Bird Watch

Day 286: Both of Merry's kitty perches are immediately on the inside of the window from bird feeders. The hummingbirds intrigue him more than the larger birds (Grosbeaks, Jays, etc.) who come to eat at the suet basket, possibly because they move so much faster. For the most part, they stay on the far side, watching the Watcher, although occasionally one will hover near the glass. Skunk and Tippy both enjoyed watching birds, and neither of them became particularly agitated. That wasn't the case with Pete, the first cat I had as an adult. At the time, I lived on the east coast where Bluejays were prevalent. Pete was allowed outdoors, and the jays often attacked him when he went outside, flying down and smacking him in the back of the head. When Pete was inside, a jay sometimes perched on a branch directly outside the window. Pete's lower jaw would begin to tremble, and his teeth would chatter, despising his tormentors. I never knew him to kill a bird, but I am certain the urge was strong. Merry seems content to watch, and of course he will always be kept indoors and away from my feathered friends.

Who's Watching The Watchers?

Day 7: I am not the only member of the family who finds amusement in birdwatching, but unlike many cats, Tippy is quite content to merely watch. The only time he shows any inclination otherwise is when one of my avian friends flutters against the window to let me know that the feeders need refilling. The suet feeder hangs a foot away from the glass, and its visitors include the usual complement of Steller's Jays, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncoes and so on, but lately, three Canada Jays have been quite literally hanging around. This has gone on for several weeks now, the longest time they've stayed. My suet budget has been adjusted upward accordingly because...well, because you just can't let a sweet little jaybird go hungry now, can you? The Nuthatch also occasionally stops by, and the Chickadees have returned from summer vacation, chattering with great enthusiasm about their experiences. Wildfire smoke must surely affect birds and critters in many of the same ways it affects humans. Maybe their internal weather sensors are telling them that the rain is coming. I hope so, because I have only the NOAA forecast to rely on.

Birdwatching

Day 39: Birdwatching (particularly in my own back yard) is something I enjoy greatly. I maintain feeding stations with an eye to attracting as many species as possible, and have planted trees, shrubs and forage plants in my yard to make it as appealing as possible. Not a day goes by that I don't see Dark-eyed Juncoes (Oregon and Pink-sided, above) and Steller's Jays as well as the resident ravens and my namesake crows. The juncoes occur here year-'round, whereas other species including grosbeaks, sparrows, finches, wrens, towhees, swallows and siskins come only in season but do so consistently year after year. I am always delighted when an "occasional" shows up: Lazuli Bunting, Western Tanager, Scrub Jay, etc. I keep a Life List and although it isn't as impressive as it would be if I travelled, it thrills me to be able to tick off something I haven't seen before. Photographically, the Juncoes get short shrift. They're my "everyday" birds, their soft pips always coming from within the tangled branches of the contorted filbert, letting me know that the daily seed is expected, yes, but also appreciated.

Pair O' Parrots

Day 218: I've spent several hours sitting out on my back step, hoping to capture Brewer's Blackbird through my lens. Brewer's was a Life List sighting for me when they first appeared at the feeder a few days ago, one male and one female. Standing at my window, I remarked on the yellow eye, but as soon as I moved, he was off like a shot. A few hours later, the male returned and fed on the ground, again flying off at my slightest movement. I took up a vigil on the porch, but although other birds flocked to the food, Brewer's never came within range. Purple Finches, Towhees, Cowbirds, Black-Headed Grosbeaks and assorted sparrows visited by the dozens, giving me plenty of photo opportunities, but for today, a "pair o' parrots" (Evening Grosbeaks) stole my heart. Crows and Ravens notwithstanding, Porch Parrots are my favourite people.

Life List Sighting - Northern Pygmy Owl

Day 116: This was purely a case of being in the right place at the right time. I was passing through a rather dark section of the Bud Blancher Trail when something small and brown flitted across my field of view and landed on an arched branch of vine maple. When my eyes came to rest on it, I said to myself, "That is not a Pacific Wren. It's too big." Carefully raising the camera without letting the bird out of my sight, I zoomed in, but the woods was too dark for me to make out any detail other than a flat face and big eyes. Again, I remarked to myself on the size, saying, "Boy, if that's a Saw-Whet, it's tiny!" I had time for two shots before my little friend disappeared into the forest.

As soon as I arrived home, I downloaded the photos from the camera and enhanced them to bring up the light. Better to shoot dark and get detail than try for a longer exposure which would undoubtedly result in a blurry image! The next step was to refer to Sibley: nope, not a Saw-Whet. The raised eyebrows, the spotted forehead, the barring on the tail, and the slight rufous "collar" told me what I needed to know.

The Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) is an uncommon species here. It is substantially smaller than a Robin (6.75" as opposed to 10"), but is stockier for its size. It often flicks its tail from side to side when perched, a behaviour which I noted on this occasion. Unlike many other owls, it is active during daylight hours.

Hanging Out

Day 240: Ohop Valley is an excellent locale for birdwatching, and although I'd stopped by in the hopes of catching a snapshot of a Yellowthroat, it was the Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) who stole the show. Their colors are clear, breasts and flanks unmarked by any of the flecks or speckles which camouflage other species, black facial masks outlined with white, and tailfeathers "dipped in yellow paint." A keen-eyed observer may be able to make out bright red, waxy drops on the tips of the secondary flight feathers, the physical feature which gives these birds their name. Cedar Waxwings are not related to jays as some people think, although their heads are similarly crested. They are a very gregarious species, often grouping in large flocks when feeding. A hundred Cedar Waxwings in a chokecherry tree is a sight to behold!

Ornithological Philately

Day 98: Issued in 1981, the "State Birds" postage stamps were extremely popular both for mailings and with collectors. Although my maternal grandmother was an avid philatelist, I was too practical to follow in her footsteps but for this one notable exception: I purchased a full sheet of 50 for a mere $10 and tucked them away in my "collectible paper" box, not as an investment but as a sort of philatelic field guide.

Even more than with state flowers, you will find a number of shared species. For example, the Cardinal is jointly claimed by Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Some states are either indecisive or bold enough to "own" more than one State Bird (alternates were not included in the stamp issue). Washington's State Bird is listed as the "Willow Goldfinch," a distinction from the American Goldfinch which is not recognized in ornithological circles. Carduelis tristis (the same little yellow and black bird) is also the State Bird of Iowa and New Jersey.

If there's a lesson to be learned from this dissertation, it's that politicians ought to keep their fingers out of ornithology. While the concept of State Birds is an enjoyable one, it could have been executed in a more educational manner, depicting birds which were more or less unique to a region.