Despite a cool breeze and cloudy skies that threatened but never delivered rain showers, 36 Macnamara Field Naturalists and members of the public tramped the trails of the Nopiming Reserve early on May 30. The earliest were the birders, alert for tell-tale bird songs at dawn. Mike Runtz and Roger Bird identified 66 avian species, including a somewhat rare Yellow Warbler. It seemed to be singing on its territory, so we could have a nesting pair--a first for Arnprior. There was a good selection of other warblers: Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-and white, etc. See the complete list for them all. In fact, the diverse habitats of the Trail--deciduous woodland, old field, marsh, and coniferous patches--gave a corresponding variety of sightings, from American Woodcocks to Wood Ducks, and Common Loons to Merlins.
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