Raptor Nestlings

We have had both Great Horned Owls nest and Red-Tail Hawks nest at Osborne Nature Center near the Volga River.  A Great Horned Owlet (young owl) was spotted two weeks ago in his nest and had nearly all his flight feathers. Two Red-Tail Hawk Nestlings have also been observed and will be leaving the next within the next two weeks. Stop in the office to inquire about the nest location.

Grape Jam

A friend of mine from Elkader recently reported the stores in Clayton County were running low on grape jam.  This comes during a time when Baltimore Oriole's are flocking to hummingbird feeders and grape jam feeders by the dozens. Several avid birder's in the county have reported seeing the most Oriole's in years, one couple reported they needed to fill their grape jam feeders nearly 4 times a day!  The less common Orchard Oriole has also been spotted at several jam feeders. So now is the time to brighten up your day! Set some grape or rasberry jam out in a small container and watch the color come your way.

Is spring here

Although it does not fully feel like spring has arrived yet, reports of grey mushrooms and nesting bluebirds have come through the Osborne Welcome  and Nature Center. Last week, while checking our bluebird boxes, I found two bluebirds who were sitting on a full brood of eggs. I also have noticed several species of warblers coming through the area including the easy to spot yellow rumped warbler. This bird is easy to identify by the bright yellow patch on its rump-hence its name.  Regardless of the dreary weather, the signs are fastly approaching-letting us know spring is here.

Junior Naturalist Camp 2011

The Junior Naturalist Camp season has started at Osborne Nature Center. The Junior Naturalist Camp is held during the summer at Osborne. The camp is open to Clayton County 6-8th grade students. The Junior Naturalist program focuses on exploring nature and the environment. Activities are led by Naturalists at Osborne Center, local resource specialists and sportsmen. Each grade level has a different theme and participates in a variety of activities. Some activities include: geocaching, canoeing, tubing, archery, night hikes, Bird ID, and survival skills. Sign up quickly as the deadline is May 18, 2011.

For more information simply vist the LINK below for a copy of the Junior Naturalist Brochure.

http://www.claytoncountyconservation.org/JNPbrochure11.pdf

Northern Mockingbird

This past weekend I was able to observe or Northern Mockingbird on the east side of Colesburg. This was a life bird for me, which means I had never seen it before. After several minuets of watching the bird and using my field guide I was able to i.d. it.  Northern Mockingbirds are not common in Northeast Iowa, their home range is further south and east. However, the birds are wanderer's and often can travel long distances looking for food. The bird may most be famous for its song, which can mimic dozens of other animals and human sounds. Mockingbirds are also known to sing at night. 

Cheers, to you finding a bird you've never seen!

Binoculars

Recently, through an Alpine Grant and various donations from residents and buisnesses in Elkader, we were able to purchase 20 pairs of Eagle Optics Binoculars to use for both school programs and public programs.  This has been a goal for over a year for me and I am very thankfull and excited to use them in the programs. We also purchased 10 Bird Field Guides so the children will be able to observe birds and identify them through use of field guides.  Introducing children to wildlife through up-close eyes is a great way to get them started on the life long path of observing and caring for the natural environment.  The best part is birds can be found anywhere outdoors, no matter if your watching through a bus window, a classroom window, or out on the playground, students can see something tangible  in nature and learn to identify/classify it.