We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
20485 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Phone: (313) 881-1410
Fax: (313) 881-2008
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Fri: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thurs: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Comments:
Free parking available at rear of store.
We had a full house of 30 participants on the April 25th Bird Walk. The weather turned out to be exceptional that day, and the birds co-operated by showing up in fine feather. Many of our participants were first time birders and were treated to a list of 54 species.
We started the day at the Lagoon and watched a willow tree full of palm warblers at the waters edge. We then watched Forster's Terns as they dove head first into the water for the fish below. Their raucous cries of "kerrrr" punctuated the quiet morning. We walked along the peninsula and found a field sparrow that stayed on the trail for all to see, and a blue-gray gnatcatcher and yellow-rumped warblers in the trees along the waters edge. Our best sighting was a hooded warbler which stayed low i the vegetation for every participant to see. This was only the second time that this bird species has been seen on the bird walks. Because the bird was below eye level, we had spectacular lighting on the black throat and crown that surround the bright yellow face of this great looking bird.
After the walk on the peninsula, we headed over to the most natural area on the grounds - the compost piles near the maintenance area. It was there that we had another notable spring migrant. The brown thrasher has cinnamon colored plumage, a striking yellow eye, and a long decurved bill. They are always a welcome sight since they are not very common. When we walked along the road that connects the entrance to the Activities Center, we explained to our group that there are a pair of Cooper's hawks that nest on the grounds. The female obliged us on cue by flying onto the nest tree and settling in on the eggs/young (?) Other impressive sights of the day included the large flocks of blue jays that were headed north.
Our most surprising sighting of the day occurred as we approached the reflecting pool. We saw what appeared to be a mini-stegosaurus! Upon closer inspection, it was a snapping turtle with mounds of mud on its back, having just emerged from hibernation to get on with the business of spring mating. We all had a great look at the long claws and marveled at the size of this impressive reptile - a first sighting at the Ford House for us.
We then found a great group of birds at the neighboring property, which is great habitat with the front yard that is a perfect wetland for the birds. The sightings included blue-winged warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, scarlet tanager and black and white warbler. These early migrants were a great visual feast for those of us looking forward to the wonder of migration. With sunshine, happy participants and co-operative birds, the spring morning was a great way to bring People and Nature together.
Enjoy Your Birds!
Rosann Kovalcik, Owner
Bird Sightings at Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
April 25, 2009
Double-Crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ring-billed Gull
Forster's Tern
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
