Monday, June 4, 2012

The Proud Birds of Stroud Preserve

For this month's BiF post, I decided to fly to Pennsylvania and do a special report. Ok, actually I'm in Pennsylvania with my wife and her family to celebrate our first anniversary, but our summer vacation has provided some fantastic birding opportunities. We traded in the Arizona heat for the Pennsylvania wheat. It's hard to step outside for more than a few minutes and not fall in love with the rolling hills and the old-growth forests of southeast Pennsylvania.


We missed the big spring migrations, but the birding prospects in West Chester, PA, were still very good. Like any obsessive birder (all birders?), I checked eBird and made some lists of species I could reasonably expect to see, and species I really wanted to see. Topping my most-wanted list was the backwards bird with the silly name, none other than the infamous Bobolink.

My in-laws had mentioned a place called Stroud Preserve awhile back. It was a pretty and pristine nature preserve only ten minutes from home, and the report was that Bobolinks were known to nest in the Stroud fields. I confirmed this information with Martin Page of the West Chester Bird Club, who was very helpful in providing some specific directions and narrowing down my area-of-ambling in this 574 acre preserve. So, I donned a formal tuxedo, shaved the back of my head, and set off in perfect Bobolink disguise to track down these curious creatures, and whatever else was on display.

A good, strong name for a nature preserve

The entrance to the preserve is somewhat inauspicious. The small sign preceded a few dirt-lot parking spaces and some trails into the surrounding foothills. Why would the Bobolinks choose this site of any of the other, similar expanses in the area? I could only ponder for a moment before the morning's first bird caught my attention. Out in the fields, one might expect Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, or Blackbirds to be the most conspicuous sightings. This was indeed the case, but nonetheless the first bird of the day was the Eastern Kingbird, a sure sign that I was not in Arizona any more.


Buoyed by this close and cool sighting, I took the main, southerly trail and headed into the preserve. The first half-mile of Stroud Preserve is mostly low hills flanked with hedgerows. American Robins bounced all over the hay, collecting worms and reminding me to straighten up my posture.

"Standing tall; shoulders back!"


The main trail breaks off into several different branches, some of which follow shallow creeks into the woods, and some that move by the beautifully cultivated hillsides. 


The Bobolinks wouldn't be too interested in the corn or alfalfa fields, but these diverse little microcosms  did provide some other species en route to the Bobolink hills.

The canopies were occupied by Chickadees, Yellow Warblers, and the occasional Indigo Bunting.


 The hedgerows were bustling with activity. Song Sparrows were everywhere, as were Common Yellowthroats and Eastern Bluebirds. I saw my first of many Acadian Flycatchers and Willow Flycatchers, as well as a very nervous female Orchard Oriole.




Meanwhile the Tree Swallows and Barn Swallow swirled overhead, dipping and diving almost without thought, but with obvious enjoyment. Many of the Swallows were nesting in boxes along the Stroud trails, and some would perch in nearby trees to preen or survey their kingdoms. I love it when a bird lives up to its name. The Tree Swallow perched in trees, and the Barn Swallows in an old barn.


As the fields opened up, the biodiversity began to drop sharply, and soon it seemed as if there were only Red-winged Blackbirds in the grass. This guy's perch looks well-used.


This solitary Song Sparrow provided some interest. Maybe he was experimenting with a new hair gel, or maybe he was flying too close to windmills. Whatever the reason, he was a very flat-headed specimen.


After another quarter mile, the Blackbird calls were interrupted by something else, something new. Even from a distance, it was apparent that some smaller, black and white birds were interspersed with the other icterids. At long last, I had laid eyes on the Bobolinks. They do exist!


The Bobolinks were very busy bobolinking, bobo-networking, if you will, in their search for love. The males picked their nice purple patches and would ring out with their grating calls, sometimes pausing to snatch up a tasty bug that wondered onto their perch. 



Occasionally the females would come into view, their hearts all aflutter with powerful emotions, instincts, etc. They weren't above a little snacking either, and they could take their pick of the males just as well as their lunch. 


It was a very exhilarating spectacle. New birds, old birds, and eastern specialities were all on display. Stroud preserve should be a very proud preserve for all it has to offer. I enjoyed my time there tremendously and highly recommend it to anyone else who finds themselves in the area.

23 comments:

  1. Wonderful set of photos and it looks like a great outing full of wonderful birds! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks Gordon, it was a swell time! As much as I love Arizona birding, it's nice to have a change of scenery too.

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  2. I truly enjoyed reading this fantastic post, Laurence! Stroud Preserve looks like a wonderful place to view beautiful birds. So glad you finally got to see Bobolinks. The males are very handsome and the females quite lovely. I have yet to see one in person, so it's especially nice to see your terrific photographs. Always a pleasure to read one of your posts. I hope your 1st anniversary was special!

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    1. Thank you Julie. Our anniversary is still pending (the 9th), but it seems like already I've been showered with gifts! I hope you get to see some Bobolinks soon. I don't know if they make it into Illinois for you, but maybe in a state nearby!

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  3. Looks like you did Shroud proud! Nice work finding and capturing all these great species. Congrats also on finding the Bobolink!

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    1. Thank you Tammy. I can only hope I appreciated Proud Stroud Preserve as much as it deserves : )

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  4. Laurence, your trip to PA seems like a great adventure, big congrats on the Bobolinks and getting images of them!!

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    1. Thanks Mia. It was a good piece of luck to both see and photograph a new bird. Usually they two don't come together on the first go-round for me.

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  5. Very cool Laurence! The Eastern Kingbird is a beauty. Enjoy your summer!

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    1. Thanks Jeremy, they are cool! I hate to admit, but I think I might prefer them to our Western Kingbirds, which just look too similar to so many other flycatchers.

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  6. Wonderful post, especially enjoyed you busy bobolinking beauties!

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    1. Cheer Debbie! I enjoyed them too, glad I could share.

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  7. Wonderful pictures. Immensely enjoyed these, esp. the Bobolinks which we don't see in Kansas--the yellow-headed blackbird is almost as striking. I can't go wandering around the countryside anymore and this fulfills my longing to see birds in their habitat.

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    1. Wow thank you! I agree, the Yellow-Headed Blackbird is also very striking (in fact, I may still prefer them over Bobolinks, but luckily now I've seen both).

      It can be very difficult to get out and see the birds in their environment, for many different reasons. I'm very glad I was avle to share and bring a little bit of this fun back to you!

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  8. Good stuff Laurence! I love those Bobolinks. I'm in Idaho working this week and there is a place nearby where there are regularly seen, so I'm going to go check them out. Enjoy PA!

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    1. Thanks Robert, I hope you link up with the Bobolinks, and maybe some Tanagers and Buntings while you're at it.

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    2. Robert! I am doubly jealous! bobolinks and Idaho! Two of my favorite things! In fact, I think Heaven looks like Idaho and bobolinks are its angels singing!

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    3. Hmm...Perhaps hell is Phoenix Arizona then, and the Red-wing Blackbirds...oh never mind.

      I agree though Kathie. Idaho sounds like a great place (at least in the summer)

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  9. Awesome!! I too saw my first Bobolinks recently and had that same "they do exist!" feeling... Congrats!

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    1. I just read your excellent post Jen! From henceforth, this shall be official Bobolink week!

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  10. Laurence, first of all you made me laugh, then you made me smile, then you made me jealous! I loved your comment about putting your tux on backwards and shaving your head to go look for bobolinks! Then, I loved it that the swallows were so accommodating for you and nested in their respective habitats! But mostly I am simultaneously overjoyed and jealous of your bobolinks! I am so glad you got to see them and so glad you got such excellent photos and even gladder that you shared them with us! Now I want to find some and get such good photos for myself! I did find some in CT, but no pics! One question: So, how many new species did you add to your Life List? I can't wait to hear more from your trip!

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    1. Wow thanks Kathie! It sounds like quite the emotional roller coaster ride. I had to sit and wait in soggy grass for about an hour to get the Bobolink shots, but it was definitely worth it. That was my primary birding goal this trip and, that being the case, I guess it actually came about pretty easily.

      I'm glad you're not tuckered out yet, because I am swamped with photos and material to post. I just got back from the New Jersey coast today, which brought my total number of 'lifers' up to 20 for the trip. Its been tremendously successful! I was hoping for maybe 10 this trip, and I was on track before this beach day doubled my tally. It's going super swell and I have lots to share. I hope this week has also treated you very well.

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  11. Hi Lawrence
    I am a birder who lives in Philadelphia, I recently heard of Stroud Preserve and after reading your blog, will definitely be sure to get there. thank you
    Patty

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