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Remind-
Five youth and four adults joined us at Jeffer-
son County Park on Sunday, November 17th to
learn about cavity nesting birds. The cavity
nesters they saw included red-bellied wood-
peckers, downy woodpeckers, white-breasted
nuthatches, tufted titmice, and black-capped
chickadees. They also spotted other birds such
as juncos, white-throated sparrows, goldfinches
and cardinals. After birding they also took
turns climbing into a hollowed out Silver Ma-
ple to see what it would be like to live inside
the cavity of a tree. The picture to your left
shows Aiden and Noah Mizelle crammed in
next to Adrian Scotton. Below left is Wendy
Carminhato and her daughters Alejandra and
Ana Camila.
Here’s some things the kids learned:
*There are 85 species of North American birds
that nest in tree cavities.
*There are two types of cavity-nesting birds:
primary cavity-nesting birds, such as wood-
peckers and nuthatches, excavate their own
holes. Secondary cavity-nesting birds take ad-
vantage of natural cavities in
trees or holes that are aban-
doned by other birds.
*The majority of cavity-nesting birds eat in-
sects and they play an important role in the
control of forest insect pests.
*Ducks that use tree cavities for nesting include
buffleheads and wood ducks.
*Birds of prey that use cavities for nesting in-
clude barred owls, screech owls, and our small-
est falcon, the kestrel.
*It takes a woodpecker about two weeks to dig
out a nesting chamber.
*Birds that nest in tree cavities or bird houses
in the spring and summer while they raise their
families will also use these cavities in the win-
ter to roost or sleep. But don’t expect to see
cardinals or blue jays in these. Species that
build cuplike nests in trees and shrubs generally
don’t enter cavities or boxes.
CAVITY NESTERS
If you are interested in ge�ng The Young Bird-
er’s Guide to Birds of North America we have
a special offer. You can get it for only $8.00.
That’s half price! The other half is covered by
www.birdwatching.com and Jefferson County
Conserva)on. It would make a great Christ-
mas gi+ for your budding bird watcher.
IOWA’S WRENS: IOWA’S WRENS: IOWA’S WRENS: IOWA’S WRENS:
Sunday, December 15th, 2:00 p.m. Jefferson County Park nature center
All bird lovers are welcome to come learn about the six species of wrens that can regularly be
found in Iowa. Afterwards we’ll make a gourd bird house, for the house wren, that you’ll be
able to put out next spring. A limited number of gourds are available so please pre-register. The
program is open to the general public with Young Birders also being invited.
The Jefferson County Young Birders Club will begin its second
year in January. We currently have about 20 kids and their fami-lies on our young birders e-mail list but we would certainly like
more! If you know of anyone who would be interested in joining us, please forward them this newsletter. The Young Birders Club
is for youth ages 8 to 18. Kids 11 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult to our birding activities. To be added to
our e-mail list call Therese at 472-4421 or e-mail [email protected]
Young Birders Club Newsletter Fall 2013
What Bird is That!!!
Time to get out your bird guides. Below are five pictures of birds that you may
be seeing at your bird feeders this winter. A few are commonly seen. Others,
not so often. Can you identify them? If so, write your answers down and send
them to [email protected] to see how you’ve done.
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