It’s hard to believe 15 years has gone by. In August 2001, Rutland County Audubon members set off on a monthly monitoring walk at West Rutland Marsh with the idea that maybe we would do it for a year or two and that would be that.
Our first walk was on August 16, 2001 with 15 participants. We reported 45 species including a least bittern, 11 marsh wrens and four unidentified empidonax flycatchers.
People have asked us at the five, ten and now fifteen year anniversaries, what have we learned? Are there fewer birds? More birds? Different birds? The answer is we really don’t know. Trained ornithologists will have to answer those questions someday. As the database at eBird, where all our marsh walk sightings have been reported, grows maybe patterns will eventually be revealed. We are the collectors of the information, boots on the ground so to speak, citizen scientists. We’ve certainly added to the marsh species list over the years. Pine Warbler was our addition this past year.
Besides adding our sightings for science, we’ve made new friends and attracted volunteers for RCAS. For some this was their first and only experience with birding. For others it was a first sighting of a sora or even a song sparrow. A Virginia rail with young has always been a highlight. Children, and even some older participants, have used binoculars for the first time. We’ve had some lively discussions about bird identification. We’ve had quite a few laughs. At times we’ve been distracted by butterflies and snakes and frogs and plants. We’ve all become better birders and naturalists.
Looking back we see we have reached many people. Although it includes many repeats, our records show we have attracted 2,061 participants. Many are now supporters of the marsh, contributing to our marsh fund, participating in Green-Up Day and convincing others the marsh is not a swamp for dumping trash.
Weather has never stopped us. Sometimes we’ve walked with a biting wind and blowing snow in our faces, other times with the sun on our backs. We’ve been caught in a couple summer downpours. During one walk in January the temperature was well below zero. The highlight that day was a pine siskin huddled at a feeder. The walks have all been memorable for one reason or another.
So what happened today, our 180th walk?
Eleven birders participated, about our average for marsh walks, and included a birder from Burlington and another from Johnson. Although it was cloudy and humid, the possible thunderstorms did not materialize.
The best sighting came last. As with the first walk, we saw a least bittern! It flew a short distance as we rounded the corner of Water Street onto Marble.
The raptor count, however, was low with one northern harrier spotted. No Virginia rails were seen or heard. Marsh wrens and swamp sparrows, however, are still singing away.
A female wood duck was spotted with young while a second female was seen in flight.
Three brown thrashers were seen; two just north of the boardwalk and another a bit further up the road. All were strangely silent. The gray catbirds are still yakking away.
Both alder and willow flycatchers were noted, fortunately still singing so we could separate them.
Near the green house, formerly known as the yellow house, there was a mixed flock of barn, tree and northern rough-winged swallows, a portent of the next season. The flock included several immatures.
Warbler action has slowed, but the common yellowthroats and American redstarts are still very vocal. Only one yellow warbler was observed, a female foraging in a tree. Other warbler species were ovenbird and black-throated green warbler.
Today’s tally: 51 species, a bit below last July's total of 57, but two above our average for this month of the year.
The next walk: August 20 (Saturday), 7 a.m.
Today’s list:
Wood Duck 10
Mallard 4
Least Bittern 1
Northern Harrier 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 8
Mourning Dove 6
Belted Kingfisher 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Alder Flycatcher 4
Willow Flycatcher 5
Least Flycatcher 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Eastern Kingbird 5
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 7
American Crow 6
Common Raven 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 5
Tree Swallow 12
Barn Swallow 17
Black-capped Chickadee 7
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 11
Veery 9
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 12
Brown Thrasher 3
European Starling 11
Cedar Waxwing 36
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 17
American Redstart 10
Yellow Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 18
Swamp Sparrow 21
Eastern Towhee 1
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Red-winged Blackbird 16
Common Grackle 4
House Finch 2
Purple Finch 6
American Goldfinch 17
House Sparrow 1