Last Counts for 2007

On the afternoon of Dec 31, 2007, we conducted the final butterfly survey of the year. Given the falling temperatures, we weren't very hopeful, but we did spot 4 separate species: gulf fritillary, long-tailed skipper, cloudless sulphur, and red admiral.

We also conducted an informal bird count that morning. Our goal is to reinstate the traditional bird surveys in 2008. Species seen or heard during the count were:

Great Blue Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

Other birds not spotted during the count but seen during the week include:
Belted Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
House Finch

The pair of Great Blue Herons that we saw were next to a nest. These birds don't generally start actively nesting until late February or March, and will usually nest in colonies. The nest is located on the western side of the Southern Nature trail, on the leg going to the Wildlife Garden.

We have quite an impressive vulture roost here. It is in the southern area of the swamps, near the Southern Nature Trail and the Perimeter Trail. Conservatively, I would estimate 150 to 200 black and turkey vultures roosting in the evenings. This is truly an unusual and impressive sight in the evenings as you can not only see but here these birds coming in to roost for the night.

If you have any interesting sightings out here at the gardens, please feel free to let us know where and when!