Gold Wing
Tag: songbirds
Rosie
Another sign spring has arrived, first sighting of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Reclusive and shy birds, this fellow watched and waited by the bird feeder for over five minutes before finally dropping down to feed. Then he hung around, perched inconspicuously in the Scotch pine for some time, singing sweetly as we ate dinner. Welcome back, we have missed you.
House Sparrow
A flock of sparrows roosts in a neighbour’s cedar tree. Though individuals have lived and died a flock has lived there for as long as I’ve been in Dresden, surviving marauding outdoor cats, hawks, and harsh winters like the one drawing to an end. Sparrows are a little plain compared to goldfinches, cardinals, and other gaudier songbirds. Yet their gregariousness and raucous conversations add cheer and livens up a late winter day.
Bird watching
This will be the fifth (or sixth) consecutive season I have participated in Project Feeder Watch, a cool citizen science project which is a collaboration between Bird Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
I set up a bird feeder then once weekly record the weather conditions, species and number of birds that visit the backyard. We have the typical songbirds – English sparrows, Black-capped chickadees, cardinals, blue jays and so on. I have also seen a Sharp-shinned hawk, Baltimore oriole, and some other somewhat unusual visitors.
I photographed this American Goldfinch in April 2011. Did not get very many good photos last winter.
I invite you to visit either of these pages to learn more and participate.
For US participants: http://feederwatch.org/
Canadians: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/volunteer/pfw/index.jsp?lang=EN&targetpg=index
previouslytexan 