There were five Belted Kingfishers in the Wetlands on Wednesday afternoon (5/26). What does that mean? It means that our resident female, which is seen in the Wetlands nearly every day of the year until nesting duties call her away in April, has returned with her new family.

I wasn’t able to get a close enough look to see if there were three young and both adults present or four young and just one of the parents. There was much flying about, diving in the water, and switching of positions making it difficult to get a clear view of all of the birds.

It’s good to know that the nest was successful.

Where was the nest? I don’t know for sure, but my bet is in a burrow on the high banks of Ellerbe Creek where it runs through the Museum grounds.