June Bird Club

This month’s CEI Bird club meeting began with big news.. A Bell’s vireo was sighted just east of Kiel. This is a new bird for Manitowoc County, bringing the total observed species to 346. Our county ranks fourth in our state for number of species identified. Previously only observed in southwestern Wisconsin, this bird is making its way northward. 

A short discussion of last Saturday’s Tower View trail walk followed. Bob recorded 56 species birding Collins SWA that morning including an alder and willow flycatchers. We had a great time and learned so much!

No consensus was met when members shared what they provide in their feeders in spring and summer. Hummingbirds can easily be attracted by live mealworms and by using the Buddy bird hummingbird feeder creating great videos is easy. Many of the group continue to feed suet for nesting birds, sunflower seed and sugar water.

A view of the marsh showed two lonely swans making their way amongst the browning overgrowth. The Marsh will be drained beginning June 15th for dam maintenance and habitat restoration. The mud flats could attract a variety of shorebirds. We’ll have to check it out next month.