The Darke County Birders held their annual Walk with the Director Saturday afternoon, September 10, 2011. Roger Van Frank, Darke County Parks Director, walked with members of the Birders on the paved bike trail that goes east out of Gettysburg. This bike trail will eventually go from the bike trail at Bradford to Greenville and beyond.
Along the trail, Van Frank talked about the types of trees growing in the wooded area. We found sycamores, black walnuts, buckeyes, and ashes. We also found highbush cranberry and grape vines. Fall wildflowers including goldenrod, yellow touch-me-nots, evening primrose, wild sunflowers and teasel were blooming. Taking advantage of the available nectar were Monarch and Buckeye butterflies and many dragonflies.
The birds, active along the trail, were mostly year round residents like Red-belly Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Killdeer, Bluejays, Crows and Cardinals. There were several recently fledged indigo buntings that chipped their displeasure at having to share the trail with us. Gray Catbirds and an Eastern Pewee were calling in the cool fall day. A small Flycatcher and a Wilson’s Warbler were feeding in the open grassy area along farm fields.
The Darke County Birders meet at the Darke County Nature Center at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Programs are on birding and nature topics. The club also has two birding activities a month. The public is welcome to attend the monthly meetings. Meetings and activities are listed in the Darke County Park District’s newsletter at www.darkecountyparks.org
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