It Really IS Spring!

After last years blast into summer temperatures, I've been happy to see some cooler temperatures lead into spring this year.  Although, it hasn't helped me be able to find time to post some blogs.  Let's just say that the birds are finally getting on campus.  A small group of us are heading out at lunch to put some time in the woods and hopefully pull some great things out.  BUT the species list for the year is already up to 55 with only a few warblers checking in already. 

Chipping Sparrow

Tom added Yellow-rumped, Palm, and Pine Warblers to the species total.  This morning I heard my FOY and the FOY for West Campus of Yellow Warbler.  The swallows have all checked in for the year, we've had flyby's of Barn and Tree.  Barn Swallows usually nest on campus although last year they nested somewhere near by.  As has happened that last two springs, a few Northern Rough-winged Swallows stopped by the Collections Study Center to see if there were any vacant holes in the wall to nest in. 

Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Rather than try to even recap the first part of the year I'll just give you a comparison.  This week in January we had 16 species on campus.  In February about the same time of the month we had 18 species for the week.  March this time, had crawled up to 22 species with some of the blackbirds showing up for the first time.  Here is the list of last weeks birds a total of 28 species! 


American Kestrel

April 15-19
Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Rock Pigeon, European Starling, house Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Killdeer, American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Tufted Titmouse, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and Double-crested Cormorant!