This morning I drove over to Cloverland. I expected to meet the Killdeer family including some newly hatched chicks. Alas, the nest I was monitoring had fallen prey to a lawn mower. I felt horrible, as I’m certain I could have arranged for the nest to be protected if I had just anticipated the grass mowing. My scenario leads me to make an important request:

• If you own or know folks who have grassland, please ask them to hold off cutting hay or mowing till early July. Grassland birds will thank you! I only wish I had been forward thinking to protect the killdeer’s nest.
• If you see nests in your own yard, try to give your friends some space. Thank you.

I think this photograph I took this morning of an Eastern Kingbird says it well.

I was actually over in Cloverland not just because I like to bird the Wisconsin grasslands, but also because I was doing volunteer work for the Wisconsin Breeding Atlas (sponsored by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology). One super way to monitor nests is by watching nest web cams. My favorites is the Snowy Owl Live Cam up in the Arctic. As a fyi, I support the Owl Research Institute both through cash and donating my children’s books. They do great work.

Another bird busy trying to find a mate this morning was this Bobolink

Finally, the excitement for the morning was watching two Bald Eagles feed in a nearby meadow. My attention was first attracted to the eagles when I was watching a Northern Harrier which was not happy with the American national bird’s presence.

Ptooey!

And a video from this morning. Sorry about the sound from my flashers.