Well, we certainly did see a treasure trove of interesting wildlife that Saturday! From owl pellets, to Ash trunks, to Green Herons, it certainly was a thrilling day for both our kids AND our nature-loving adults! Kim showed us some owl pellets that were most likely regurgitated by either a Northern Screech Owl or a Great Horned Owl. Our kids were so sharp that nearly all of them already knew that owl pellets are pieces of bone and fur that owls can't digest and simply regurgitate up. That was WAY impressive! Kim then showed us the unfortunate remnants of the course's Ash trees and explained how the notoriously destructive Emerald Ash Borer was responsible for destroying them to the point where they had to be cut down. I think that the highlight for everyone, though, was pausing alongside a pond and catching incredible glimpses of both a Green Heron and a Belted Kingfisher! Everyone was able to appreciate the beauty of these two birds close up; the resplendent green of the Green Herons' feathers and the industrial nature of the Belted Kingfisher's bill were both beautiful sights to behold, indeed.
All in all, we saw a total of 11 bird species that included the Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Turkey Vulture (flying really low overhead!), Black-capped Chickadee, Red-tailed Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Mourning Dove and Mallard Duck. We had a great time and learned a LOT about what neat things you can find in places that you might not expect.Thanks again, Kim!
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| Kim telling us about the devastation that Emerald Ash Borers caused on former Ash trees like this one |
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| Tommy proudly showing off his good lookin' feather that he found on the course! |
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| It's a bird! It's a plane! Wait, it is a bird...it's a Belted Kingfisher! |
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| How many goofy nature nuts can fit on one log? Quite a few, actually! |
