2024 - Birdathon Recap

Goslings hang close to their parents in Elm Grove Park. Photo by Andrew Glassman

On May 11th, Birders of the Grove hosted Elm Grove’s annual Birdathon event in Elm Grove Village Park. Twelve bird enthusiasts came out to identify and count birds during a one-hour group walk through the park. 

12 local birders participated. Photo by Karen Lloyd

Village Park is a 78-acre expanse consisting of a large pond, a creek, woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. It provides stop-over habitat for an abundance of migratory songbirds and waterfowl, plus habitat for other birds that take up spring/summer residence in the park. While the waterfowl migration was largely over at the time of the event, the songbird population did not disappoint. During a one-hour period, the group identified 25 different species of birds though visual sightings and the Merlin sound ID app. Favorite sightings included the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Baltimore Oriole.

Birds Spotted:

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Baltimore Oriole

Blue Jay

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Canada Goose

Carolina Wren

Cedar Wax Wing

Chipping Sparrow

Common Grackle

Common Yellowthroat

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

House Finch

House Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Song Sparrow

Tree Swallow

Warbling Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Author: Kelly Mathwick