Whoa, an update! So many birds showing up recently in Madison and nearby busable/bikeable environs...especially waterfowl and raptors. On March 17th, after my "spot" on Terry O's popular radio show "Diaspora" (which runs on Thursday mornings between 9 and noon; I'm on somewhere in the 11:00-11:15 vicinity), I got back on my bike and found a Great Horned Owl on a nest, a male Kestrel near an old nest-site, a lingering Rough-legged Hawk and an overflying flock of about 40 White-fronted Geese. Today within bus/bike distance there were at least 17 species of ducks. Bluebirds are back, Kingfishers too, not to mention Pied-billed Grebes, Eastern Meadowlarks and American Woodcock. Now widespread are Sandhill Cranes, various blackbirds (mostly Redwings and Grackles), Turkey Vultures, Killdeer, Song Sparrows and
Robins.
So many upcoming birding-by-bike fieldtrips!