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
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
Caution: The e-mail below is from an external source to Central College. Please do not open attachments or click links from an unknown or suspicious origin. Report
suspected phishing emails using the “Phishing Alert Report” button.
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
