35 Reasons to Look Up at Atherton Island Natural Area
From wild turkeys crossing the road to warblers moving through the trees, there was plenty to see and hear at Atherton Island Natural Area during this year's October Big Day.
On October 10, birders gathered at the preserve for a guided morning walk led by Dr. Ben Cvengros as part of October Big Day, a worldwide birding event that encourages people to observe and record the birds around them.
By the end of the morning, the group had recorded 35 bird species, offering a glimpse of the diversity of birdlife found across Atherton Island's varied habitats.
From Turkeys to Warblers
The morning got off to an early start when five wild turkeys crossed the road near the parking area, about ten minutes before the scheduled 9 a.m. walk.
From there, the group's observations ranged from familiar backyard birds like blue jays, American robins, and Carolina chickadees to raptors including Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, and American kestrel.
Several woodpecker species made the list, too, including red-bellied, downy, and pileated woodpeckers, along with northern flickers.
Fall migration added another dimension to the morning's sightings. The group recorded Tennessee, Nashville, and yellow-rumped warblers, as well as a ruby-crowned kinglet, gray-cheeked thrush, and several sparrow species.
Not every bird needed to be seen to make the list. A gray-cheeked thrush was identified by its call along the forest edge, while a rose-breasted grosbeak was heard near the parking area shortly before the walk began.
A Place for Birds—and Birders
With its mix of prairie, woodlands, wetlands, and other natural habitats, Atherton Island provides opportunities to observe birds throughout the year. Events like October Big Day offer a chance to explore the preserve with experienced birders, sharpen identification skills, and discover species that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The observations also provide a snapshot of birdlife at the preserve during fall migration, when resident birds and seasonal visitors can both be encountered.
Thank you to Dr. Ben Cvengros for leading the walk, to Indiana Audubon and the Indiana Land Protection Alliance for sponsoring the event, and to everyone who joined us for a morning of birding at Atherton Island Natural Area.
Whether you're an experienced birder or just getting started, there's always something new to discover when you slow down and pay attention to what's happening around you.
The full list:
5 Wild Turkey
3 Killdeer
1 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper's Hawk
1 Red-tailed Hawk
4 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Pileated Woodpecker
7 Northern Flicker
2 American Kestrel
1 Eastern Phoebe
30 Blue Jay
4 American Crow
6 Carolina Chickadee
2 Tufted Titmouse
1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
2 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 European Starling
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
12 American Robin
5 House Sparrow
1 House Finch
6 American Goldfinch
2 Field Sparrow
1 Dark-eyed Junco
2 White-crowned Sparrow
8 White-throated Sparrow
6 Swamp Sparrow
2 Eastern Towhee
10 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Tennessee Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
15 Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Summer Tanager
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak