A group of Iowa Ornithologists Union
(IOU) birders, binoculars or cameras around their necks, bird books and/or cell
phone apps at the ready, mud boots on—begin to walk down the
wildflower strewn and muddy path into Croton. The car doors had
barely been shut when it began:
 |
| Field Trip Leader Brandon Caswell (reddish shirt) made sure everyone spotted numerous birds--and he knew them all. |
“Heard a hummer.” “There—over
there (points)--a great crested”...”There's a yellow
throated.—perched at 1 o'clock to the right of that dead tree....”
There's another. Can you call in the tanager, (bird sounds from
phone).” Quick! Red-headed woodpecker flew over.” “Heard a
pileated last week here.” “Yes—its an indigo bunting.” “First
of the year---there's a white-eyed”...smiles all around with each
calling out of a sighting of another bird, as the binoculars swing
toward the direction indicated. “Where did you say? I see it...is
it a Nashville or a warbling.”
And so it goes as we walk among the
absolutely amazing wildflowers, climb over a couple of down trees and
continue on down the path and across a rushing stream with birds that
vary from tiny specks to buzzard size flit around. We are in
the Bird Conservation Area - the Croton Unit of Shimek State Forest,
located in Lee County, Iowa. Its a treasure! By your author's best
efforts to count, at least 20 different types birds were identified
in about an hour at the Croton Unit by this serious group of birders.
The birders are from all over the state and were attending the IOU's annual
meeting which was held in Keosauqua, IA and featured birding trips to
Lacey-Keosauqua State park and the Keosauqua Unit of Shimek, the
Farmington and Donnellson Units of Shimek, Lick Creek and, of course,
the Croton Unit.
With Saturday May 4th a lovely sunny day,
Croton was converged upon by birders, wildflower enthusiasts, and
mushroomers while equestrians were pouring into Lick Creek. You
could not fail to find something of great interest today at Shimek!
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