Dr. James G. Dickson 3:27 p.m. CT June 5, 2017

On my outdoor forays I check out the wildlife while hunting. In my turkey hunting ending for the year in the Midwest here are some of my ornithological notes, certainly not comprehensive. Im mostly contrasting whats different from Louisiana.

The grass-forb habitat was widespread and supported abundant associated birds. Eastern meadowlarks that we have here were there, but also the similar western meadowlark were prolific singers. Dickcissels, with the bright yellow breast with a black V, also sang in the short herbaceous habitat.

Eastern kingbirds were regularly sighted on fences and posts along roads defending their turf. I think of them as a bird in a tuxedo, with their dark back, and white belly and tail tips. I saw several lark sparrows with the ornate head. And several white-crowned sparrows, that look like the white-throated here in winter, but without the white throat patch.

The Platte River habitat is managed cooperatively for several species of concern. Although they were gone when we got there, thousands of sandhill cranes, and migrating whooping cranes stage on sand bars on their journey from Texas to Canada and back. Along the river interior least terns and piping plovers nest on the sandy substrate.

Gallinaceous birds, those large and mostly ground dwelling group, were a bit different. Wild turkeys were there as well as the introduced ring-necked pheasant, a popular hunted species. Along with native sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chickens. It was refreshing to hear the bobwhite again, which appear to be making a comeback there and elsewhere.

The riparian zones of streams with associated hardwoods supported myriad wildlife. Many of the tree species were the same we call riverfront hardwoods in Louisiana: hackberry, elm, ash, cottonwood.

Trees are not regularly harvested, many are short lived, and ice and wind storms have taken a toll. Consequently there are ample snags and down logs utilized by some species.

Woodpeckers, birds of the wood, were abundant. Red-headeds, with the bright red heads, are present in Louisiana, but they were much more abundant there. Northern flickers, which winter in Louisiana but dont breed here, were regular. They are identified by their calls, yellow under wing color, and white rump patch. I saw a wood duck hen with an accompanying drake fly into her cavity nest several times. I heard several great crested flycatchers, which also nest in cavities.

As for the raptor bunch. Red-tailed hawks were common. I had a coopers hawk, a bird hawk, light in a snag and survey the landscape over my head. Northern harriers foraged over the short grassy habitat for rats and rabbits. And the hoot of the barred owl was very pervasive along the midwestern riparian zones.

The brilliantly colored Baltimore oriole replaced the darker orchard oriole here. Carolina wrens were there as here, but winter wrens there appeared to do well in the down limbs and logs. A few American robins nest here, but their singing was widespread there, even hours before dawn in towns. Did artificial light fool them? Rose-breasted grosbeaks have a recognizable song that I heard several times.

Blue-winged teal migrate earlier in fall and later in spring than other ducks. I saw several flocks buzzing over ponds.

The bird life of the midwestern U.S. provided ample avian entertainment, which made my trip more fun.

Dr. James G. Dickson is an award-winning author, researcher, wildlife biologist, and professor. Email him at jgdickson14@gmail.com

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Dickson: Birds of the Midwest - Monroe News Star