Máistir Nádúraí: The Woods

5.13.2021

The Woods

"I found far more answers in the woods than I ever did in the city."

― Mary Davis

With winds finally coming out of the south for favorable migration, things have really picked up the past couple of days. Yesterday I found my third Prothonotary Warbler of spring, and this morning a gorgeous male Black-throated Blue Warbler ― my favorite bird. Also new for me were Bay-breasted Warbler and Canada Warbler. When early morning birding was still a little on the slow side, I used my smart phone to photograph some of my favorite spots around Pheasant Branch's creek corridor. You probably can see why this location attracts so many migratory songbirds ― there's water, cover, and plenty of insects to eat. My favorite time to arrive is just as the sun is coming up through the trees and the avian chorus begins its morning crescendo.

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.