Flocking Together On The Trail

Red-winged blackbirds are some of the first spring migrants to return to the Forest Exploration Center.

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Nine times out of ten, I'm out on the nature trail solo.  My husband often joins me on the weekends, but during the week, I generally explore on my own. 

​So, when the opportunity to join a guided bird hike at Forest Exploration Center on May 6 came up, I signed us up.  I'm so glad I did. A birdwatching hike at Forest Exploration Center is always worth the effort, and a guided hike is even more so.

Take advantage when guided bird hikes are offered at Forest Exploration Center.

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Bird collision solution demonstration, sample bird skeleton, bird strike evidence demonstration.

The day, as it turned out, was cloudy and gray, drizzly. But not too cold. And, fortunately, the rain subsided just shortly before we started. Danielle Pahlisch, a local artist and naturalist, was our guide for the day.

​She began the program with a short introduction to the SOS Save Our Songbirds organization. The group is an initiative between the Natural Resources Foundation and the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership. They sponsored the days Bird Migration Celebration by providing lots of information on how to locally, personally, contribute to the conservation of birds and their habitat.

Danielle presented demonstrations of simple ways to avoid bird window strikes, which result in the preventable deaths of a billion birds each year in North America. A factor in the frightening decline of our songbirds. 

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The evidence of the decline of bird populations is disheartening, and overwhelming. Especially to those of us who love to watch them, photograph them, and listen to their songs. Not to mention they are a major factor in the biodiversity of the planet. 

SOS Save Our Songbirds have a mission to bring solutions to the general public. Simple acts and changes can make a huge difference to the birds in our midst, and well beyond.

​From window collision prevention, to adding native plants into our gardens and habitats, and drinking bird-friendly coffee.

​For more details on what you can do in your own home, visit their website for a wealth of useful information. 

It's up to us to help reduce the decline of our songbirds.

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Birding essentials include a pair of binoculars, and a notepad and pen.

Danielle explained some of the tools of the birdwatching world: binoculars, a bird identification guide, a notepad or phone for making a checklist of birds seen; and the benefits of being citizen scientists and reporting checklists of the birds seen in a specific area (or "hotspot") to Ebird.org (online or via app).

When witnessing a bird, sound counts, too.  You may not actually see clearly (or at all) a bird, but if you have heard its call or song, you can identify it that way. By ear, or by recording it and using the recording to identify it via apps designed to do just that (Merlin). How cool is that?

Of course, a camera is a welcome tool, too, especially if you enjoy photographing the birds that you see. Though sometimes the photos are just a blur of action. But that's the challenge. :)

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Next, we hit the trail. The main trail at Forest Exploration Center is a 1-mile, all accessible, crushed gravel loop. A mostly easy walk, with a slight slope. Once within the the forest we are surrounded by trees: large oak, maple, ash, and basswood trees, along with a dozen or so other species native to the region.

The large oaks are king when it comes to supporting the biodiversity of the forest. Even the stems of an oak leaf are longer than other leaves, and can serve as a sturdy perch for resident and migratory birds.

​They support more moths, butterflies, and insects than any other tree species. In turn, providing shelter and food sources for more birds and animals than any other tree species. They also have been known to live upwards of 200 years, some to a ripe old age of 400 years!

Danielle explained that a portion of the outer perimeter of the Forest Exploration Center is in the process of being turned into an arboretum, which includes some trees not native to the area.

​An experiment due to climate change, with the installation of some trees that are native to warmer regions of the United States.  With monitoring over time they will be able to track whether or not the non-native trees might thrive in, and benefit, the changing ecoregion.

Walking the trail, surrounded by oaks, maples, ash, basswood trees and more.

Oak trees are king. Even their leaf stems are beneficial to resident and migrating birds.

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Danielle Pahlisch introduces us to the educational kiosks that can be found along the walking trails throughout the forest.

Moving through the forest, Danielle pointed out the beautiful educational kiosks that line the walking trail. The signs are updated throughout the year to highlight various seasonal changes, wildlife visitors, trees, and plant life.

​If you're walking the trail, take some time to appreciate the wealth of interesting information the displays provide. Walking through the forest in spring, you'll find many highlights about the birds that can be found within the habitat. 

Walking the Forest Exploration Center trail, on the lookout for migratory birds.

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Birds can often be found skirting across the forest floor, in search of insects and seeds for food. Fallen trees may no longer be living, but they are filled with life. Fungus, insects, nooks and crannies where small critters can perch or take shelter.

We took some time to search among the brush piles, and fallen trees and shrubs for tiny, feathered beauties. Danielle introduced one of the younger birders to a birds-eye view of a cardinal with a pair of binoculars.

Scoping out treasured birds among the brush and branches with a pair of binoculars.

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In early spring, before all the trees have fully leafed out, you can spot last years nesting spots. Danielle pointed out one such bird nest, way up high in a tree branch along the trail.

​And then a few other highlights, including spring woodland plants like jack-in-the-pulpit, and great white trillium blooms, one of springs first woodland flowers. 

​And, hidden, up high on a tree, a flying squirrel nesting box. Did you even know we had flying squirrels here? We do!

Danielle points to a previous season bird nest in the tree branches high above us.

Jack-in-the-pulpit, an early spring native plant.

Great white trillium blooming along the trail.

A flying squirrel nest box affixed to a tree, and sitting high above the forest floor.

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A yellow-rumped warbler is a spring migratory favorite.

Arriving at the end of our hike, we had spotted several birds, some migratory, some resident. By ear we had discovered a great crested flycatcher, in the brush pile a red cardinal, and a hermit thrush. Overhead a red bellied woodpecker was spotted, a yellow-rumped warbler, an American goldfinch, a chickadee, and a blue jay. For a late afternoon hike, and a gray day, it was a good list. And a walk in the forest can't be beat, at any time.

​Thanks to Danielle, and the rest of her crew, for an excellent hike! We'll be back!