“Whack!”

The golf ball flies from the tee in an effortless traverse through the air, willed by the club holder to find a straight and true path to the hole. But it is not to be. Instead, the ball lands in a swath of prairie, flushing out a small cloud of golden, winged creatures. American Goldfinches flutter to a new location in the prairie, finding safety from the next hook or slice.

Shawnee Lookout Golf Course is not just a place to lower (or raise!) your handicap. It is also a wonderful place to enjoy birds of blues, greens, oranges, purples and reds. Eastern Bluebirds can be seen flying between their nesting boxes and low tree limbs in search of insects. Through the spring and summer months, watch for flashes of bright red and blaze orange amongst the green tree leaves and you’ll spot a Scarlet Tanager or Baltimore Oriole. Or lift your eyes to the skies to find soaring Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures taking advantage of the day’s thermals.

Next time you find yourself enjoying Shawnee Lookout’s 18 holes, take some time to appreciate nature’s winged wonders. Here are a few other birds that can be readily sighted between the greens: Tree Swallow, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Field Sparrow, Wild Turkey, Chipping Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird and Eastern Towhee.

Paul Seevers, Seasonal Naturalist & bird watcher