May 2, 2008
Spring can be bittersweet when it comes to backyard birding. Many of the favorite winter migrants, such as dark-eyed juncos and white throated sparrows have now moved north for cooler temperatures. However, the news is not all that sad, as new migrants seem to be arriving daily.Backyard tip of the week:
Take a moment this weekend to see what 'new' spring migrants have arrived to your yard or neighborhood. Be sure to look in the shrubs and other hidden areas to catch a glimpse of the more timid avian visitors. Keep your ears open, too, as you listen and enjoy the wonderful sounds of birdsong in spring. Invite a friend to join you, maybe with some herbal tea, and both of you are sure to love it!
Backyard sightings for last week:
Including northern cardinals, American robins, a northern flicker, and the rose-breasted grosbeak. Chipping sparrows, Carolina wrens, eastern goldfinches and house finches. Red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, white and red-breasted nuthatches. The tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees, blue-jays, American crows, a couple of grey squirrels, a mostly white skunk, an opossum and some bunnies. Also, European starlings, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, bronze-headed cowbirds and mourning doves.
Cool sighting of the week:
A familiar bird song greeted me when I arrived home from work yesterday. Soon after, the rose-breasted grosbeak was seen perched on the forsythia bush. With black head and back, red triangle on breast and a white belly, the male rose-breasted grosbeak almost looks to be dressed formally, in tuxedo with a red ascot! And what a striking compliment to the still flowering forsythia bush.
Its song is a rapid series of melodious whistles, referred to as a robin in a hurry, it sounds like "cheery-up, cheerily" repeated, over and over. You'll hear them, if they're in your yard.
I wished my rose-breasted friends a fine welcome home and filled the sunflower feeders, to which they sang in appreciation. It was very cool!
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