Birds, Birds, Birds at
Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve
A Migratory Bird Watch in conjunction with a Guided Walk at Kuhlanapo Wetland Preserve on November 1, 2025 proved to be “an amazing day” according to Donna Mackiewicz, naturalist and president of Redbud Audubon Society. Over 20 attendees enjoyed an autumn walk at the preserve and were guided by Donna to witness and/or hear over 62 species of birds. Many brought binoculars or used a pair of Lake County Land Trust’s which help observers see the beauty of each bird’s unique details and colors.
The highlight of the bird watch according to experienced birders was spotting a rare Lewis Woodpecker (see above). Surveys indicate that the Lewis's Woodpecker populations may have declined by about 60 percent since the 1960s, likely due to loss or alteration of suitable nesting habitat.This is one of our oddest woodpeckers not only because of its unique colors, which include pink, silver and iridescent green but also with its unusual hunting style. It feeds mostly by catching insects in acrobatic flight: swooping out from a perch like a flycatcher, circling high in the air like a swallow.
"Every acre of land we preserve helps safeguard the birds that make Lake County so special. The Lake County Land Trust works tirelessly to conserve vital habitat for wildlife — and it truly shows. On yesterday’s monthly hike, we spotted 62 bird species, including Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Western Meadowlarks, and graceful White-tailed Kites.. These sightings remind us why protecting open grasslands and oak woodlands is so important. Western Meadowlark populations have fallen by ~40%+ over the last 50 years, part of the steep, biome-wide decline in N.A. (North America) - grassland birds are at Kuhlanapo Preserve all year!" Facebook posting, November 2, 2025, Redbud Audubon Society. Photos: D. Mackiewicz
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