My first Breeding Bird Survey
When I got asked to go on my first Breeding Bird survey, with one of our areas top birders, I jumped at the opportunity! I met Katie Koch, a USFWS bird biologist at 4:45am! That was the earliest time I've been birding by 15 minutes. When we got to the first survey point, it was 5:20. When the clock turned to 5:34 it was time to start. We waited and listened for 3 Minutes. We were right on the edge of a jack pine tree stand. The first bird we heard was a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Then, we heard a Chipping Sparrow, an American Robin, a Nashville Warbler, a Yellow Rumped Warbler, a Vesper Sparrow, a Pine Warbler, and i saw a lifer Eastern Towhee! Katie told me that we would drive half a mile stop and listen for 3 Minutes and do that again 50 times!
When I got asked to go on my first Breeding Bird survey, with one of our areas top birders, I jumped at the opportunity! I met Katie Koch, a USFWS bird biologist at 4:45am! That was the earliest time I've been birding by 15 minutes. When we got to the first survey point, it was 5:20. When the clock turned to 5:34 it was time to start. We waited and listened for 3 Minutes. We were right on the edge of a jack pine tree stand. The first bird we heard was a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Then, we heard a Chipping Sparrow, an American Robin, a Nashville Warbler, a Yellow Rumped Warbler, a Vesper Sparrow, a Pine Warbler, and i saw a lifer Eastern Towhee! Katie told me that we would drive half a mile stop and listen for 3 Minutes and do that again 50 times!
Me and Katie Koch
3 hours later we stopped at Deer Lake. On our first stop at Deer Lake, we got the first Hooded Merganser of the day. On our second stop, we saw 2 Ring-Necked Ducks , a Common Loon, a Northern Parula, two Hermit Thrushes, and a brown Creeper. We also found a Hairy Woodpecker nest.
Our last spot was in a Deciduous forest. We heard a Ruffed Grouse, a pair of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, a Red Eyed Vireo, two Ovenbirds, a Blackburnian Warbler, and a Black Throated Green Warbler.
About the Author
I’m a 13 year old birder from Marquette, Michigan. I have watched backyard birds my whole life, but got really interested 3 years ago. I’m currently trying to start the Upper Peninsula Young Birders Club. I am an amateur wildlife photographer and aspiring ornithologist. I am also the author of 21stcenturybirder.com. My dream is to study fall migration at Point Barrow, Alaska and Waterbird migration pathways throughout the Great Lakes
I’m a 13 year old birder from Marquette, Michigan. I have watched backyard birds my whole life, but got really interested 3 years ago. I’m currently trying to start the Upper Peninsula Young Birders Club. I am an amateur wildlife photographer and aspiring ornithologist. I am also the author of 21stcenturybirder.com. My dream is to study fall migration at Point Barrow, Alaska and Waterbird migration pathways throughout the Great Lakes