T.M. Goodwin
Waterfowl Management Area Field Trip The great number and variety of birds seen on the Pelican Island Audubon Society field trip to the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area on Saturday, February 26, 2005 was enough to impress even the most jaded birder. A soaring flock of white pelicans, a purple gallinule, a limpkin, common moorhens, killdeer, meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, kingfishers, wood storks, ibises, along with a variety of ducks, herons, egrets, and---for those lucky enough to see them---two whooping cranes were just some of the birds identified. View Bud Kleckner’s list of the 49 birds he identified! Even the weather cooperated, threatening rain at the beginning that quickly gave way to partially sunny skies for the remainder of the trip. |
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Our tour leader, expert birder Roy Book, points out a bird in the marsh near the management area office at the commencement of the tour. |
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The 3,870-acre management area contains various wetland habitats that
support many species of wildlife. |
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PIAS field trip participants found the elevated roadway makes an excellent overlook for observing the marshes. |
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The PIAS birders were not the only ones doing the observing. Here a group of curious cattle come over to see what the humans are doing. |
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A short hike led to a few green-winged teal, a lonely white pelican---and plenty of angry fire ants. |
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Gator fans were not disappointed. Many large alligators were seen throughout
the trip. |
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A startled flock of cattle egrets take wing as the tour passed on its way out of the Area. |
| Images and text by Bob Montanaro | |
All images and
text copyright 2005 Pelican Island Audubon Society. Web Outreach: Bob Montanaro |
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