Trip Report: Crane Island 4-30-22

We had a large turnout for our last scheduled trip of the season. Since I am not traveling this May, I may schedule another trip if I see reports of species we have not seen on our regularly scheduled trips. Due to the large turnout I divided the group into a team led by me and another led by Theresa Hartz. At the half way point we combined teams for the balance of the trip. Theresa’s team reported 46 species and my team had close to the same at 48. What is striking is that my group missed 7 species that Theresa’s group had while covering the same ground. Our group had 11 species not on Theresa’s list. The total species observed was 57. Because birds move around, timing is often a matter of chance. Of course, the more time spent in the field the greater chance of seeing more species. During the last week, different birders reported over 70 species at Crane Island and the Bailey Rd. Soccer fields. Here are the highlights from yesterday: Swallow-tailed Kite, Red-headed Woodpecker, Bobolinks, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and Blackpoll Warbler.