when you bird alone. Join us on the 9th and help us reach our goal of 140 species in Warrick and 130 species in Vanderburgh counties. My goal for Howell Wetlands is 100 species. I will never reach that number alone.
April 4, 2009: What a wonderful day for a walk in the woods. That is what 14 people found out this morning. The total species count for the day was 51 with the real excitement for the day was a small covey of Bobwhite Quail found at the back meadow area. The Bobwhite Quail is an Audubon Society species of special concern. Loss of habitat and a huge increase in predation has decimated the quail numbers throughout the midwest. To have these little guys and gals right in the heart of Evansville is really exciting.
The hybrid Teal also made another appearance. That's 3 days in a row and it is probably the most photographed bird ever in the tri-state. Many of our customers have "flocked" to the site and have brought their cameras. It is truly a once in a lifetime bird. We also saw several Spotted Sandpipers this morning, also a first of the year bird.
Things are really heating up at the wetlands. Howell is not the only birding hotspot heating up right now. Evan Speck is birding Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area hard right now and is seeing some great birds there. The next 6 weeks is the very best time to get out and see our birds in all their glory. Plan on spending time with Mother Nature.
April 3, 2009: Attached is a photo of the hybrid teal which has been at Howell Wetlands the last few days. The hybrid (male on the left) has been seen close to a female Blue-winged (center back) and in the company of 2 other normal male Blue-winged Teal (center front). Again, this is a hybrid between the Blue-winged Teal and the Cinnamon Teal.
April 2, 2009: Every once in awhile we find ourselves at the right place and the right time. Today was one of those days! I took an hour out of the middle of the day and birded Howell Wetlands on the way back from installing a pole system for an elderly lady. At the iron bridge I found 3 ducks who at first glance appeared to be Blue-winged Teal. Two of them were normal Blues but the third was a HYBRID Blue-winged Teal/Cinnamon Teal cross! This was a magnificant bird. It was a rich cinnamon color with all the markings of a cinnamon but with the white crescent behind the beak and the white patch at the base of the tail. I stood and watched these 3 ducks for a long time and really didn't get as much birding done as I had hoped. I am going back tomorrow morning with a camera to see if I can get some shots. If you see these birds, let me know!
March 31, 2009: We are at the end of another month and just that much closer to the return of our summer visitors. The staff and I took a short walk at Howell Wetlands this morning, just ahead of the rain. At first the birding was pretty slow but it picked up pretty quickly as we approached the boardwalk section of the trail. In just one hour we totaled 38 species. Most of the birds were residents but we were able to add 4 new FOY (first of year) birds to our annual list. They were: Louisiana Waterthrush (actually a small wetland warbler), Hermit Thrush, Eastern Towhee and the Yellow-throated Warbler. If we would have had more time before the rain, I believe we would have added at least 3 more to the FOY list.
We will be adding a lot of bird hikes during April and May. I encourage everyone to find time to join at least one of our hikes during this most exciting time of the year. I will be at Howell Wetlands every Saturday at 7:00am and again at 8:30am for a hike. I will also try to schedule a couple of mid week walks for those who have requested them. We want to identify at least 120 species of birds at Howell Wetlands during the months of April and May. Come join the fun.
