Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day, April 22, 2012

I am linking up with Mosaic Monday.

I guess everyone knows by now that I enjoy nature and the birds.  Yesterday, hubby and I took the local hike on the Shamberger Peninsula trail at our Prettyboy Reservoir. So we celebrated Earth Day a day early. Today we are getting some much needed rain.

 The mosaic above show my study area, the birds seen in the clear cut area were a few Mourning Doves, Chipping Sparrows and Cowbirds.

 It started out as just a walk to the study area where the foresters did a thinning and a clear cut. I am helping out my bird club by keeping track of the birds seen in the area of the thinned and clear cut. This is the start of the second year for the study and my second 2012 walk and count for the study area.

Above is the study area were I am keeping track of the birds seen in the thinned and this clear cut area. The clear cut area looks kind of sad to me. The white dogwoods around the edge are the only pretty sight for me. I am by no means an expert on forestry but what we saw in the clear cut area does not make sense to me. The trees that were cut are now growing back from the stumps they left behind. So why cut, when the same trees grow back but just take a long time to be mature. We did see a few Pine saplings growing. I do prefer seeing a pine forest over the deciduous trees even though both are nice. The Great Blue Heron that is nesting near my house is in one of the large pine trees in the watershed property.

I am also keeping track of the birds seen in the thinned area and the edge of the clear cut. At these areas I did see and hear more birds than at the clear cut area. My list of birds for the thinned area are Eastern Phoebe, Titouse, Carolina Chickadee, WB Nuthatch, House Wren, Goldfinch, Bluejays, Pine Warblers, Yellow Rump Warbler, Downy woodpecker, Pileated, and Crows.

At the edge of the clear cut I heard and saw Cardinals, Bluejays, Redbellied Woodpecker, Pileated woodie, Crows, Cowbirds, Carolina Wren and Goldfinches and on the way back the Ovenbirds.


After doing my bird count in the study area, hubby decided to continue on the trail and do the 4 mile roundtrip  hike to the peninsula tip.  I am so happy we decided to go on further. I found so many more birds. Ovenbirds were plentiful, Pine Warblers all along the trail, and at the tip of the peninsula the Northern Parula's and a Palm Warbler. Canada Geese and a group of Cormorants were at the lake.

 My first of the year Ovenbird. The Ovenbird along with the Northern Parulas are breeding birds at the Prettyboy Reservoir and watershed area.

 A pretty Palm Warbler seen at the Peninsula tip.

 The reservoir and my Goldie Girl.

At the end of the Shamberger Trail and at the peninsula tip I saw and heard many Pine Warblers, Northern Parulas and the Ovenbirds. On the lake we saw Canada geese and a large group of Cormorants.

So this is how I celebrated Earth Day, are you doing something special for Earth Day? To see more wonderful mosaics and photos please visit Mosaic Monday

Thanks to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday each week, it is one of my favorite memes. I hope everyone has a safe and happy week ahead. Thanks for stopping by my blog and for leaving your nice comments.