birding and floods

[mary jo adams]

Goodness gracious, did we have enough rain or what? The poor Mackinaw
River went way, WAY out of its banks and flooded, as it typically does
these days when there is 2+ inches of rain each day! I didn't go
anywhere on Saturday or Sunday, as our lane was totally under about
3-4 feet of water. I did get out hiking though both days...in my
waders no less, and found it quite birdy. I noticed our resident red-
tail hawk checking out if any hapless creatures were floating in the
water, and the Sharpies were raiding our feeders like crazy. We are
seeing lots of finches...both goldies and purple finches at the
feeders. This morning on my hike (no waders needed this time) I
spotted two pileated woodpeckers flying about like crazy down by the
river...they kept going from one tree to another and calling
repeatedly...must have been a great bug bonanza. Also spotted ruby-
crowned and golden-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers, a zillion
white-throated sparrows, two hermit thrushes, and I heard one
Ovenbird. And I ended the hike with 9 male turkeys at the house!

Mary Jo Adams, Woodford County