Restoring Bottomland Prairie: A Tale of Two Julys (2015 vs. 2016, Part 6)

One huge difference between July 2015 and July 2016 is the greater use by birds of the interior of the Creek Field.

Last year, Goldfinches did not appear in the Creek Field at all until August, when the Tall Thistles bloomed & set seed.  

This year, Goldfinches put in an occasional appearance in June (sitting atop the Musk Thistle, wouldn't you know).  In July, they appeared in great numbers throughout the Creek Field, enjoying the Sawtooth Sunflower & the Whole-leaf Rosinweed.  In this video, Goldfinches are not waiting for seeds but are feeding directly on disk flowers.  Meanwhile, a sound track is provided by perpetually-singing Dickcissels!

For years, Indigo Buntings have nested along the Riparian Buffer and the creek edge of the Creek Field.   But this July, they moved further into the field.  Here a male Indigo Bunting proclaims his territory from the heights of Whole-leaf Rosinweed:



Dickcissels have also moved further into the interior.  Traditionally, they nest in the plums along the driveway or in the Field Buffer along the Loop Path.  (I have never seen or heard them in the Riparian Buffer.)  But this July they have moved into the Creek Field, with numerous nests on or close to the ground.   Females I see only as brown blurs diving back to their nests.   The males I'd have to be blind and deaf not to see or hear, as they like to sit atop tall plants and sing all the time!  Here Dickcissels sing while sitting on Sawtooth Sunflower and Giant Ragweed:

My records of the Creek Field in July 2015 do not include a single photo of a bird.  The Creek Field in July 2016 is blessed by birds!