Nesting season at Huntley Meadows Park has started already. Excerpts from my e-mail report to park staff from Sunday’s work day:
Every year, or so it seems, the birds start nesting earlier. We have 7 Hooded Merganser eggs in box #1, and another hoodie flushed from box #10. Photographers also report that a Wood Duck drake has also been hanging about this area at the beginning of the boardwalk.
We checked the other boxes in the wetland and topped up the wood chips. Box #6 looks to be in serviceable condition — no need to replace it this year. The latch on #62 is troublesome, as it has swollen and rusted in the weather; I will look for a screw-lock ring that fits it better.
Target winter species observed: Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal
Water gauge reading: 0.32
Construction for the wetland restoration project is really finally happening this year. Here’s a view upstream along Barnyard Run, back toward the observation tower. Expect this reach to look very different in a few months.