On November 22, 13 enthusiastic birders met at the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area Visitor Center for an afternoon of birding. Though the skies were gray and there was a chill in the air, spirits were lifted when 2 Whooping Cranes were in sight before the field trip was even underway. As we caravanned around the property, we saw 4 Trumpeter Swans, multiple Northern Harriers, Rough-legged Hawks, and numerous Canvasbacks to name a few of the 39 species of birds we recorded that day. The highlight for the outing occurred just before dusk when we observed 8 Short-eared Owls flying over the fields in search of prey. Special thanks to Whitney and Jonathan Yoerger who did a fantastic job in leading this field trip.
Photo courtesy of Chuck Anderson.