Matheson Hammock Park Field Trip
Saturday, April 30, 2024 • Matheson Hammock Park• Report by Rachel DiPietro
Thirty-four women converged on Matheson Hammock Park for a morning of early spring migration birding, March 30, 2024. Late March is usually when the northward migration begins for many long-distance tropical migrant species, some of whom may also spend the winter in the northernmost part of their nonbreeding range here in South Florida.
Our start at the parking lot gave us a good showing of a small flock of Palm Warblers and a Cape May Warbler in the trees bordering Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, a Pileated Woodpecker flyover, and the resident Orange-winged Parrots and Red-masked Parakeets. Cooper's and Broad-winged Hawks also flew over early on.
As we made our way north towards the pond, the parrots continued making noise and giving us good views at the tops of the Royal Palms. We also had ground-level views of grazing White Ibis and Muscovy Ducks, an established non-native feral species that many of us have learned not to let get too close as they are always looking for handouts! On the edge of the pond, we encountered another small feeding flock, with more Palm Warblers as well as Black-and-white Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Northern Parula.
We closed out the morning across the road, exploring the western side of Matheson, currently undergoing significant native plant restoration work-- which will hopefully mean more abundant bird life on future walks here! While we did not see the resident Great Horned Owl in the area, we encountered Red-bellied Woodpeckers and European Starlings at the tops of the palms, singing Northern Cardinals in the trees, and Mourning Doves on the wires. The start of our walk back to the east side was marked by a surprise flyover of a Blue-and-yellow Macaw pair, the largest of Miami's established feral parrot species, and with better looks at a Pileated Woodpecker on a dead snag in the restoration area. Overall, the group observed over 90 birds of 24 different species, a good mix of residents and early spring transients.
BIRDS WE SAW
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)
Indian Peafowl
White-crowned Pigeon
Mourning Dove
White Ibis
Cooper's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Monk Parakeet
Orange-winged Parrot
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Red-masked Parakeet
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
European Starling
Gray Catbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Northern Cardinal