Mead Gardens, 3/24/2012

Cedar Waxwing

This morning I had only a couple hours to go Mead Gardens.  Initially I was having a pretty good time there.  I saw my first Goldfinch in Florida, as well as lots of Cedar Waxwings, several Northern Parula, and the woodpeckers were particularly fun, especially Downy Woodpeckers, though I also saw Northern Flickers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Downy Woodpecker

American Goldfinch

My morning got cut short, though, when I happened upon a 5-week old Barred Owl that apparently fell from its nest.  The owl was clearly injured, unable to move, and one of the parents was not far away but helpless to do anything about it.  I had met another birder who called the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, and they instructed us how to bring the bird to the center, which was only about 10 minutes away.  The people at the center told me that the owl had suffered a broken wing and spinal trauma.  They should know in about 3 days if the owl will survive.

Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Here's a list of the species I found this morning:
Wood Duck 2
Mallard x Mottled Duck (hybrid) 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
White Ibis 2
Osprey 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 2
Barred Owl 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 1
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 2
Cedar Waxwing 50
Northern Parula 4
Palm Warbler 2
Prairie Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 5
American Goldfinch 2