Claude’s River Survey: May 6, 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 Categories: Murmurations, News Corner

Each month, Claude Morris leads an ecological survey on the Colorado River. Participants bring their own canoes and kayaks. On May 6th, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

What a difference a few weeks make in the peak of the spring migrations! This survey we recorded 7 species that we did not get last month. Some of these are First-of-Season sightings for me. Summer Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles and Yellow-billed Cuckoo are my migration highlights. Other migratory birds included: Mississippi Kites, Green Heron, Painted Bunting, Barn Swallow and Great Crested Flycatcher. We also found Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker. The best of the day was a Bald Eagle. All kinds of Butterflies are out. I cannot remember all the species but there were three of the Swallowtail variety, Hackberry Emperor, Whites…. Water temperature are still a bit chilly and we saw few snakes and turtles. The turtles were coming out later in the morning.

39 species (+1 other taxa)

Wood Duck 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 3
Green Heron 4
Black Vulture 20
Turkey Vulture 34
Mississippi Kite 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Spotted Sandpiper 15
White-winged Dove 2
Mourning Dove 4
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Barred Owl 1
hummingbird sp. 1
Green Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 7
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Crested Caracara 1
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 7
Western Kingbird 1
White-eyed Vireo 10
American Crow 11
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 17
Tufted Titmouse 4
Carolina Wren 18
Northern Mockingbird 1
Northern Parula 4
Summer Tanager 5
Northern Cardinal 42
Painted Bunting 15
Great-tailed Grackle 5
Orchard Oriole 4
Baltimore Oriole 24
House Finch 2
House Sparrow 5

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