Máistir Nádúraí: Bridge Birds are Back!

4.01.2014

Bridge Birds are Back!

Eastern Phoebe

Millions of migratory birds took advantage of southerly winds on Sunday and Monday. Recent arrivals at Pheasant Branch Conservancy include Fox Sparrows, Purple Finches, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Eastern Phoebes. The phoebes build nests under the trail bridges along the creek corridor. In fact, there's usually a phoebe at every bridge, including Parmenter Street and Century Avenue. Very soon, Yellow-rumped Warblers will be back at the conservancy, and then Pine Warblers, then Louisiana Waterthrushes, and then … and then ... everything!

Eastern Phoebe © 2014 Mike McDowell

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.