Green Birding in Southwest Volusia County, First Half 2016
I began the year on a New Year’s cruise with Arthur and did my first birding of 2016 on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. I decided against participating in the Bird-a-Day challenge this year and just haven’t been birding (locally or otherwise) much. Still, I’m keeping a Green Birding List for the year. Here’s a short update on the list for the first part of 2016.
In January I visited Gemini Springs 3 times, Konomac Lake 1 time, and checked off several birds at home. I started off with 65 Green Birding List species in January.
![Eastern Phoebe](https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8325/28267681250_76e2bffd03_z.jpg)
Eastern Phoebe, Gemini Springs | 05-JAN-16
![Great Blue Heron](https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8081/28473917171_40545e0749_z.jpg)
Great Blue Heron, Gemini Springs | 11-JAN-16
![Painted Bunting female](https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8040/28473918211_a08a7aa826_z.jpg)
Painted Bunting blending in, Gemini Springs | 11-JAN-16
![Chipping Sparrow](https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8672/27936308113_9d132eb5d3_z.jpg)
Chipping Sparrow, Gemini Springs | 11-JAN-16
February brought the total number of species to 83, with 3 visits to Audubon Park and several stops at other regular sites.
![Yellow-bellied Sapsucker](https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8673/27934743494_4195a73129_c.jpg)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Audubon Park | 01-FEB-16
![Belted Kingfisher](https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8089/28473919651_1dbebbaa4b_z.jpg)
Belted Kingfisher, Lake Monroe Boat Ramp | 15-FEB-16
![Osprey & Boat-tailed Grackles](https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7483/28473919361_486cc71fa4_z.jpg)
Osprey & Boat-tailed Grackles, Gemini Springs | 16-FEB-16
![White-tailed Deer](https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8249/28473918851_103c472010_z.jpg)
White-tailed Deer, Audubon Park | 21-FEB-16
In March and April I was pretty deep into training for my first half marathon and didn’t go birding too often; at the end of April I had a total of 92 Green Birding List species. I added a handful more during the following two months and ended the first half of the year with 95 species.
![Scarlet Kingsnake](https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8800/27936532823_276d7ff7a2_z.jpg)
Scarlet Kingsnake (seen during run), Gemini Springs | 06-APR-16
![American Alligator](https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7753/28473921191_31af2c97f6_z.jpg)
American Alligator, Gemini Springs | 12-APR-16
![Florida Red-bellied Cooter](https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8714/28473917901_705d8671e5_z.jpg)
Florida Red-bellied Cooter, Gemini Springs | 12-APR-16
![Wild Turkey family](https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8091/27934743734_693fa461c6_z.jpg)
Earth Day Wild Turkey family visit at home! Look at the babies! | 22-APR-16
I’ve had a look at where I’m at now compared to previous years and I should be able to get 10 more species with very little effort if I just head to a couple of spots I haven’t been to this year so far. With more regular birding I would still have a good shot at around 140 species… let’s see what happens in the second half of the year! I’ve already added 8 species in July, including one brand new to my all-time Green Birding List!