Muddy Trails and 40 Species of Birds at Banshee Reeks
Photo by Michael Sciortino
Continuing a recent trend, a relatively large group of birders (32 people including the leaders) came out for the monthly bird walk at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve on February 10. We split into two groups. Michael Sciortino and John Denice took their group north and west finding 31 species of birds before circling back to the Visitors Center. Joe Coleman and Mary Ann Good took their group east before returning by the beaver pond and the silos, finding 35 species.
The highlights of the walks were: six Hairy Woodpeckers; three immature Bald Eagles; two well-seen Fox Sparrows; and, three Hermit Thrushes.
For a complete list of the 40 bird species observed on the walk see the lists below, or view on eBird at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S161108533 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S161106074.
Because there is extensive discussion about allowing equestrian access to Banshee Reeks, both groups made a point of noticing what condition the trails were in, and if they would be able to accommodate horses. Even though it hadn’t rained or snowed in over a week, we noticed that the trails were muddy in several locations and the majority of the trails we walked were too narrow to accommodate horses and people without cutting back a lot of the vegetation, which would not benefit a nature preserve.
Group 1 Species List
Canada Goose 108
Mallard 8
duck sp. 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 7
Ring-billed Gull 2
Bald Eagle 3 Immature
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 9
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 6
Northern Flicker 2
Blue Jay 25
American Crow 15
Fish Crow 3
Common Raven 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Carolina Wren 10
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 4
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 2
House Finch 6
Dark-eyed Junco 5
White-throated Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Group 2 Species List
Canada Goose 1
Mallard 1
duck sp. 15
Mourning Dove 1
Ring-billed Gull 150
Great Blue Heron 1
Black Vulture 3
Bald Eagle 1 An immature seen while tallying at the end of the walk.
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6
Downy Woodpecker 4
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 6
Blue Jay 40
American Crow 15
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 8
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 1
Carolina Wren 10
European Starling 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Eastern Bluebird 15
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 3
House Finch 6
Fox Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 2
White-throated Sparrow 35
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 12
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