02 July 2002 - Tuesday

At the end of the school year, the Yellowstone Elementary School at Mammoth (through the park service), offered a Summer in the Park Program. Rachel was interested in a number of classes, so we signed her up for as many as we could. Space was limited so she did not get all the classes she wanted. We did bargain with her to sign up for the birding class because I really wanted to go. The birding class was taught by the park ornithologist Terry McEneaney. Rachel was a sweetheart and consented to go and I signed up as a parent support for the class.

We met at the Mammoth Elementary School at 7:00 am and got all the kids buckled in and Terry told us where we were headed. We had radios just in case they were needed for the two vehicles involved. Terry rode in the 12 passenger van and another parent and I rode in the chase car.

We headed up the road towards the Mammoth Terrace. We turned off about half way up at what is know as the YACC camp. We parked, got out of our vehicles and got out our spotting scopes. Terry was listening and already had some birds sounded out before we were all set up. His hearing is amazing.

We saw a beautiful Lazuli Bunting on the very top of a tree close by. We saw a magpie and as we walked through the area a magpie nest. We watched from a distance as the magpie flew to the nest and made its way inside. We saw some ravens also along the way who did not want to be left out of the bird tour. We also heard and saw a few Chipping Sparrows.

We walked around the YACC camp and down a trail to a marsh area. There was a rare bird that Terry wanted us to have the opportunity to see. We heard the bird's call, but did not see it. There was just too much noise and activity. We did see Red-winged black birds on the reeds calling out to each other. We also saw a Lincoln's sparrow perched on a nearby bush. We setup the scopes and we all took several looks at any and all birds we were able to view. We saw a Snipe moving among the reeds as well as a Sora. On our way back to our vehicles we saw some Red crossbills and Terry explained how these birds eat and the function of their specialized beaks. They get a pine cone and their beaks move laterally vice up and down and spread the cone apart so they can get the seed. Very interesting information. Terry is just an amazing guy.

We loaded up and headed to Swan Lake above Mammoth. We pulled into the large turnout and immediately saw all kinds of birds in the area. We setup our scopes and started learning and enjoying. We saw Canada geese with goslings near the shore. We saw a flock of American Avocet floating out in the middle of the lake. We then noticed another flock of much smaller birds floating a little ways south of the larger flock. These birds were Wilson's Phalaropes.

Terry next pointed out a Ring-billed gull standing near the shore. We saw an Osprey flying over and looking for some food. We saw two Sandhill cranes flying southwest of us. We followed their flight along the hillside and then they disappeared. Terry explained that they had probably nested near the lake and hatched their young and then as soon as they could they move away from the lake to a hillside area. We next enjoyed the flying antics of a Northern Harrier as it flew low over the meadows just south of where we were standing. We also saw Lesser Scaups on the lake as we panned and viewed the area. We were joined by many tourists who stopped to see what we were looking at and enjoying.

After enjoying all we could see there, we packed up and headed to Blacktail Lakes for the last stop of our bird tour.

The first thing we saw was two ravens flying together over the hillside. We then watched a golden eagle in flight high above the hillside. Terry focused in and was able to find two golden eagles perched in a tree on the northeast hillside. They were a mated pair and fun to watch. They are a large bird.

We watched Ruddy ducks, Coots, Yellow-headed blackbirds, Red-winged blackbirds, Ring-necked duck, Brewer's Blackbird, Spotted sandpiper, Killdeer and Pied-billed Grebe. It was fun to watch and learn about all these birds. While enjoying the birds along came a coyote. We watched as the coyote came along the shore of the lake and tried to catch a bird or two. He was wandering around looking for nests. When he came close to the area that the Killdeer were, the Killdeer walked parallel with the coyote at a distance of maybe ten yards. He or she was making sure the coyote did not get any of its young. As the coyote moved too close for comfort of the birds, they began to dive at him. The diving antics were performed by the Red-winged blackbirds and Brewer's Blackbirds. The birds effectively drove the coyote off. Very interesting to watch them work together against the coyote and escort him or her from their nesting area.

We were then over flown by a Red-tailed Hawk and we enjoyed watching the flying acrobatics of Tree Swallows in the meadows on the opposite side of the lake and road.

We had a great day learning about and viewing some beautiful birds and enjoying nature. It was a great time for youth and adults to share the experience and appreciate the small things around us that we don't take the time to listen to and see. What a marvelous world we live in!