Date: 6/17/25 8:11 am From: Russell Benedict <BenedictR...> Subject: [ia-bird] Bobolink question
Good morning,
I have not seen or heard a single Bobolink this year. Probably just a wrong place - wrong time thing. Have other people been seeing good numbers this spring? Russ between Pella and Knoxville.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
Office: 641-628-5173
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From: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...> on behalf of Russell Benedict <BenedictR...>
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 10:06 AM
To: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...>
Subject: [ia-bird] Interesting oriole behavior
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Iowa bird lovers,
Sitting on my porch this morning, I saw a female Baltimore Oriole fly across my yard carrying something large and dark in her bill. She dropped it on my sidewalk, reminding me of when birds drop fecal sacs from their young. I investigated and found that she had dropped a dead oriole nestling. I have always wondered what happens to young that die in the nest. Has anyone else seen similar behaviors? Russ between Pella and Knoxville.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
