" A Season Of Change"

We have now entered into the meteorological fall season with considerable evidence of a big transition.  This is a time of vibrant color changes, taking advantage of available food sources and migrations to warmer climates.

At the end of this post, Wacouta resident Crystal Olson shares a unique and interesting birding experience with us.

New England Asters

The colorful New England Asters are a sure sign that fall is just around the corner.  Several of these prairie forbs can now be viewed along the Rattlesnake Bluff Trail.

This plant is easy to distinguish with robust deep purple and sometimes rosy flower heads.  The stems of this aster are 4 feet tall.

Sumac and Goldenrod

Locally, one of the earliest shrubs to show off their fall colors is the sumac.  A beautiful contrast is on display against the bright yellow flowers of the goldenrod.

We have two species of sumac in Wacouta, smooth and staghorn.  The exterior texture and forking pattern of the branches of the staghorn sumac are reminiscent of deer antlers, hence the name.

White berries of the Red Osier Dogwood

The bright white berries of the Red Osier Dogwood are very noticeable now along the trail.  The Native American name for this shrub is "Kinnikinnik."

In a visit to Pipestone National Monument a number of years ago, I learned the twigs of this shrub were used in basket making and the inner bark was a traditional tobacco smoked in their ceremonial pipes.

Highbush Cranberry

Now as one one walks along wooded sections of the Rattlesnake Bluff trail, the bright colored Virginia Creeper vines (sometimes called woodbine) can be observed climbing up the trunks of large trees.  In addition, the bright red berries of Highbush Cranberry can't be missed.

Highbush cranberries are not real cranberries, but a member of the Viburnum family.  These berries are edible and make wonderful tasting jam and jellies.  I have even used the berries as a delicious condiment for meat and game.

It is not surprising, several species of birds are attracted to this tasty food source.

Cedar Waxwing and Mountain Ash Berries

Within our immediate neighborhood, there are a number of Crabapple and Mountain Ash trees now producing fruit and berries attracting blue jays, robins and cedar waxwings.

Blue jays and robins tend to appear in small numbers, while waxwings show up in large flocks.  A few years ago, we had a flock of waxwings harvest all the ripe berries in our Mountain Ash tree within one day.

Female Belted Kingfisher

On a recent canoe outing on Wacouta Bay, I was fortunate to observe a pair of Belted Kingfishers.  This interesting bird has a top-heavy physique and demonstrates an energetic flight. 

They typically patrol up and down the shoreline until locating aquatic food such as small fish or crayfish.  Once their target is located, they dive straight down into the water.

Solitary Sandpiper

Since September 2nd, the river has dropped nearly 3 feet exposing a considerable amount of shoreline.  These conditions provide a wonderful food source for migrating shorebirds like this solitary sandpiper.

Walking along muddy shores or in shallow water, shorebirds hunt for a variety of insects, crustaceans and mollusks.  Right now, one of the best locations to observe these birds as they are migrating is the Sandpoint Trail within Frontenac State Park.

*The next part of the blog will feature a recent encounter that Wacouta resident Crystal Olson had with a wayward visitor. Thanks Crystal for your contribution to the blog!

Unique Visitor

The Unexpected Guest

I noticed him right away. Amidst the usual crowd of birds that visit my feeder, he stood out—larger, more striking in appearance. As I peered closer, I saw colored bands around his ankles and realized this was no ordinary pigeon—he must belong to someone!

As I often do when I have a nature question, I contacted Bruce. He told me he’d had a pigeon or two visit him over the years that were also “owned” and offered the use of a live trap to help me get a closer look at the identifying numbers. He also gave me the contact info for the American Pigeon Racing Association in Oklahoma.

Offering food and water to the visitor

Following their guidance, I scattered wild bird seed at ground level and placed a shallow dish of water nearby. My new friend ate steadily all day but was wary when I tried to approach. He often flew to the peak of our roof, watching me from above. That night, it rained. I assumed he’d found shelter elsewhere—but there he was the next morning, enjoying breakfast.

Fingers Crossed!

I picked up the trap from Bruce—a large one, probably meant for a raccoon, with a pressure plate to trigger the door. I set it up with food and water inside, and a small trail of seed leading in. But I soon discovered the pigeon wasn’t heavy enough to trip the mechanism. So I waited and watched. Eventually, as he was feeding inside, my husband Paul was able to gently shut the door. We had him!

Identification Bands

We brought the trap, bird and all, into the garage for safety. Paul gently lifted him out as I read the numbers on his bands. I called the racing association and gave them the info. They quickly identified the owner, who happened to live nearby in Cottage Grove.

I contacted him and we made arrangements for him to pick up the bird the next day.

The Mary Poppins song “Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)” echoed in my head.

A Happy Ending

I learned that the pigeon had been part of a training toss from Hugo to Lakeville over Labor Day weekend. An unusual north wind had blown over a hundred birds off course. “My” pigeon had hatched in January to the owner’s parents. I was amazed to learn that racing pigeons can fly 600–700 miles in a single day. Some are worth thousands of dollars—one recently sold for nearly $2 million! The purse for some local races can be as much as $100,000.

The owner was thrilled. He gently examined the bird and could tell it had lost some weight—but also that it had been steadily eating. We said our goodbyes, but I won’t soon forget my experience with this beautiful creature.