Sycamore Sightings

Sycamore’s Land Stewardship Assistant and professional birder Wyatt Downey has observed over 130 bird species at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in Monroe County during volunteer marsh bird surveys, point counts, and other observations. This special preserve has been the focus of Sycamore’s largest restoration project to date, with over 60 acres of wetland restored in 2023, 35,000 trees planted, and nearly a hundred acres of grassland established. Due largely to the variety of habitats protected, Shine is able to offer refuge to many different bird species.

Here are just a few that Wyatt has captured on camera!

Wilson’s snipe

Henslow’s sparrow (state endangered)

Short-eared owls (state endangered)

Sora

Blue grosbeak

This tree swallow standing on one of the bird boxes Wyatt helps to monitor has a band on its leg. Wyatt has been trying to get close enough to read the numbers.

Wyatt trekking the Peruvian Andes this summer.

“Not only are there ten species of special concern and eight state-endangered species among these observations, but populations of these species within Shine seem to be growing. For instance, during my first season working at Shine, I managed to spot one short-eared owl, and I could locate Henslow’s sparrows in two localized spots with enough effort.

During this season, I have had the privilege of observing four short-eared owls, and Henslow’s sparrows are now present, and quite vocal, in most areas of the bottoms. Other species of note include the American bittern, Wilson’s phalarope, cerulean warbler, and northern harrier to name a few. Accounts like these show that even the most threatened species can thrive given the space and opportunity. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to grow alongside this property, and thanks to Sycamore, Shine will continue to provide for these species ‘for forever.’”

—Wyatt Downey

This article is from the Summer 2025 issue of The Twig, “The Volunteer Issue.” Read the issue at sycamorelandtrust.org/twig.