Here at susquehannawildlife.net headquarters, we really enjoy looking back in time at old black-and-white pictures. We even have an old black-and-white television that still operates quite well. But on a nice late-spring day, there’s no sense sitting around looking at that stuff when we could be outside tracking down some sightings of a few wonderful animals.
American Toad tadpoles have hatched from clusters of eggs deposited in this wet roadside ditch furnished with a clean supply of runoff filtered through a wide shoulder of early successional growth. Recent rains have kept their vernal nursery flooded, giving them the time they need to quickly mature into tiny toads and hop away before scorching summer heat dries up their natal home.Weekend rains and creek flooding haven’t stopped these Water Striders from pairing up to begin their breeding cycle.Around streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, the Common Whitetail is one of our most conspicuous dragonflies.Now that’s what we call a big beautiful bill, on a Great Blue Heron stalking fish.These mating Golden-backed Snipe Flies (Chrysopilus thoracicus) are predatory insects, as are their larvae. They are most frequently found in bottomland woods.About three feet in length, this Eastern Ratsnake is unusual because it still shows conspicuous remnants of the diamond-patterned markings it sported as a juvenile.The plumage of the Black-and-white Warbler lacks any of the vibrant colors found in the rainbow, but is nevertheless strikingly beautiful.This male Black-and-white Warbler appears a little bit ruffled as he dries out his feathers following a brief afternoon downpour. But as the sunshine returns, he bursts into song from a forest perch within the nesting territory he has chosen to defend. In addition to the vocalizations, this eye-catching plumage pattern helps advertise his presence to both prospective mates and would-be trespassers alike. But against the peeling bark of massive trees where this bird can often be found quietly feeding in a manner reminiscent of a nuthatch, the feathers can also provide a surprisingly effective means of camouflage.
One of dozens of Cedar Waxwings seen descending upon ripe juneberries in a mini grove consisting of either Smooth Shadbush (Amelanchier laevis) or the allied and very similar-looking hybrid juneberry Amelanchier x lamarkii. Smooth Shadbush can be grown as a shrub or small tree and is also known as Smooth Serviceberry, Allegheny Serviceberry, or Smooth Juneberry. The hybrid Amelanchier x lamarkii is believed to be a naturally occurring cross between Smooth Shadbush (A. laevis) and either Canadian Serviceberry (A. canadensis) or Downy Serviceberry (A. arborea). Juneberries/serviceberries/shadbushes, including a number of man-made cultivars, produce white flowers in early spring and can be obtained through numerous suppliers for inclusion in conservation projects, home gardens, or for use as street trees. Believe it or not, the very productive planting seen here was located in a parking lot island at a busy Walmart store.
Here’s a short preview of some of the finds you can expect during an outing in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed’s forests this week…
The Mountain Laurel, designated as Pennsylvania’s state flower, is now in bloom.The buds of the Mountain Laurel remind us of a sugary frosting freshly squeezed from a baker’s pastry bag.The flowers of the Mountain Laurel, an evergreen understory shrub, invite pollinators to stop by for a sweet treat.Little Wood-Satyrs (Megisto cymela) are patrolling forest edges looking for mates and, to host their eggs and larvae, the stands of grasses they find most suitable.Many of the species of small butterflies we call skippers are now active. The Zabulon Skipper can be found patrolling grassy forest edges, particularly near streams, ponds, and wetlands.Among the showiest of our butterflies, the Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) is seen here on the leaves of a Black Cherry, its favored host plant.Another red-spotted Purple seen picking up minerals from a dried up puddle depression on a gravel road.Butterfly observers will do well to pay a visit to the new Susquehanna Riverlands State Park on Furnace Road north of Hellam in York County, Pennsylvania.Upon arrival at Susquehanna Riverlands, drive back the gravel road for about a mile to the parking area at the edge of the agricultural field. Then, hike the trail through the woods and farm hedgerow to the Schull’s Rock overlook on the river. In the forests along this route, the understory is dominated by colonial stands of Common Pawpaw trees.Along the lookout trail to Schull’s Rock, the Common Pawpaws’ large leaves help them to shade out potentially fast-growing competition. In proper growing situations, pawpaws develop clonal suckers that mature over time to create colonial stands of a single genetic plant.A Common Pawpaw understory along the approach to Schull’s Rock.A colonial stand of Common Pawpaw along the trail leading to Schull’s Rock.During our recent visit to Schull’s Rock, dozens of Zebra Swallowtails were seen along the trail, many in the vicinity of their sole host plant, the Common Pawpaw. But even more were observed along the edges of the fields and woods where nectar sources like this Multiflora Rose were being visited by numbers of butterflies we normally see only among abundant species like Cabbage Whites. Absolutely amazing!And the view of the Susquehanna and the Shock’s Mills railroad bridge at the mouth of Codorus Creek is pretty good too!You can look for colonial stands of Common Pawpaw at other parks and preserves along the lower Susquehanna as well. Birds like this Hooded Warbler can sometimes be found among them in mature riparian forests along the steep slopes of the river gorge.A Baltimore Oriole in a Common Pawpaw along a forest edge.Meanwhile in the treetops, the spring thrust of Neotropical migrants is drawing to a close. The Blackpoll Warbler is typically one of the last to transit the lower Susquehanna valley on its way to northern coniferous forests for summer. They’ve had an unusually protracted movement through the region this spring, the earliest individuals reported during late April. Though very difficult to see in the canopy of the mature trees where it feeds and sings, hearing one is often a benchmark for senior birders each spring. Older observers have often said of the Blackpoll Warbler’s high-pitched song, a rapid series of insect-like staccato “tseet” notes, that it was the first they could no longer detect as their ears started losing sensitivity.In many tracts along the lower Susquehanna this spring, the American Redstart is turning out to be the most common nesting warbler. Conditions favoring their reproductive success in recent cycles, as well as good survival rates during their migrations and stays on wintering grounds, have filled many lowland forests with redstart songs in 2025. Is this the start of a trend or just an exceptionally good year? Time will tell.Yet one more reason for a stroll in local forests this week is the chance to see and hear the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Look for these Neotropical relatives of the cardinal nesting on territories in mature stands of deciduous trees like this Yellow Poplar, a species also known as the Tuliptree.They spend nearly all their time among the canopy foliage of the largest timber……but pause frequently to repeat a song often described as something akin to that which might be performed by a robin subjected to voice lessons. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is certainly a bird worth seeing and hearing.
Let us travel through time for just a little while to recall those sunny, late-spring days down on the farm—back when the rural landscape was a quiet, semi-secluded realm with little in the way of traffic, housing projects, or industrialized agriculture. Those among us who grew up on one of these family homesteads, or had friends who did, remember the joy of exploring the meadows, thickets, soggy springs, and woodlots they protected.
During much of the twentieth century, low-intensity agriculture provided a haven for wildlife. Periodic disturbances helped maintain cool-season grassland and early successional habitat for a number of species we currently find in decline.
For many of us, farmland was the first place we encountered and began to understand wildlife. Vast acreage provided an abundance of space to explore. And the discovery of each new creature provided an exciting experience.
Distributed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, artist Ned Smith’s wildlife posters introduced many residents of the lower Susquehanna region to its birds and mammals. This poster of “Birds of Field and Garden” helped us learn what to expect and search for during our forays to the farm.
Today, high-intensity agriculture, relentless mowing, urban sprawl, and the increasing costs and demand for land have all conspired to seriously deplete habitat quality and quantity for many of the species we used to see on the local farm. Unfortunately for them, farm wildlife has largely been the victim of modern economics.
For old time’s sake, we recently passed a nostalgic afternoon at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area examining what maintenance of traditional farm habitat has done and can do for breeding birds. Join us for a quick tour to remember how it used to be at the farm next door…
Always found nesting under the forebay of the barn, the Barn Swallow relentlessly pursued flying insects over the pond and meadow.Eastern Meadowlarks arrived during March and April to begin nesting in their namesake. Their song, “spring-of-the-year”, heralded the new season.Arriving in meadows and pastures during early May, the Eastern Kingbird provided for its nestlings by ambushing a variety of flying insects. By August, congregations of these birds could be found gathering along ponds and streams ahead of their fall migration.In the cherry grove down by the creek, the Orchard Oriole would be singing incessantly to defend its territory.Normally seed eaters through the colder months, American Goldfinches would regularly find a source of protein in the occupants of Eastern Tent Caterpillar nests.Along the wet margins of the creek, Yellow Warblers would nest in the shrubs and small trees.The “Traill’s Flycatcher” was a familiar find in low-lying areas of successional shrubs and small trees. Today, “Traill’s Flycatcher” is recognized as two distinct species, the Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) and the Willow Flycatcher. In the lower Susquehanna valley, the latter (seen here) is by far the most common of the two.During the nineteenth century, Eastern Bluebirds became a rarity on lower Susquehanna farms due to a combination of factors: pesticide (DDT) use, habitat loss, and competition with other birds for nest sites. The species saw a resurgence beginning in the 1970s with discontinuation of DDT applications and widespread provision of nesting boxes. Around human habitations, competition with invasive House Sparrows continues to be detrimental to their success.Purple Martins suffered a similar fate to the bluebirds. The potential for their recovery remains dubious and they continue to be very local breeders, fussy about selection of suitable man-made provisions for nesting. After considerable effort, Purple Martins have at last been attracted to nest in the condos placed for their use at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. In the artificial gourds, there are nesting Tree Swallows, a species which also benefits from the placement of boxes intended for bluebirds.Abandoned fields and other successional habitats were and continue to be favored homes for Field Sparrows.At almost any time of year, roving bands of Cedar Waxwings would suddenly visit old field habitat looking for berries among the shrubs and other pioneering woody growth. In early summer, after most species have already hatched their young, nesting would commence and these fruit eaters would transform into accomplished fly catchers.During the twentieth century prior to the 1980s, Ring-necked Pheasant populations in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed were comprised of breeding descendants of introduced birds supplemented by additional releases to maintain numbers sufficient for hunting. Year-round populations did and can reside in mosaic landscapes of early successional and grassland habitats, the latter including hay fields left unmowed through the nesting season.Red-winged Blackbirds have always been a fixture of hay fields and meadows on farms. While the increase in mowing frequency has reduced their nesting success, they have persevered as a species by nesting earlier than other birds and by utilizing other landscape features such as densely vegetated stormwater basins for breeding sites.Do you recall the last time you saw a Bobolink nesting in a hay field near you? Arriving in early May as a Neotropical migrant, the Bobolink requires a cool-season grassland such as hay field through at least July to complete its nesting cycle. Even earlier this century, we remember nesting Bobolinks being more widespread on farms throughout the region. Now, you almost have to go to Middle Creek if you want to see them.Formerly more widespread in hay fields throughout the lower Susquehanna valley, the native Grasshopper Sparrow is yet another species falling victim to early mowing and intensive farming.The solution to their dilemma is as advertised. Instead of cutting the grass, why not take heed of the example set here and cut back on the tens of thousands of acres that are excessively or needlessly mowed in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed? How ’bout letting a significant percentage of your property regenerate as successional habitat as well? It can and does make a difference!Beautiful cool-season grasses waving in the spring breeze. Meadows and hay fields can be managed to function as cool-season grasslands to provide nesting opportunities for many of the species we used to find down on the farm.
For many animals, an adequate shelter is paramount for their successful reproduction. Here’s a sample of some of the lower Susquehanna valley’s nest builders in action…
Many of our year-round resident bird species get a head start on the breeding season as cavity nesters. Some of these mated pairs use naturally occurring hollows, while still others take advantage of the voids left vacant by the more industrious previous occupants. Woodpeckers in particular are responsible for excavating many of the cavities that are later used as homes by a variety of birds and mammals to both rear their young and provide winter shelter. Pileated Woodpeckers, like other members of the family Picidae, have an almost mystic ability to locate diseased or insect-infested trees for selection as feeding and nesting sites. In this composite image, a pair is seen already working on a potential nursery during mid-January. After use by the woodpeckers, abandoned cavities of this size can become nesting sites for a variety of animals including bees, small owls, Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and squirrels.After use as a nesting site, a void excavated by Downy Woodpeckers can be occupied in subsequent years by chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens, and other cavity-dwelling species.This Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) with a leafy twig in tow takes advantage of spring’s new growth to construct or repair its house,……a process that can be repeated or renewed as necessary throughout the year.A Muskrat house in March. In the absence of leafy twigs, dried cattail stems will suffice. As it ages and decays, the house’s organic matter generates heat and makes an ideal location for turtles to deposit and hatch their eggs.Soon after Neotropical migrants begin arriving in the forests of the lower Susquehanna watershed, they begin constructing their nests. The majority of these species build “outdoors”, not within the confines of a tree cavity. Here we see a Wood Thrush with its bill full of dried leaves and other materials……ready to line the cup of its nest in the fork of a small understory tree.Though it often arrives during early April after spending the winter in sub-tropical and even some temperate climes, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher must wait to start construction of its nest until many of the Neotropical migrants arrive in early May.You see, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher relies on plenty of web-spinning spider activity to supply the construction materials it needs.A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher pulling apart a spider’s web on a warm May morning.Back at the nest site……the sticky spider webs bind together lichens and small bits of bark……to form a perfect little cup for the nesting Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.Baltimore Orioles weave one the most unique nests of any species occurring in eastern North America.Unfortunately for them, man-made litter can often seem to be the ideal material for binding the nest together. In an area only sporadically visited by anglers, this oriole had no trouble finding lots of monofilament fishing line, trash that can fatally entangle both adult and young birds of any species. If you see any fishing line at all, please pick it up and dispose of it properly.Always keep an eye open for fishing line and get it before the birds do!Like many other avians, male Brown-headed Cowbirds are now relentlessly pursuing females of their kind.All his effort is expended in an attempt to impress her and thus have a chance to mate.This male can indeed put all his energy into the courtship ritual because Brown-headed Cowbirds toil not to build a nest. They instead locate and “parasitize” the nests of a variety of other songbirds. After mating, the female will lay an egg in a host’s abode, often selecting a slightly smaller species like a Yellow Warbler or native sparrow as a suitable victim. If undetected, the egg will be incubated by the host species. Upon hatching, the larger cowbird nestling will dominate the brood, often ejecting the host’s young and/or eggs from the nest. The host parents then concentrate all their efforts to feed and fledge only the young cowbird.Watching and waiting. The Indigo Bunting evades cowbird parasitism by first recognizing the invader’s egg. They then either add a new layer of nest lining over it or they abandon the nest completely and construct a new one. Some patient buntings may delay their breeding cycle until after cowbird courting behavior ceases in coming weeks.
After repeatedly hearing the songs of these Neotropical migrants from among the foliage, we were finally able to get a look at them—but it required persistent effort.
Often found closer to the ground among shrubs and small trees, this Magnolia Warbler was a challenge to find in the upper reaches of a Chestnut Oak.Not far away, we spied this Yellow-rumped Warbler.Despite its status as probably the most common Neotropical songbird to nest in the deciduous woodlands of the lower Susquehanna valley, the Red-eyed Vireo is nevertheless notoriously difficult to locate among the leaves.The Ovenbird spends much of its time on the forest floor where it builds a domed, oven-like nest.A fortunate observer may catch a glimpse of one perched in an understory shrub or small tree.But hearing the Ovenbird’s song, “teacher-teacher-teacher”, is frequently the only way to detect it.The Worm-eating Warbler nests in understory thickets on steep forested slopes. Its rich chipping song is often the only indication of its presence.Frequently easier to locate is the American Redstart, a Neotropical warbler that calls out its territory in damp woodlands from perches atop shrubs or among the lower limbs of trees.Warbling Vireos nest near streams or other bodies of water in large deciduous trees like this Northern Hackberry.Gray Catbirds are abundant in shrubby gardens and thickets. Most will come out of hiding to investigate disturbances like an observer making a pishing sound.Another inhabitant of brushy successional growth is the Common Yellowthroat. It too is curious and responds quickly to squeaky sounds made by human visitors to their home ground.The Yellow-breasted Chat is a bird of early successional growth. To establish and defend a breeding territory, this one adopted a perch along the edge of a woodlands overlooking a field in which prescribed fire was administered less than two months ago.Like the mockingbird and thrasher, the Yellow-breasted Chat is a mimic. Its song is a repertoire of the calls and songs of the bird species with which it may compete for food and nesting space. Unique to the chat is an occasional pause, whistle, or “chuck” note that creates a bridge between many of its song’s elements.The intensely territorial chat dropping down to look us over.
Sometimes we have to count ourselves lucky if we see just one in five, ten, or even twenty of the birds we hear in the cover of the forest canopy or thicket. But that’s what makes this time of year so rewarding for the dedicated observer. The more time you spend out there, the more you’ll eventually discover. See you afield!
A singing Scarlet Tanager lurking in the shade of an oak.Seeing is believing.
Neotropical birds are fairly well acquainted with repetitive periods of thundershowers. With that in mind, we decided not to waste this stormy Tuesday by remaining indoors.
Periods of rain need not put a damper on a day outdoors observing birds that wintered in a rain forest or other tropical environment.We hiked this utility right-of-way to the north of a heavy thunderstorm and found plenty of activity in the shrubby successional habitat there.Rain or shine, male Indigo Buntings were busy singing. All this exuberance is intended not only to establish and defend a nesting territory……but to attract the attention of a mate as well.Prior to the implementation of the intensive manicuring practices we see currently applied to most utility right-of-ways, shrubby thickets filled miles of these linear corridors to create a webbed network of early successional growth throughout the lower Susquehanna valley. Loss of this specialized habitat has led to the almost total elimination of the formerly common Blue-winged Warbler as a breeding species here.We found three male Blue-winged Warblers singing on territories in this bushy clearing where electric transmission lines pass over Third/Stony Mountain on State Game Lands 211.Their presence at this site is testament to the importance of maintaining corridors of quality successional habitat in the landscape.The Blue-winged Warbler is a Neotropical migrant with an easy-to-learn song. It’s a very simple, buzzy sounding “beeee-bzzz”.Another Neotropical species that nests in successional thickets is the Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor), seen here during one of this morning’s downpours.The Prairie Warbler can sometimes be found in stands of pioneer plants like Eastern Red Cedar on sites with barren soils or those that have been subjected to wildfire.The Hooded Warbler is fond of wooded thickets along the edge of forested land such as those in the Third/Stony Mountain utility right-of-way.The presence of a Mountain Laurel thicket also enhances a forest’s ability to host breeding Hooded Warblers.
We hope you enjoyed our walk in the rain as much as we did. If you venture out on a similar excursion, please remember this. The majority of the wild animals around us have busy lives, particularly at this time of year. Most don’t take a day off just because it rains—that includes ticks.
Be certain to check yourself for ticks, especially these very small Deer Ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as Black-legged Ticks. Deer Ticks are vigilantly looking for something to latch onto, even in the rain, and they can be vectors of Lyme disease. We found this adult female as a stowaway on the editor’s neck just before heading home from today’s stroll.
Brilliantly colored migrants continue to arrive from their tropical wintering grounds. Look for the Indigo Bunting in thickets and other successional habitat. They are particularly fond of seldom-manicured utility right-of-ways and railroads where males like this one can be seen singing from an exposed perch to defend a nesting territory and attract a mate.
Despite what seemed to be a chilly early spring, the bright green leaves that unfold to close the canopy of our deciduous forests were dense and casting shade by the last days of April. For northbound migrants, this fresh foliage provides the cover they need for foraging, resting, and, for those that will stick around to breed in the lower Susquehanna valley, nesting.
We recall many occasions when sparse foliage during the first days of May seemed to delay the big push of Neotropical species, but the seasonal arrival of these birds in 2025 is thus far mostly ahead of schedule. This absence of delay is due in part to the lushness of the oaks. Some stands have not only leafed out, but are finished flowering and have added up to 12 inches of new branch growth. We spent these early hours of May among the oaks. Here’s a look at the Neotropical migrants and other species we found…
Dozens of species of Neotropical warblers have arrived in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. Some will nest locally while others will continue along flight paths that will ultimately take them far to our north. We spotted this Cape May Warbler in the upper reaches of a Northern Red Oak feeding among its spent flowers. Its destination: the spruce forests of northern New England and Canada.Slightly larger than the warblers are the vireos, including this Yellow-throated Vireo that has arrived to nest in an oak-maple bottomland.Always a fan favorite, we found this marvelously tropical Baltimore Oriole among the foliage of a flowering White Oak.This young Red-tailed Hawk has survived its first winter. It appears to have learned from experience how to hunt from advantageous locations such as this Chestnut Oak along a utility right-of-way where prey may include numerous squirrels as well as mice and other small mammals.We were taking a break beneath this Pin Oak when suddenly an American Kestrel arrived to begin scolding a trespasser that was straying a bit too close to its nest;……the intruder, a Northern Harrier, soon took the hint and continued on its way.While among the oaks, it pays to check the understory where Neotropical thrushes including the Veery are arriving to fill the forests with their melodious songs.Following their nocturnal flights, the last of the season’s northbound White-throated Sparrows may presently be found spending the day in the cover of the oak woodland understory.
The movements of our migratory birds typically continue through much of the month of May. And peak numbers of Neotropical species often occur sometime during the second week of the month. But with habitat at the ready, favorable flight conditions could facilitate quick arrival and/or passage of the bulk of the remaining migrants during the coming week. You may want to venture out sooner rather than later—but watch your step!
The Mayapple, a native wildflower also known as the Mandrake, is now in bloom among the oak leaf litter.And the Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), a native species also known as Wild Lily-of-the-valley, is blooming in moist mixed-oak forests.At the edge of an oak-maple woodland, we found this lingering White-crowned Sparrow foraging among the leaf litter and fresh, shiny foliage of Poison Ivy. Songbirds can spend their days scratching the ground among these leaves of three. If you do it, you’ll be scratching something else, and you may need an ocean of calamine lotion to boot!
In early April of each year, we like to take a dreary-day stroll along the Susquehanna in Harrisburg to see if any waterfowl or seabirds have dropped in for a layover before continuing their journey from wintering waters along the Atlantic seaboard to breeding areas well to our north and northwest. As showers started to subside this Saturday morning past, here are some of the travelers we had the chance to see…
Hundreds of scaup were feeding at mid-river. To remain in suitable foraging habitat, the group is seen here flying upstream to the area of the Governor’s Mansion where they would commence yet another drift downstream to Independence Island before again repositioning to a favorable spot.By far, the majority of the ducks in this flock were Lesser Scaup showing white inner margins of the secondary flight feathers and more grayish margins in the primaries. Several Greater Scaup, including the one denoted by the hairline in this image, could be detected by the presence of bright white margins not only in the secondary flight feathers, but extending through the primaries as well.A pair of Lesser Scaup feeding along the river shoreline at the Governor’s Mansion. Both scaup species spend the colder months in bays and coastal estuaries, but the Lesser Scaup is the most likely to be found venturing inland to fresh water in the southern United States during winter. The Lesser Scaup nests in the northwestern United States and in the southern half of Canada. The Greater Scaup is the more northerly nesting species, spending its summers at the northern edges of the border provinces and beyond.Common Loons spend the winter in Atlantic surf. April is the best time to see them on the lower Susquehanna River as they drop in to rest and reenergize during a break in their annual northbound trip to nesting sites on the lakes and ponds left behind by the retreat of Pleistocene glaciers.We saw dozens of Buffleheads during our morning hike, often segregated into paired couples like this one. Being cavity nesters, these migrating ducks are headed no further north than southern Canada, to lakes and ponds within forests, for the summer.Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) spend the summer nesting on turbulent high-gradient streams in Canada and Greenland. They mostly winter along rocky coastlines as far south as New England, but have adapted to feeding along man-made rock jetties in coastal New York and New Jersey. This winter, they were seen along jetties and sea walls at least as far south as Cape Charles, Virginia, and the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. During the past month, at least two Harlequin Ducks, including this male seen in flight on Saturday, have appeared on the river in the Harrisburg area, possibly as strays from this year’s wintering population at the mouth of the bay. These ducks are very rare habitat specialists, possibly (according to Behrens and Cox, 2013) numbering less than 1,500 birds along the entire east coast.In spring, the Horned Grebe transitions from a drab gray-brown winter (basic) plumage into rather surprisingly colorful breeding (alternate) plumage.An adult Horned Grebe in breeding (alternate) plumage. Horned Grebes spend the winter on large rivers, bays, and ocean waters from Nova Scotia to Texas. They are presently on their way to breeding areas on ponds and lakes in Alaska and Canada west of Ontario.
If you want a chance to see these seldom-observed visitors to the lower Susquehanna at Pennsylvania’s capital city, try a morning walk along mid-town’s Riverfront Park from Maclay Street to Forster Street. Also, try a stroll on City Island, particularly to the beach at the north end where you have a view of the mid-river areas upstream. To have better afternoon light, try the river’s west shore along Front Street in Wormleysburg from the Market Street Bridge upstream to Conodoguinet Creek. Once there, be certain to check the river from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s West Fairview Access Area at the mouth of the creek. And don’t be afraid to visit on a gloomy day; you never know what you might find!
Don’t forget to check the trees along the river shoreline where early stonefly hatches can often attract hungry insectivores. We found this and six other Eastern Phoebes crowded into the trees at water’s edge just upriver from the Governor’s Mansion during Saturday’s migrant fallout.
SOURCES
Behrens, Ken, and Cameron Cox. 2013. Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. New York, NY.
Colorful songbirds like this Palm Warbler are beginning to migrate through the lower Susquehanna valley on their way north. Even when the weather is damp and gloomy, be certain to spend some time outdoors if you’d like the chance to see them. Palm Warblers are most frequently found in damp thickets and streamside, but they’ll sometimes show up in densely vegetated parks and gardens during a springtime fallout.
A Ring-necked Pheasant forages among the fresh green growth two weeks to the day after prescribed fire was administered to this parcel at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area to turn back plant succession and maintain grassland habitat.
During Saturday’s Prescribed Fire Demonstration at the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, we noticed just how fast some species of wildlife return to areas subjected to burns administered to maintain grassland habitat and reduce the risk of high-intensity blazes.
Pennsylvania Game Commission crews ignite a back fire to contain a prescribed burn along its downwind/upslope perimeter during a demonstration at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Saturday.Visitors observe a fire planned to maintain this section of the refuge as warm-season grassland. A species with roots several feet deep, the light-colored vegetation is Indiangrass, a plant adapted to thrive following periodic episodes of wildfire. Prescribed fire can be used to replace naturally occurring infernos with much safer controlled burns that eliminate successional and invasive plants to promote the establishment of Indiangrass and other native warm-season species including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass, and a variety of wildflowers as well.Even as the fire reached its brief peak of intensity, we noticed birds already attracted to the site…Dozens of recently arrived Tree Swallows swept in to patrol for flying insects as the burn was in progress.One even stopped by to have a look inside the kestrel nest box as fire approached the dry stand of goldenrod on the slope behind.Red-tailed Hawks and other raptors, including nocturnal owls, are frequently the first visitors attracted to the scene of a prescribed burn or wildfire. In grassland and successional habitats, they come looking for any vulnerable voles or mice that may be moving about looking for cover.
These three Eastern Meadowlarks spent the morning in the grassland areas adjacent to the prescribed fire site, mostly where a burn had been conducted one week prior. During the demonstration, one even perched and sang from the oak trees in the museum/visitor’s center parking lot.
Following the Prescribed Fire Demonstration, we decided to pay a visit to some of the parcels where burns had been administered one week earlier on the north side of Middle Creek’s main impoundment. We found a surprising amount of activity.
Apparently feeding upon slightly heat-treated seeds, sparrows were found by the dozens. White-crowned (left), White-throated (right), Song, and Savannah Sparrows were identified.This Downy Woodpecker was finding something to its liking among the scorched leaves, stems, and twigs.American Robins seem to find areas with lightly burnt vegetation and ash-dusted soil advantageous for finding invertebrates following a fire.We found this flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, Browned-headed Cowbirds, and a few European Starlings feeding throughout a grassland field cleared of early-successional growth by a prescribed fire administered one week ago.They seemed to favor gleaning seeds from among the lightly burned areas of the plot.Nearby, in an island of unburned grass in the same field, we found yet another Eastern Meadowlark, our fourth of the day. High-intensity agriculture, particularly early hay mowing and pesticide treatments, have mostly eliminated this and other grassland species from modern farms. Management practices like prescribed fire and delayed mowing (no spinning blades until at least early August) can maintain ideal grassland habitat for stunningly colorful blackbirds including nesting Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, and many other species as well.A male American Kestrel at a nest box located among Middle Creek’s warm-season and cool-season grassland habitats, the former maintained by prescribed fire, the latter by delayed mowing.
With relative humidity readings regularly dipping below 50%, the sunny days of March and early April are often some of the driest of the year. During recent weeks, these measurements have plunged to as low as 20%, levels not often observed in our region. As we’ve seen throughout the lower Susquehanna valley, windy weather and this extraordinarily dry air conspire to create optimal conditions for fast-spreading and often dangerous wildland fires.
On the brighter side, dry weather also provides the opportunity for foresters and other land managers to administer prescribed fire. These controlled burns are thoroughly planned to reduce accumulations of wildfire fuels and invigorate understory growth in forests. Their use also provides a number of effective methods for creating and maintaining wildlife habitats in non-forested areas.
Prescribed burns are currently underway on many state, federal, and privately-owned lands throughout the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed.
This Saturday, March 22, 2025, crews from the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be hosting a Prescribed Fire Demonstration at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster/Lebanon Counties. The event begins at 10:00 AM in the refuge’s museum/visitor’s center parking area. A controlled burn to “reset” a parcel with early successional growth back to grassland will follow a presentation on prescribed fire uses, planning, safety, and implementation.
Prescribed fire treatment being used to prevent succession and maintain a warm-season grassland.Prescribed fire being administered to eliminate successional woody growth from a sedge-rush wetland.Pennsylvania Game Commission crews maintain a fire line along an area being burned to control invasive successional growth.To best prevent succession, a given area should be burned every three to five years, thus only one fifth to one third of an entire habitat need be subjected to treatment each year. To flee this year’s prescribed burn, this Eastern Cottontail simply hops across the fire break into an adjacent plot that will be unaffected in 2025.Hen and cockbird Ring-necked Pheasants feeding in a pre-plowed fire break furrow along the northern edge of a prescribed fire plot burned during a south wind. These birds entered and fed in the area less than an hour after the flames subsided.To provide refuge for evacuating animals, a completed prescribed burn leaves plenty of adjacent grassland acreage untouched. Within weeks, the fire area will be lush green and again hosting many species of wildlife for the breeding season. The scorch-free areas will each get a prescribed fire treatment sometime during the coming two to four years, the time period preceding this parcel’s next burn.
Don’t forget: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area museum/visitor’s center parking lot on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM. See you there!
Find a stand of Common Cattails in a marsh, a stormwater basin, or along a pond edge right now and you’re almost certain to find a male Red-winged Blackbird ……singing and displaying to defend a territory and attract a partner. Upon their arrival and selection of a mate, the brown-streaked females will weave well-hidden nests among the stems and leaves of these essential water-purifying wetland plants.
Having survived its first winter of life, this second-year (Basic I) Bald Eagle nears its first birthday beginning the long process of molt that could culminate in it attaining definitive adult plumage in about four years. Soon, the area of the belly will become bright white and will remain that way for almost two full years. Though showing signs of wear, the flight feathers in the wings and tail have yet to be replaced, but by the time autumn arrives, the mix of new and slightly longer juvenile feathers will give the wings a conspicuously messy appearance.In March, a third-year (Basic II) Bald Eagle with a mix of new and retained juvenile wing feathers has a noticeably sloppy appearance. By fall, nearly all of the juvenile feathers will be replaced and the bird will look much more presentable. The head will show a conspicuous two-toned “osprey-face”.Even a fleeting glimpse in poor light reveals the white belly and jagged trailing edges of the wings on this third-year Bald Eagle as it nears its second birthday.Almost an adult, a Bald Eagle in the early months of its fifth and sometimes its sixth year still has dark-edged tail feathers and a thin dark line through the eye. Many birds at this age are sexually mature.An Bald Eagle set for life in adult definitive plumage.
It appears that spring has at last arrived. It’s time to have a look around!
Diurnal flights of northbound blackbirds including Common Grackles have been overspreading the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed since late February.And thawed soils are providing opportunities for nocturnal migrants like American Robins to search for earthworms and other invertebrates during their daytime layovers.Now that there is open water between here and the Great Lakes, flocks of waterfowl like these migratory Canada Geese are flying day and night on an excursion that will ultimately take them to their nesting grounds in the wilderness areas of Canada and Alaska.
Of the bird species that pass southbound through the lower Susquehanna valley during autumn, we can generally observe many of the surviving individuals as they return north during the spring. But there are numerous exceptions. One of them is Golden Eagles.
While the strong northwest winds of late autumn create ideal lift for migrating Golden Eagles along our linear ridges, they also tend to enhance the birds’ tendencies to “ridge hop” their way south, thus pushing many of them southeast from the main corridor of the eastern population’s route through the central Appalachian Mountains. Here in the lower Susquehanna region, we observe these vagabonds at our numerous hawk watches which happen to be located along the outer periphery of the birds’ primary flight path. It appears that a greater percentage of these wayward eagles tend to be younger, less-experienced birds than those seen passing hawk-counting stations in the central Appalachians. Lucky for us, we get to see more of the showy juvenile and immature Golden Eagles—at least during the fall season.
In the spring, southerly breezes and the urge to “ridge hop” in a northerly direction tend to concentrate Canada-bound migrating Golden Eagles along the northernmost ridges in their Appalachian flyway. To see them, we took a short drive up the Juniata River valley to the 90,000 acres of Rothrock State Forest and Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch. During our visit there earlier this week, gusty winds from the southwest brought us an opportunity to see the elusive northbound flights of some of the members of eastern North America’s population of Golden Eagles.
Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch is located along State Route 26 atop Tussey Mountain, just south of State College, Pennsylvania. Visitors can find ample parking at the Jo Hays Vista along the west side of the road on the crest of the ridge .Looking north from Jo Hays Vista to State College and the main campus of Penn State University. Bald Eagle Mountain is in the background and behind it lies Allegheny Front and Plateau.From the Jo Hays Vista parking area, follow the Mid State Trail (orange blazes) south along the ridgetop for about a half mile to the Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch lookout.The lookout at Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch is located within a utility right-of-way with talus slopes flanking the ridgetop clearing.An interpretive sign shows a statistical graphic describing the seasonal abundance of Golden Eagle sightings at the site. The peak time: late February through early April.Tussey Mountain is the only hawk-watching station in the lower Susquehanna region staffed by an official counter to collect data during the spring migration season. You can view the daily counts at hawkcount.org. You can contribute to them by visiting the hawk watch to help scan the skies.By late morning, a small flight of Golden Eagles had commenced. Most of the birds seen at Tussey Mountain are adult or near-adult birds with dark wing linings and slightly paler flight feathers. It’s a two-toned appearance similar to that of a Turkey Vulture and there is little if any variation in the length of the flight feathers. These birds are three years of age or older, are or soon will be sexually mature, and often travel in pairs separated by a minute or two of flight time.This Golden Eagle caught our attention with its longer central tail feathers and some longer secondary feathers in the wings that create a wavy appearance. As they get older, immature eagles should become more skilled as fliers, so each new set of flight feathers is usually shorter than those they’re replacing. Based upon the characters contributing to its ragged appearance, this bird is probably in the early months of its fourth or fifth calendar year of life.Common Ravens are forever vigilant around our regional hawk watches. They can sometimes help us find otherwise hard-to-spot migratory raptors in the bright, sunny skies.Ravens really like to harass younger birds like this second or third-year Golden Eagle.Older, more stoic raptors like this adult Bald Eagle spend less time contending with the antics of the persistent ravens.One of the final sightings of the day was this magnificent Golden Eagle. Look closely and you can see evidence of some molt completed last year in the outer tail feathers and the innermost primaries in the wings. On top, there were tawny bars on the wing coverts. This bird is probably just beginning its third calendar year of life and will start replacing many more flight feathers later this spring.
For more information on the region’s hawk watches and the birds you’ll see there, be certain to click the “Hawkwatchers Helper: Identifying Bald Eagles and other Diurnal Raptors” tab at the top of this page. And for a more detailed look at how to determine the age of Golden Eagles, particularly during the autumn migration, click the “Golden Eagle Aging Chart” tab at the top of this page.
We’ve seen worse, but this winter has been particularly tough for birds and mammals in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. Due to the dry conditions of late summer and fall in 2024, the wild food crop of seeds, nuts, berries, and other fare has been less than average. The cold temperatures make insects hard to come by. Let’s have a look at how some of our local generalist and specialist species are faring this winter.
House Sparrows (bottom) and House Finches (top) are generalists. To survive and thrive, they are adapted to a variety of habitats and types of food. House Sparrows live almost anywhere man-made structures are found. They are true omnivores and will eat almost anything, especially if they see something else try to eat it first. The House Sparrow’s close association with humans has allowed it to become the most widespread and successful living avian dinosaur. On a cold night, they’ll take shelter either within dense vegetation alongside a building or within the structure itself. Though not nearly as cosmopolitan, the House Finch has successfully colonized much of the eastern United States after escaping from captivity as a cage bird in New York during the middle of the twentieth century. Upon being trans-located here from the arid southwest, they adapted to suburbs and farmlands consuming primarily a granivore diet of seeds supplemented with seasonally available berries. They quickly became accustomed to offerings at bird-feeding stations as well. To survive the harsh winters in the northern sections of their range, eastern populations of House Finches are developing a pattern of migration. These movements are most evident in late fall when dozens or sometimes hundreds can be seen heading south over regional hawk-counting stations.Though they require dead trees for nesting and as places to find the grubs and adult insects upon which they primarily feed, woodpeckers including the Northern Flicker are generalists, seldom passing by a supply of fruits like these Poison Ivy berries as a source of winter food. Flickers regularly visit suburban areas where they’ll drop by at bird-feeding stations for suet. During the warmer months, they are the woodpecker most frequently seen on the ground where swarms of ants garner their full attention.The Pileated Woodpecker is seldom found outside of mature forests where it digs relentlessly to remove grubs and other infestations from dead wood. But it is not a true specialist……it too finds a supply of Poison Ivy berries to be indispensable during a cold winter day.The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a generalist, feeding mostly on insects, but also consuming small seeds and some berries, including those of Poison Ivy. It nests well to our north in tall spruces and other evergreens. During migration and in winter, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet may be found in deciduous trees, brush, and tall grass in habitats ranging from forests to parks and suburbia. This male is displaying its seldom-seen red crown.The Golden-crowned Kinglet, seen here on a Poison Ivy vine, is more of a specialist than the Ruby-crowned species, though the two will often occur in mixed groups during the winter. The Golden-crowned Kinglet nests in Spruce-Fir forests and in conifers within mixed woodlands. Even during migration, and particularly in winter, these birds are seldom found far from a stand of large evergreens within which they find shelter for the night.The Hermit Thrush’s generalist lifestyle allows it to survive cold season weather in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. During summer, it breeds in coniferous and mixed woods from the northern parts of our valley north into Canada and feeds primarily on worms, insects, and other arthropods. During migration and in winter, the Hermit Thrush becomes a regular visitor to deciduous forests, woody parks and suburbs, particularly where a supply of wild berries is available to supplement its diet.Iconic as it pulls earthworms from lawns during the warmer months, the generalist American Robin is fully dependent upon a crop of berries to survive winter conditions in the lower Susquehanna valley. The drought afflicted wild food crop of 2024 has led to fewer robins spending the season here and has delayed the northward push of migrating birds until the ground thaws and the earthworms make the ground rumble once again.It’s insects for the nestlings during spring and summer, then berries through the winter for the cheerful Eastern Bluebirds, another generalist species.American Crows are an excellent example of a generalist species. They’ll go anywhere to find food and they’ll eat almost anything. Like the House Sparrow and several other generalists, they adapt very well to human activity and actually thrive on it. Garbage anyone?Another career generalist is the widely worshiped White-tailed Deity, a species adapted to nearly all man-made landscapes with adequate vegetation upon which to browse. Pushed to the limit during severe weather, some individuals will consume carrion and even resort to cannibalism.You might think the Great Blue Heron is a specialist. Nope, it’s an accomplished generalist. Great blues will live, feed, and breed on almost any body of fresh or brackish water. And their diet includes almost anything that swims. In winter, you’ll even see them in fields hunting mice and voles.The Red-shouldered Hawk is a generalist with a diet ranging from amphibians and reptiles to small rodents and large insects. Mostly regarded as a species of bottomlands, they’ll frequent woodland edges, roadsides, and suburbia during the winter months.During its periodic winter visits to the region, the American Tree Sparrow feeds on seeds among the grasses and forbs of semi-open country with scattered short shrubs and trees. A generalist species, it will show up at backyard bird-feeding stations, particularly during periods of inclement weather. In summer, the American Tree Sparrow nests in tundra with growths of stunted willows and spruce and their diet includes insects as a source of protein for themselves and their young.The White-crowned Sparrow has similar winter habitat preferences to the tree sparrows……it becomes adaptable and something of a generalist when searching for food during bad winter storms.The Savannah Sparrow is an omnivore favoring insects in summer and seeds in winter. Though very closely tied to its grassland habitat year-round, snow cover can push these birds to enter woodier environs to consume fruits like these rose hips.Dusk and dawn during the short days of winter are the prime hunting times of a mammal specialist, the Short-eared Owl. Its presence in the lower Susquehanna valley is dependent on two dominant factors: extensive grassland habitat and an adequate population of the owl’s favored food, the Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). The Short-eared Owl’s requirements as a specialist species make finding a suitable place to live difficult. Unlike the generalist birds and mammals that often adapt to the widespread man-made disturbances in the region, populations of specialists frequently become fragmented, reduced in abundance, and subject to extirpation.The Meadow Vole is a generalist rodent that can be abundant in grasslands, early successional growth, fallow fields, marshlands, and, of course, meadows. They are primarily herbivores, but will occasionally consume insects and other arthropods. Usually nocturnal, some individuals venture out along their surface runways during daylight hours becoming vulnerable to diurnal raptors including kestrels, harriers, and buteos.A Short-eared Owl in near darkness patrolling a grassland for Meadow Voles.The eastward expansion of the Coyote (Canis latrans), a species of western North America’s grasslands and scrublands, and its progressive mixing with the Wolf (Canis lupus) in these eastern extensions of its range, has produced an expanding population of very adaptable generalists we call Eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans var.). These omnivorous canines colonized the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed during the last four decades to replace extirpated wolves as the top-tier natural predator in the region. Their primary diet includes Meadow Voles in grasslands and other small mammals along woodland edges and in successional habitats. Seasonally, they consume the berries of numerous wild plants. Slightly larger than their western ancestors, Eastern Coyotes with the admixture of Wolf genetics can subdue small ungulates. Like other apex predators, they are attracted to vulnerable prey and thus play a crucial role in culling the weak and diseased among their potential quarry species to assure the health and potential of populations of these species as long-term sources of food energy. The benefit to the prey species is however largely diluted in populous areas of the northeast; most venison consumed by Eastern Coyotes here is in the form of road kill. During periods of extended snow cover when small rodents and other foods become inaccessible, Eastern Coyotes, particularly young individuals, will wander into new areas seeking sustenance. Sometimes they venture into cities and suburbs where they explore the neighborhoods in search of garbage and pet foods placed outside the home. (Video clip courtesy of Tyler and Grace Good. Click image to view.)
Wildlife certainly has a tough time making it through the winter in the lower Susquehanna valley. Establishing and/or protecting habitat that includes plenty of year-round cover and sources of food and water can really give generalist species a better chance of survival. But remember, the goal isn’t to create unnatural concentrations of wildlife, it is instead to return the landscape surrounding us into more of a natural state. That’s why we try to use native plants as much as possible. And that’s why we try to attract not only a certain bird, mammal, or other creature, but we try to promote the development of a naturally functioning ecosystem with a food web, a diversity of pollinating plants, pollinating insects, and so on. Through this experience, we stand a better chance of understanding what it takes to graduate to the bigger job at hand—protecting, enhancing, and restoring habitats needed by specialist species. These are efforts worthy of the great resources that are sometimes needed to make them a success. It takes a mindset that goes beyond a focus upon the welfare of each individual animal to instead achieve the discipline to concentrate long-term on the projects and processes necessary to promote the health of the ecosystems within which specialist species live and breed. It sounds easier than it is—the majority of us frequently become distracted.
Being an individual from a population of a very successful generalist species is no guarantee of survival. This Eastern Gray Squirrel fell from a tall tree when the limbs became ice covered during a storm earlier this month. Just a freak accident? Maybe, but mistakes like this are often fatal in the natural world. This squirrel’s passing may seem brutal, but it provides a better opportunity for other squirrels and animals that share its food and cover requirements to make it through the winter. And those survivors that didn’t suffer such a fatal mistake or, more importantly, don’t possess a vulnerability that may have contributed to such a mishap will have a chance to pass those traits on to a new generation. This squirrel as an individual is gone, its species lives on, and may be stronger for its passing.Pennsylvania Game Commission crews maintain a grassland ecosystem for Short-eared Owls and other specialists using prescribed fire to prevent succession beyond its earliest stages. Among the additional specialist species benefiting from this management tool are Monarchs and other butterflies whose host plants survive early-season fire, but not competition with woody vines, shrubs, trees, and invasive herbaceous growth.
On the wider scale, it’s of great importance to identify and protect the existing and potential future habitats necessary for the survival of specialist species. And we’re not saying that solely for their benefit. These protection measures should probably include setting aside areas on higher ground that may become the beach intertidal zone or tidal marsh when the existing ones become inundated. And it may mean finally getting out of the wetlands, floodplains, and gullies to let them be the rain-absorbing, storm-buffering, water purifiers they spent millennia becoming. And it may mean it’s time to give up on building stick structures on tinderbox lands, especially hillsides and rocky outcrops with shallow, eroding soils that dry to dust every few years. We need to think ahead and stop living for the view. If you want to enjoy the view from these places, go visit and take plenty of pictures, or a video, that’s always nice—then live somewhere else. Each of these areas includes ecosystems that meet the narrow habitat requirements of many of our specialist species, and we’re building like fools in them. Then we feign victimhood and solicit pity when the calamity strikes: fires, floods, landslides, and washouts—again and again. Wouldn’t it be a whole lot smarter to build somewhere else? It may seem like a lot to do for some specialist animals, but it’s not. Because, you see, we should and can live somewhere else—they can’t.
The Allegheny Woodrat (Neotoma magister), a threatened species in Pennsylvania and a critically imperiled species in Maryland, is a habitat specialist requiring the forested rocky slopes, talus-flanked ridgetops, and caves of the Ridge and Valley Province for its nest sites and survival. Isolated populations survived within similar environs in the lower Susquehanna River valley’s Piedmont Province and on South Mountain through at least the first half of the twentieth century, but have since been extirpated. Human encroachment that fragments their habitat and promotes exposure to parasite-hosting mammals including the Raccoon (Procyon lotor), carrier of the Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascarius procyonis), could prove fatal to remaining populations of this native mammal. (National Park Service image by Rick Olsen)The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is a specialist species that uses its highly adapted bill to feed on marine invertebrates including mollusks, few of which are actually oysters. Reliant upon tidal ecosystems for its survival, many of the seashore animals that make up this wader’s diet are themselves specialist species. Oystercatchers spend nearly their entire lives in tidal marshes or within the intertidal zone on beaches. They also frequent rocky jetties, particularly during high tide. This individual was photographed near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in Northhampton County, Virginia, a location that, when the waters of the Atlantic started rising over 10,000 years ago, was the lower Susquehanna valley about 60 miles from the river’s mouth at present-day Norfolk Canyon along the edge of the continental shelf. Get the drift?
After decades of heavy manual labor, it’s time for your editor to go under the knife and have his guts put back where they belong. We hope you won’t mind if we take a little break while he behaves like this Hermit Thrush and becomes a bit of a recluse for a while. We’ll be back soon.
As it turns out, 2024 was a big year for Bald Eagles—being officially named the national bird and all. You may be surprised to learn that the ringing in of a new year brings with it a new age class designation for all non-adult eagles. Sound confusing? No need to worry. We were fortunate enough to get pictures of about half of the Bald Eagles we happened to see in the lower Susquehanna valley earlier today, so we thought it only proper to share with you both the images and an explanation.
An adult Bald Eagle in definitive plumage, a bird probably in at least its sixth year of life and at least five years old. Tomorrow, New Year’s Day 2025, will be the first day of at least its seventh year of life.A hatch-year/juvenile Bald Eagle beginning to show the abundance of white it will possess in the wing linings and on the belly during its second and third years. Under the age classification system we’ve adopted here, non-adult eagles will be advanced to the next in the series of sequential age categories beginning tomorrow, New Year’s Day. This first-year bird, born sometime during 2024, will thereafter be designated as a second-year/Basic I Bald Eagle for the duration of 2025.A second-year/basic I immature Bald Eagle showing lots of white below and a jagged appearance to the trailing edge of the wings. This untidy look is caused by retention of some of the longer juvenile secondaries among flight feathers that were dropped and replaced by shorter ones earlier this year during the bird’s first molt.Another second-year/basic I immature Bald Eagle with numerous juvenile secondaries projecting beyond the rear edge of the wings. Beginning tomorrow, this and other second-year birds, all born sometime during 2023, will be known as third-year/basic II immature Bald Eagles.We’re getting the inquisitive eyeball from this second-year/basic I immature Bald Eagle.A fourth-year/basic III immature Bald Eagle on the eve of becoming a fifth-year/basic IV immature bird. By the end of 2025, this eagle may very well be indiscernible from older adult Bald Eagles in definitive plumage.A fourth-year/basic III immature Bald Eagle and an adult Red-shouldered Hawk doing a New Year’s Eve tango.
That’s a wrap, and that’s it for 2024. Have a Happy New Year! See you in 2025.
In addition to the Canada Geese and Snow Geese currently visiting Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, three smaller geese of interest were seen there this afternoon.
The Big Geese- The three Snow Geese and some of the one thousand or more Canada Geese presently calling the lake at Middle Creek home. Again today, flocks of hundreds of Snow Geese circled the lake, but did not decide to stay.Small Goose #1- First reported several days ago, this Ross’s Goose continues to be seen in the company of Canada Geese.Small Goose #2- Just 100 feet to the right of the Ross’s Goose, we spotted this dark little Cackling Goose, another rarity. It is probably a Richardson’s Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii), a subspecies that nests in the arctic tundra of north-central Canada.Small Goose #3- And to its right was another Cackling Goose, this one a bit paler, particularly on the breast (hatch-year bird?). Note its small size and stubby bill compared to the nearby Canada Geese.The gray, scalloped appearance of the back and the paler breast is apparent on this second Cackling Goose.The Cackling Goose was only recently recognized as a species distinct from the Canada Goose (2004). The status and distribution of each goose’s various subspecies remains a topic of discussion and debate.Compare the bill size and shape, Canada Goose to the left and Cackling Goose to the right.A final look at one of two Cackling Goose seen today from Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area’s Willow Point.
There you have it, the three little geese—a Ross’s and two Cackling. They’re among North America’s smallest of the geese species and seldom are they seen so close together.
Our outing at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area was today highlighted by teasing views of glistening white geese and swans—the tundra breeders that by February will create a sensation attracting thousands of birders, photographers, and other visitors to the refuge.
At noisy flock of at least five hundred high-flying Snow Geese arrived at Middle Creek just after noontime.A spiraling descent ensued.Snow Geese coming down while carefully examining the small patch of open water on Middle Creek’s main lake.Several of the “Blue Goose” color morphs were easily discernible among the hundreds of typical white birds.Streaming in on final approach to the lake……and making a low pass above thrilled spectators at the Willow Point overlook.Then, after gliding just a hundred feet above the Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, and other waterfowl gathered around the small pool of open water on the lake……the entire flock gained altitude and soon departed in the easterly direction from whence it came, not yet ready to settle in at Middle Creek for a respite before heading north later this winter.A short while later, some of the fifty or more Tundra Swans that have been visiting Middle Creek throughout the week started to stir,……taking a few laps around the center of the lake before again settling down along the edges of the ice.Two adult and two immature Tundra Swans as seen from Willow Point.Since the big flock of Snow Geese decided not to stay, the Ross’s Goose remains easy to locate among the hundreds of Canada Geese on the lake’s ice and on the mudflats on the north side of Willow Point.The Ross’s Goose in the company of a distant group of Canada Geese……and with an American Black Duck of similar size. Just today, several dozen observers had the opportunity to get a look at this rarity. With a little luck, it’ll stick around so others have a chance to see it too.
The Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) is a rare but regular transient in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. This species nests in the arctic tundra of northernmost central Canada and winters in the valleys of California and in parts of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, primarily near the northwestern rim of the Gulf of Mexico. A population also spends the colder months in western Texas, New Mexico, and an adjacent portion of north-central Mexico. The Ross’s Goose looks like a tiny version of a Snow Goose and is most often detected among flocks of these latter birds during their late winter visits to our area. Finding a single Ross’s Goose among thousands of Snow Geese can oft times be an insurmountable challenge, so it’s nice when one decides to drop by in a crowd within which it is much more discernible.
A couple of Snow Geese along with Canada Geese and other waterfowl seen this afternoon from the Willow Point overlook at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.A petite little Ross’s Goose seen late this afternoon among several hundred Canada Geese north of Willow Point.The Ross’s Goose was last seen walking across the ice to the distant northern shoreline of the lake where it and the Canada Geese were later flushed skyward by several Bald Eagles.
In case you were wondering—yes, despite the ice on Middle Creek’s lake, the Sandhill Cranes are still being seen in the vicinity of Willow Point.
Sandhill Cranes returning from a short foray into the grasslands north of the lake at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.On approach to the flats north of Willow Point.Coming in for a landing.Touchdown!
You may be on the verge of satisfying your appetite with chestnuts from an open fire, but this Red-bellied Woodpecker is just as pleased to retrieve a Shagbark Hickory nut from a hiding place among the tree’s cracks and crevices where it was stashed away earlier in the fall.
Here are 7 reasons why you, during the coming week or so, should consider spending some time at Willow Point overlooking the lake at the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.
REASON NUMBER ONE— Wildlife is at close quarters along the trail leading from the parking lot to Willow Point…
Eastern Gray Squirrels are common and easily seen along the edge of the woods.Eastern Bluebirds are investigating nest boxes and may presently be using them as communal roost sites during cold, windy nights.A Hermit Thrush was just one of the songbirds we found foraging along the edge of Willow Point Trail.Look carefully and you may see one or more species of woodpeckers in the mature trees. We found this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in a maple near the trail’s terminus at the Willow Point viewing area.
REASON NUMBER TWO— A variety of waterfowl species are lingering on ice-free sections of the lake surrounding Willow Point…
Noisy flocks of Tundra Swans and Canada Geese on open water at Willow Point.American Black Ducks on a fly by.Mallard drakes near the point.A small flock of Green-winged Teal feeding among the Mallards.A flock of Northern Shovelers has been frequenting the shallows along the south side of Willow Point for at least two weeks.Common Mergansers diving for benthic fare.
REASON NUMBER THREE— Bald Eagles are conspicuous, easily seen and heard…
Bald Eagles on tree stumps in the lake.A hatch-year/juvenile Bald Eagle on a glide over Willow Point.
REASON NUMBER FOUR— Northern Harriers have been making close passes over Willow Point as they patrol Middle Creek’s grasslands while hunting voles…
A female Northern Harrier over Willow Point.A hatch-year/juvenile Northern Harrier gazing over a field of goldenrod adjacent to Willow Point.Hatch-year/juvenile Northern Harrier patrolling a field of goldenrod and preparing to pounce.A Northern Harrier buoyantly flying past Willow Point just prior to sunset.
REASON NUMBER FIVE— The annual observance of the White-tailed Deity holidays may be drawing to a close for the gasoline and gunpowder gang, but for the supreme ungulates, the rituals that lead to consummation of their unions are still ongoing…
Mystical White-tailed Deities hiding in plain sight near Willow Point.Having so far survived the ceremonies of sacrifice practiced by worshipers clad in vibrant orange attire, these divine idols agree to a more civilized ritual, a gentlemanly duel.
…then it’s off to find the fair maidens.
REASON NUMBER SIX— Sandhill Cranes are still being seen from Willow Point…
Sandhill Cranes have been spending time on dry portions of the lake bed and in grasslands and croplands to the north.
These Sandhill Cranes could depart from Middle Creek’s refuge at any time, particularly if the deep freeze returns to make feeding more difficult. You’ll want to visit soon if you want to see them.
REASON NUMBER SEVEN— The crowds that will accompany the arrival of thousands of Snow Geese in early 2025 can make visiting Willow Point a stressful experience. Visit now to see these birds and mammals at Willow Point and you might just have the place all to yourself. Then you can spend your time looking through the flocks of waterfowl and other birds for unusual new arrivals instead of wading through a sea of humanity.
White-crowned Sparrows at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area’s Willow Point.
Freezing water to the north of the lower Susquehanna valley is currently pressuring migratory waterfowl including these Hooded Mergansers to come south. As local ponds and lakes also become coated with ice, open water on the river offers many benthic feeders their only opportunity to forage.
Each spring and fall, Purple Finches are regular migrants through the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. Northbound movements usually peak in April and early May. During the summer, these birds nest primarily in cool coniferous forests to our north. Then, in October and November each year, they make another local appearance on their way to wintering grounds in the southeastern United States. A significant population of Purple Finches remains to our north through the colder months, inhabiting spruce-pine and mixed forests from the Great Lakes east through New England and southeastern Canada. This population can be irruptive, moving south in conspicuous numbers to escape inclement weather, food shortages, and other environmental conditions. Every few years, these irruptive birds can be found visiting suburbs, parks, and feeding stations—sometimes lingering in areas not often visited by Purple Finches. Right now, Purple Finches in flocks larger than those that moved through earlier in the fall are being seen throughout the lower Susquehanna valley. Snow and blustery weather to our north may be prompting these birds to shift south for a visit. Here are some looks at members of a gathering of more than four dozen Purple Finches we’ve been watching in Lebanon County this month…
Purple Finches are easily distinguished from House Finches by their notched tails, darker streaking, and well-defined facial markings. Though most frequently found in proximity to conifers, they also visit native deciduous trees and shrubs to snack on berries, seeds, and buds. Purple Finches can be particularly fond of maple, birch, poplar, sumac, and viburnum.Adult male Purple Finches are unmistakable in their wine-colored plumage.Purple Finches join a Dark-eyed Junco, a White-throated Sparrow, and a Black-capped Chickadee at a feeding station.Purple Finches eating black oil sunflower seed.A male Purple Finch in successional forest edge habitat consumes seeds from a dried stand of goldenrod.Purple Finches with juncos and Northern Cardinals.Purple Finches filling up on supplemental foods.
Sandhill Cranes sometimes stray east from their primary autumn migration routes that take them from marshland breeding grounds in the western Great Lakes and central Canada to wintering areas in and near Florida. These birds, 4 of 19 seen at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area over the weekend, may have been blown into the lower Susquehanna valley last week by the strong northwest winds that brought sub-freezing temperatures to the eastern states and lake-effect snows to counties bordering Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Migrating Sandhill Cranes can fly at altitudes that make them imperceptible to us on the ground, and can easily get redirected by atmospheric jets with speeds of 60 miles per hour or more. Then again, limited numbers of Sandhill Cranes have, in recent years, been expanding their nesting range east into bogs and other wetlands at scattered locations in northern Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and eastern Canada. Ice and snow cover could have prompted some of these birds to finally move south to pay us a visit. Incidentally, a separate flock of 38 Sandhill Cranes were seen over the weekend just south of the Susquehanna watershed on backwaters of upper Chesapeake Bay at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Harford County, Maryland. These cranes have been present since at least November 25th and may, like birds in previous years, spend the winter.
Few places in North America offer an observer the opportunity to stand in one spot and, with a single 180° sweep of a pair of binoculars, count 165 Bald Eagles. Sounds impossible, but we experienced just that earlier today along the Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam at Fisherman’s Park off U.S. Route 1 west of Rising Sun, Maryland. More than 200 eagles are there right now, so you really ought to think about visiting to see it for yourself. If you can’t make the trip, or if you need a little more convincing, we’ve put together a big collection of photographs for you to enjoy. Have a look…
In late November and December, hundreds of eagle watchers and photographers travel to Fisherman’s Park along the west shore of the Susquehanna River below Conowingo Dam/U.S. Route 1 to witness the largest annual gathering of our national symbol on the east coast.The park provides facilities for viewing right on the waterfront and is maintained by the operator of the hydroelectric dam, Constellation Energy.From the riverside viewing area, we counted 165 Bald Eagles on the rocks along the east shore of the river and on the electric transmission line trestles. That count didn’t include scores of additional birds obstructed from our view along the near shore downstream and along the east shore behind the mid-river island below the dam.A closeup of some of the 165 Bald Eagles we counted. Many of these birds, particularly the adults, are eagles that nest to our north and are here for a short winter stay. Local breeding pairs, including several with nests along the river below the dam, are already courting, copulating, and defending territories; the latter no easy task for the Conowingo birds facing all these visitors.The concentrations of Bald Eagles at Conowingo Dam sometimes provide an excellent opportunity to study the plumage of birds from the various age classes. Today’s assemblage put on a clinic.A nice, neat hatch-year/juvenile Bald Eagle in its first full set of feathers shows no molt.This bird was an unusual find, a hatch-year/juvenile Bald Eagle with early signs of molt. There’s even a new secondary feather visible in the gap on the left wing.The wings of a second-year/basic I immature Bald Eagle have a ragged appearance created by the long juvenile secondary feathers that have yet to be dropped.Another second-year/basic I immature Bald Eagle showing some longer juvenile secondaries on each wing.A third-year/basic II immature Bald Eagle showing a neater, cleaner trailing edge of the wings with no more long juvenile flight feathers. The wide dark stripe through the face gives the bird an osprey-like appearance. The bill color is usually more noticeably yellow than a second-year bird, but both can have extensive white in the belly feathers and elsewhere on the underside and shoulders.Third-year/basic II immature Bald Eagles exhibiting aggressive behavior.A fourth-year/basic III immature Bald Eagle with a black-bordered tail, yellow bill, and a thin dark line through the eye. Birds this age are mostly dark below, but often retain some white feathers which present a spotted appearance.The water passing through the dam not only attracts eagles, but other birds as well. Many, including these gulls, are looking for fish stunned or disoriented by their trip through the turbines, gates, or spillways.More than one hundred Ring-billed Gulls are currently being seen at Conowingo Dam.We saw a few American Herring Gulls as well.A juvenile American Herring Gull.Probably a hundred Black Vultures or more were in the vicinity.A Black Vulture by the park’s riverside lookout.We heard this Peregrine Falcon as it tangled with several eagles behind us before it quickly darted away across the top of the powerhouse and dam.Double-crested Cormorants were diving persistently in search of unwary prey.A composite image of a Double-crested Cormorant gulping down a Gizzard Shad.But these vigilant eagle watchers and photographers don’t come to Conowingo Dam and Fisherman’s Park to see Bald Eagles of various age classes flying around. Nor do they come to see the other amazing birds attracted to the waters passing through the dam.And they don’t even come to see some pretty good aerial fights among the numerous eagles congregated in the river gorge.They come specifically to see and photograph Bald Eagles swooping in to grab a fish. That’s their objective and they’re serious about it!A probable fourth-year/basic III immature Bald Eagle with a Gizzard Shad.An immature Bald Eagle swoops in to grab a fish.An immature Bald Eagle stretches its wings forward with a deep stroke to lift a fish from the Susquehanna.A Bald Eagle, possibly a fifth-year/basic IV bird, carrying away a freshly caught Gizzard Shad.An adult Bald Eagle comes in for the grab.An adult Bald Eagle comes away with a Gizzard Shad.Now the hard part, finding a place to eat its catch in peace.
If you go to Fisherman’s Park, time your visit for when the light is at its best—late morning through early afternoon. Don’t forget, it’s very cold down along the river, so dress appropriately. And finally, visit on a weekday if you can. The parking area can fill to capacity during the weekend and you may be turned away.
Don’t wait. The eagles visiting the Susquehanna at Conowingo Dam could get pushed further south by rough winter weather. Then again, adult pairs may take advantage of milder conditions to begin returning north early to nest.