Despite cold weather, the seven participants on the Columbus Audubon trip to Pickerington Ponds Metro Park were treated to 39 species over the course of the morning.
Below freezing temperatures made for very little open water for waterfowl numbers, but the diversity was still there. A small section of one pond — visible from the Wood Duck picnic area — provided scope views of Lesser Scaup, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, American Black Duck, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, and a single Coyote walking through the field beside the observation platform.
As we walked towards the Pintail Marsh, we were treated to great views of a pair of Red-tailed Hawks, a lone American Kestrel, as well as a large group of noisy American Tree Sparrows. Pintail marsh, which was also frozen, provided more species diversity in the woods surrounding the observation platform. 6 Eastern Bluebirds and a very friendly Downy Woodpecker provided great looks as Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows popped up from the grasses. Upon returning to the parking lot, one more quick check of the original viewing platform from Wood Duck picnic area allowed for great views of 6 Sandhill Cranes hunting in the field.
Here’s a list of all species seen on this trip:
| 4 | Canada Goose |
| 5 | Northern Shoveler |
| 8 | Gadwall |
| 65 | Mallard |
| 2 | American Black Duck |
| 26 | Northern intail |
| 2 | Green-winged Teal |
| 1 | Lesser Scaup |
| 2 | Great Blue Heron |
| 1 | Cooper’s Hawk |
| 1 | Red-shouldered Hawk |
| 2 | Red-tailed Hawk |
| 6 | Sandhill Crane |
| 25 | Rock Pigeon |
| 30 | Mourning Dove |
| 2 | Red-bellied Woodpecker |
| 2 | Downy Woodpecker |
| 1 | Hairy Woodpecker |
| 2 | Northern Flicker |
| 1 | American Kestrel |
| 6 | Blue Jay |
| 1 | American Crow |
| 3 | Carolina Chickadee |
| 1 | Tufted Titmouse |
| 1 | White-breasted Nuthatch |
| 1 | Brown Creeper |
| 1 | Carolina Wren |
| 6 | Eastern Bluebird |
| 6 | American Robin |
| 500 | European Starling |
| 40 | American Tree Sparrow (Conservative, Large flocks frequently flushed) |
| 3 | White-throated Sparrow |
| 8 | Song Sparrow |
| 1 | Swamp Sparrow |
| 1 | Eastern Towhee |
| 2 | Northern Cardinal |
| 6 | House Finch |
| 4 | American Goldfinch |
| 8 | House Sparrow |