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PGT a Birding Hotspot
Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera Birdwatching Magazine calls the Prairie Garden Trust a “Birding Hotspot”. Take a look at the this link or if you have a copy of the April 2016 magazine go to...
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Rookery Overlook
Rookery Overlook This new shelter looking over Hiller’s Creek was finished yesterday. It is an easy 15-minute walk from the PGT Visitor Center. With the shade from the roof and a comfortable bench it...
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Preventing Tick Bites
Today was “Tick Treatment” Day at the PGT. Every year in early spring I dip all of our outdoor clothing in permethrin to prevent tick and chigger bites. I prefer this to using insect repellants like...
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Dogwood Forest
The flowering dogwoods are going to be in peak bloom this week. Here is a picture from this morning. It was taken in the South 40 woods which is about a ten minute walk from the visitor...
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New Birds!
Blue-winged Warbler Four new migrants came in with the rain last night: Kentucky Warbler Common Yellowthroat Blue-winged Warbler (see attached) Worm-eating Warbler All four of them nest here at the...
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Enjoying Spring!
It’s been a lot of fun having Kevin Sink visit the past few days. The weather has been perfect so we’re spending several hours outside every day. Here he is taking a Flowering Dogwood picture at Lichen...
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Magic Light
Dawn Fog in the PGT Woods Last Saturday there was a light fog here at dawn at the Prairie Garden Trust. Fog can do magical things with light! Even though Jack Dodson was out shooting landscape videos...
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Saturday AND Sunday for Birdwalk
Indigo Bunting We’ve decided to offer the PGT Birdwalk on both Saturday and Sunday (April 30th and May 1st). We added Sunday because there is a high probability of rain on Saturday morning. Both bird...
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Wilson’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler Every day new migrants are arriving. This morning I was able to see and photograph this Wilson’s Warbler. He’s just passing through on his way to breed in Northern Canada. We also saw...
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PGT Sidewalk
Sidewalk by PGT Visitor Center This is a shot of the sidewalk by the PGT Visitor Center taken this morning. We were out searching for new birds and found three beauties: Blackburnian Warbler...
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Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager This morning I found this male Summer Tanager hanging out at one of the new viewing areas we’ve built at the Prairie Garden Trust. We call it the Savanna Bluff Overlook. He allowed me to...
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Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler This is one of the common warblers that nest at the Prairie Garden Trust. They tend to hide in the underbrush so it’s easier to hear them than it is to see them. I photographed this...
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Henslow’s Sparrow – Boring Bird?
Henslow’s Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii If you aren’t a serious birder you’ll probably find the Henslow’s Sparrow boring. It’s small, drab and it usually hangs out in low clumps of dried grass....
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River Otters at the PGT!
On our morning hike today Lorna and I stumbled upon three River Otters swimming and feeding in Hillers Creek. This is the first time we’ve seen them here since we moved to the property in 1970. I...
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Sedge Wren
Sedge Wren I was surprised to come across a Sedge Wren today as I was walking the prairie to check on the Oaks we’ve planted. Finding Sedge Wrens is hit-and-miss here. Unlike any other bird I know of...
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Fall Color
Nymphaea odorata Bald Cypress reflecting on the water provides some burnt orange colors to contrast with the greens and purples of the water lily pads. This picture was taken at the Lotus Ponds last...
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No Fruits and Nuts
Wild Persimon, Diospyros virginianaWild fruits and nuts are hard to find at the PGT this Fall. Could hail cause a widespread crop failure? Some of the missing wildlife foods are: Wild Persimmon (shown...
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Early Spring Birds
Eastern Phoebe Having a week with temperatures in the 70s is a treat and it’s bringing the birds back. Today we got a good look at an Eastern Phoebe. This is about a month earlier than I’m used to...
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New PGT Map
PGT Map Lorna and Dale have just put up a new interactive map on the PGT Website. They’s also created a handout with the map on it. It’s at the printers now and should be ready in a few weeks. With the...
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American Woodcock nest with eggs
American Woodcock Nest & EggsI startled a woodcock this afternoon as I was taking a walk with Lorna. As I stepped off the path to mark a multiflora rose a woodcock catapulted up into the air right...
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