~ Birding Adventures! ~

~ Since moving to Wisconsin, we have taken several classic "birdie walks", as we like to call them, near and around where we live in Tomah.  Common sights are the American Robin (the state bird of Wisconsin), House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Rock Pigeons, and American Crows.  As fall turns the leaves to warm brittle colors that flee in the wind, branches stand out more, and actually make birds far more visible in the trees.  We've investigated a few parks around Tomah and West Salem (where our church is), but we've had our eyes on a certain birdie spot for a while.

Recently, Mama, Jeremy, Ben, and I finally made it out to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, and started exploring.  The visitor center was closed both times we came, but it looks amazing in there, and is something extra to look forward to.  Necedah NWR is much larger than Ridgefield NWR in Washington, where we often took the auto tour, looking for all our favorites, like Red-winged Blackbirds, Buffleheads, Double-crested Cormorants, and Pied-billed Grebes.  We can still see all of those here, though as of yet I don't have any of those four species on my new lists!  There's always something more to see when you go out looking for birds.  And, there's a lot of land to cover, whether driving or walking, around Necedah.  They have several nice boardwalks, free stationary spotting scopes you can use in key locations, and even an observation tower.

What I didn't anticipate seeing right away though was the beautiful white Whooping Cranes!  We have seen them both times we came to Neceda NWR, and now know where and how to point them out to people.  Work is being done to increase their population.  As stunning as these tall stately cranes are, it's still awesome to see the smaller gray Sandhill Cranes come gliding in over the ponds.  Both species of crane is quite noisy and have loud glugging calls that you can easily start to recognize, even when they are out of sight.  I don't have any good pictures of these birds, but Ben managed to get some with his phone on our last trip.

Some other fun birds we have seen are the Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatch, Trumpeter Swans, and Bald Eagles.  We even saw a gorgeous Northern Harrier swooping low and slow over a field looking for lunch.  I'm not so skilled taking pics through my binoculars with my new phone yet, so, sorry I don't have much in the way of great bird pics to share.  I guess you'll just have to put up with my usual rambling. 

The walks have been wonderful, and we enjoy seeing all the oaks, maples, and aspen trees, rich with color while it lasts.  I'm getting in my "photo safaris", and more walks with Mama and family, and I love it. 

I do miss the Douglas Firs and Steller's Jays of the PNW, and get homesick at times.  But, I'm also seeing there is so much here to enjoy as well, and new beauties of God's creation to discover.  I hope you get a chance to take a walk this week, and enjoy whatever weather this season of your life holds. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven :"