All Together Now . . .
Hannah called me today to say that the boys (Bryant, Joey, and Andrew) wanted to tell me about something they saw, but since they couldn't decide who should do it, they all wanted to say it together. Hannah paused, and I heard GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
Just the other day Joey and I had talked about never having seen one of those.
The boys were walking along the road near Lowell's place (and Joey's) when something flew out of a tree at the edge of the wheat field next to the road. They thought it was a Bobwhite at first, but something didn't look quite right. So Joey walked into the field toward where they had seen it land, and scared it up again. This time they got a better look, and saw more of its markings. They also noticed how it flew. Later they looked it up on the internet and listened to how it sounds. Everything matched for a Greater Prairie Chicken identification. My bird book lists it as "uncommon and very local."
Prairie Chickens are grassland birds. They were far more abundant earlier than they are now. Ring-necked pheasants, which are an Asian import, have filled the biological niche that Prairie Chickens used to fill.
Perched in a tree is not the first place most people would think of finding a Prairie Chicken. However, Bobwhites and Pheasants are both known to do that, occasionally, at least, so it seems logical that Prairie Chickens would also do so.
Today my nephews also saw an Upland Sandpiper, which is listed too as "local and uncommon in grass country."
Megadoses of curiosity, sharp eyes, summer, research resources, and time are wonderful assets these boys are using to learn about the delightful world God provided for its diverse inhabitants.
Just the other day Joey and I had talked about never having seen one of those.
The boys were walking along the road near Lowell's place (and Joey's) when something flew out of a tree at the edge of the wheat field next to the road. They thought it was a Bobwhite at first, but something didn't look quite right. So Joey walked into the field toward where they had seen it land, and scared it up again. This time they got a better look, and saw more of its markings. They also noticed how it flew. Later they looked it up on the internet and listened to how it sounds. Everything matched for a Greater Prairie Chicken identification. My bird book lists it as "uncommon and very local."
Prairie Chickens are grassland birds. They were far more abundant earlier than they are now. Ring-necked pheasants, which are an Asian import, have filled the biological niche that Prairie Chickens used to fill.
Perched in a tree is not the first place most people would think of finding a Prairie Chicken. However, Bobwhites and Pheasants are both known to do that, occasionally, at least, so it seems logical that Prairie Chickens would also do so.
Today my nephews also saw an Upland Sandpiper, which is listed too as "local and uncommon in grass country."
Megadoses of curiosity, sharp eyes, summer, research resources, and time are wonderful assets these boys are using to learn about the delightful world God provided for its diverse inhabitants.
posted by Mrs. I at
2:00 PM
3 Comments:
How neat is that!!
By
Dorcas Byler, at 6/30/2009
Dietrich was there too. (:
By
Joey, at 6/30/2009
They had a great foursome last week at Ronald and Brenda's, celebrating on Saturday evening with frog legs, prepared by the boys. Four boy-cousins did a lot of exploring: Bryant, Andrew and their hosts Chadwin and Ethan. Bryant and Andrew might hope their mom and sister go to Pennsylvania again soon :) --their Aunt Linda
By
Anonymous, at 6/30/2009
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