On this sunny, cold first Sunday of the year, January 3, 2016, the Young Naturalists Club met at Brookside County Park in Sayville. Club members gathered around the big oak meeting table to discuss the birds found in our backyards this time of year. As children noted species of birds that they had encountered before, they read the species name aloud, and told of their own backyard experiences with these birds. A pile of feathers from birds representing many species found locally were displayed on the table. The children were asked to identify the feathers based on the pictures in the guide books. Easily recognized were the cardinal, bluejay and the woodpecker. Ellie was quick to indicate the feathers associated with the mourning dove, while Austin knew the red feathers of the cardinal and Bella correctly chose the black and white polka dotted feathers for the woodpecker. Most difficult for the children to identify were the feathers of the mocking bird.

With our newly honed birding knowledge and fully equipped with binoculars, the club members set out on a hike throughout the park. Luckily, the past three days of clear weather helped dry out all of the mud left behind from a very rainy December. We trekked along the trail collecting a great deal of litter. By the bridge facing the west pond, the children counted close to 30 ducks, with many mallards in the fray. Easily identified were the male mallards with their emerald green heads gleaming in the late afternoon sun. Most of the mallards were in pairs, with their courtship already begun.

Following along our route were a winter flock of Black-capped chickadees, darting in and out of the deciduous trees. Nuthatches and mourning doves were noted by the marshy areas near the northwest section of the park trail. The children were shown dead trees and introduced to the term “snag”. Members investigated these snags to see if nesting cavities could be found. Newly chipped wood shavings were found at the base of an older, large snag located in a more swampy area. The children were amazed to see the wood shavings and to know that a bird may be nesting over the winter in the hollowed tree.

The children all agreed the best part of the hour long hike was sitting on the bench watching the ducks on the west pond in the quiet of the afternoon. The sun was soon to set and the wind had calmed as we sat in the stillness of the woods observing the placidity of the waterfowl before us.

Click to enlarge photos – Photos and Recap Courtesy of Janet Gremli