Golfers affection for birdies is well documented. Shooting under par on any hole is an achievement worth talking about. Achieving an eagle or an albatross is even more note worthy. However, the most common birds found at Links are the kind with wings! The course is habitat for many different species of birds. From the mallards that have taken up residence in the 1st hole dugout to the swallows that swoop from their 150 yard marker bird houses, all of the fine feathered varieties of birds indicate that Links is an environmentally friendly and healthy habitat.
The swallows are my personal favorites. Not only are they fascinating to watch as they skim the surface and dart about the course in the early dawn or twilight, swallows are valuable as insectivores! Swallows eat many flying insects, including mosquitoes and other harmful species. They can cover over 600 miles per day and consume more than their own body weight of flying pests every day.
Other birds found on the course include robins, starlings and magpies. A robin's diet consists of bugs, worms and berries. It is one of the earliest bird species to lay eggs. Nests consist of long coarse grass, twigs, paper, and feathers,smeared with mud and are often cushioned with grass or other soft materials. Robins are also amongst the first birds to sing at dawn, with songs consisting of several distinct notes that are often repeated. The ever present starlings are also omnivorous, preferring insects but willing to help them selves to other opportunities as they arise.
Magpies are perhaps the least liked birds at Links. Members of the crow family, they are intelligent but extremely noisy. They are opportunistic feeders and can become quite aggressive in their tactics. They will eat insects when they have to, but seem to prefer the company, and garbage, of humans. At LInks magpies have built a few rather impressive nests. These can often be seen in the trees down the left side of #2 fairway. A very large example nest exists in the trees behind the club locker shed.
The presence of so many bird species at Links is a good indicator that the course is environmentally friendly and an excellent source of habitat. Golf courses sometimes get a bad rep as environmental hazards due to an alleged reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In reality, most courses strive for a healthy balance between natural and man made solutions. That so many birds call Links home, is a testament to the course's success in attaining this balance. Hopefully you will always find your fair share of birdies at Links. Whether they are on your score card or just in the trees is up to you!
