Checkerboard County Park Bird Walk

Beginning in May, Wild River Audubon has held bird walks every other month.  Our third walk of the year took place on Saturday, August 21 at Checkerboard County Park.  This 79-acre park is located on the east edge of North Branch and just west of the North Branch of the Sunrise River. 

As birders gathered, our morning began with a history lesson.  “Why ‘Checkerboard’ Park?” I asked.   Kathy Blomquist relayed that the origin of the name was a large Purina sign that once stood near the intersection of Keystone and Highway 95.  The park encompasses a former gravel pit — the central portion of which is now a pond.  Joe Sausen shared that gravel from the pit was used to construct sections of Highway 95.   

It was a beautiful morning for a walk along the park’s one-mile trail that loops around the pond.  Portions of the path follow berms of the old gravel pit and these elevated sections offer great views of surrounding habitat.  While the woods were generally quiet, the pond and its edges hosted Solitary Sandpipers, Kingfishers, Killdeers, a Northern Waterthrush and the park’s resident Green Heron.  A list of species seen is provided below.