Nesting at the Loblolly

June is a time of nesting birds at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve and the other preserves in the Limberlost Territories. Gene Stratton-Porter photographed over 40 bird nests around Geneva in the early 20th century. She was patient and spent hours in the field to gain the female bird’s trust to be able to take photographs of the nests and the young birds.

We hope you will enjoy some of the past couple of days happenings at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve.

Randy Lehman was able to take a series of photos of a red-bellied woodpecker feeding young on June 7.

The red-bellied woodpecker entered with food in the beak and left on another “food” run.

In this picture you can see food in the beak for the hatchlings.

Feeding the ever-hungry young. This nest is in a dead limb of a large oak tree.

This is the nest of a phoebe on the pavilion. We think the young fledged on June 6 or 7.

Last year, we thought that the blue grosbeak might have been nesting at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve. In late May, Clara Conroy spotted a pair of them. On June 9, Bill Hubbard took this picture of male blue grosbeak.

Naturalist Bill Hubbard took this picture of a female blue grosbeak on June 9. On June 5, Kimberley Roll documented a female bird with nesting material.

On June 9, Bill Hubbard took this photo of a kingbird. They have been nesting at the Loblolly Marsh for the past few years.

Kingbird going after another insect. They are quick to spot an insect which makes a tasty meal for them.

Some of the other nesting birds at the Loblolly Marsh Nature Preserve are Orchard Orioles, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Great-crested Flycatchers, Willow Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Field Sparrows, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Song Sparrows, and a number of other birds.

Thank you to Randy Lehman, Bill Hubbard, Clara Conroy, and Kimberley Roll for sharing your finds with all. We know that Gene Stratton-Porter would be pleased that her feathered friends still make a home at Limberlost.

If you would like your own birding tour of the Loblolly Marsh, contact Naturalist Curt Burnette 260-368-7428 or cburnette@indianamuseum.org to schedule your own Rent-a-Naturalist.