Assignment Completed

Here's my report from Larry's birding challenge of last week. I'm calling it, "Birding @ IBM."

As you may (or may not) know, I work for Manpower as a vendor at IBM in Rochester. IBM is trying to become more "green" at their facility. Several years ago, they added a large prairie area with a little pond in the center. There's a walking path all the way around it. Larry's instructions were to find a place I've never birded before and also it should not be a place that is known by other birders. I've never birded here before other than watching out the car window as we drive into the parking lot and I've never heard any other birders I know talk about the great birds they saw out at IBM, so this seemed to be the perfect place for completing my assignment.

To give you some additional background as to why this really isn't an ideal birding location, IBM is located just off Highway 52 which is the main north/south corridor (6 lanes) through Rochester. It's a very busy area with shopping centers located to the north and east. There's still a cornfield/ undeveloped area to the south, but this prairie area is between the main IBM facility and US 52, so it's kind of an oasis for any birds that can find it.

Rick came along with me on this trip, not because he's that interested in birds, but probably to make sure this adventure didn't last too long (since I'm a bit of a diddler when it comes to birding).

This post is going to be very visual, so I'll try to keep the captions short. In addition to birds, I've also included some flowers (since this is a prairie area, I thought it would be appropriate).

Here's one of the new bluebird houses they put up this spring--this is right next to the parking lot (I saw a Tree Swallow go inside).

Here's one of the Dickcissels we hear every morning; I'm amazed to see these birds right in town.

OK, let's head down this path and see what we can find.

Ooh, lots of white sweet clover and brown-eyed Susans blooming

Our first good look at the pond (I was wearing my badge so I figured that gave me permission to trespass in case a security guard should stop by and question my motives--BTW, they didn't).

Lots of Red-Winged Blackbirds down by the pond--here's a male and female in the top of a willow tree at the pond edge.

Mallards

A nice patch of False Sunflower

A Cedar Waxwing on a fencepost--I was amazed at the large number of Cedar Waxwings in this area.

Swamp Milkweed

Blue Vervain

There were 2 Mama Mallards with at least 10 babies between the 2 of them--CUTE!

Another view of the pond with the IBM main plant in the background (that long, low blue building)

I'm unsure what these plants are, but my best guesses are Hoary Vervain and Hoary Alyssum

This baby Barn Swallow was being fed on fly-bys from its mom.
Parking lot Killdeer--there was one family group of 5 and several other individuals patrolling the parking lot. During the week, this lot is almost full of cars, so I'm not sure where these killdeer go on weekdays.

Here's a list of all the birds that were seen and/or heard.
Dickcissel
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
Red-Winged Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
House Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Killdeer
Mallard
European Starling
Eastern Bluebird

This was a great assignment, Larry. Thanks for giving me a good reason to bird this area and to everyone else for letting me share this trip with you. Hope you enjoyed it.