Song Sparrow

I heard it this morning!  As soon as I walked outside, I was greeted with the serenade of the Song sparrow.  I will keep listening all week. 

Impromptu Hike

Saturday San and Romeo stopped by for a short visit while my husband and I were outside working in the yard.  It was such a wonderful day, that we decided to take an impromptu hike through Byldenburgh County Park.  We entered the park from the back entrance and immediately started our trek through the woods.

Romeo was psyched and rearing to go,  as he 'dragged' us along the trail, we were hopeful that our feathered friends were out taking advantage of the beautiful day as well.

Once we started along the path we soon realized this couldn't be an official 'Birding Adventure'.  Romeo was determined to 'mark' every tree, shrub, bush and blade of grass we came upon.  (As you can see in the picture)  Other than a few horses taking their owners for a spin, and a jogger here and there, there wasn't much activity on the ground or in the air.
Finally we spotted some ducks on the lake (I think it's a lake) which we didn't recognize at first glance.  After quite a few guesses we identified them as the Ring-Necked Duck.  The only problem is this Duck is not on Long Island all year round.  So we must stick to our rules and not add them to our list. 

Even though I consider myself a birder, and the fact that I have lived on the Island just about my entire life, and I never noticed the Ring-necked Duck before.  Birding and Bonding has not only brought San and I closer, but I have learned alot these past few weeks. 

Our goal was to make it to the dog park in Bldenburgh, but walk as we may it was not anywhere in sight.  Poor Romeo by this time was dying of thirst, so doing as dogs do and much to San's chagrin, he was drinking from the muddy puddles.  This convinced us that we should turn back before it got dark.  On the way back down the path there was a noise in the bushes.  Try as we might whatever it was it did not want to be seen.  We at first thought it was perhaps Deer, but that we would see.  Whatever it was it remains a mystery.  On the long walk back we resigned ourselves to the fact that we could not add anything to our list this weekend.  Then all of a sudden we both heard a bird in the woods, we finally spotted him with our binoculars and after about 15 minutes we determined that it was a Red-breasted Woodpecker which we already have on our list.

Also, one thing you should always do, even though your eyes are in the sky looking for birds, you must keep track of where you are going.  This is advise San and I could have used.  We got lost on the way back, only for a little while.  We knew the direction we needed to go in, but we somehow missed the path we came down originally and Romeo was no help at all. Finally we made our way out of the woods and back to the car.  

So until the next 'scheduled' adventure keep birding one and all.

BIRD OF THE WEEK - Week One (SONG SPARROW)

Happy Spring everyone!  It truly was a springlike day.  It has been all week.  As my vocation takes me out of doors most days, I get to enjoy my avocation at the same time.  This week there has been a symphony of singing birds.  All of them vying to be the first BIRD OF THE WEEK bird!  I gave each audition serious consideration.  And the winner is:  SONG SPARROW.  While many birds were heard this week, what tipped the scales in favor of the Song Sparrow was the timing.  If you wake up early any given morning, listen to the birds outside.  Chances are you will hear a Song Sparrow singing as the sun comes up.  Their song varies by region, but is usually two or three introductory notes, followed by various notes and trills.  The song is sometimes represented as maids, maids, maids, put on your tea kettle, ettle, ettle.  To listen to the song of a Song Sparrow, click on the following link:  www.birdjam.com/learn.php.  Once there, scroll down and click on the Song Sparrow Song and Sounds.  Keep in mind the songs vary, but once you have an ear for it, you will hear them everywhere.  They sing throughout the day.  I think they are more noticable in the morning because they seem to be the first birds singing each day.  Look for them on bare branches or sitting on a wire.  Song Sparrows are easier to find once you hear them.  Their brown and white coloring sometimes make them hard to spot if you don't know where to look.  I hope this first lesson in Bird Song heightens your awareness of the wonderful variety of birds our Heavenly Father has given us for our enjoyment!  I'd love to hear from you.

Why Bird?

It is a wonderful feeling to have the opportunity to give someone "the perfect gift."  It never coincides with a special occasion.  It usually happens at odd times when you stumble across something that you just know so-and-so will absolutely love.  So you have to give the gift right away because you want that person to be as excited as you are.  I recently had such an opportunity.  I saw something that I just knew a fellow blogger would love and appreciate.  It was something small, but her response was just as I had hoped.  Janis, is a lover of all things Americana and rustic. A photo of that gift now adorns her Blog.  I am pretty sure she liked it!  Check it out at http://www.asthecrowflies-raven.blogspot.com/.


Now back to "Why Bird?"  If you have read Ar's post from yesterday, (which I have not) you know that we were each the recipient of "the perfect gift."  (I know she blogged about it because I see there is a picture of the gift on her post.)  What constitutes "the perfect gift" is, of course, different for everyone.   This gift is perfect for me for several reasons.   First of all, I have never seen a book quite like this one.  There have been many books written on Where to Bird, or When to Bird, or How to Bird.  This book, written by a birder of more than thirty years, explores the joys that birders have birding, which answers the question, "Why Bird?"  Secondly, it is written and illustrated beautifully.  It reminds me of my grade school text books. (And as the giver of this gift knows, I love text books!)  Thirdly, it arrived unexpectedly, just like the beautiful spring day we were enjoying in mid-March.  Lastly, and most importantly, the giver of the gift is a loyal friend and a kindred spirit.  I know she would be birding with us if we were not seperated by six or seven hundred miles.  She knows me well and I know this was truly a gift of the heart.  Many, many thanks to Kristyn and hubby Patrick.  I will cherish it always.  I look forward to the time when we can all bird together.

Golden Rules of Birding

When I got home tonight, tired and worn out, actually starting to believe that daylight savings time has me off kilter, when I noticed a package that had come in the mail and immediately I hoped it was for me.  Because like everyone else (that will admit it anyway) loves to get mail. 

It was a package from our 'daughter and her husband' in North Carolina.  I was so excited, all I wanted to do was rip it open but we had company over and dinner was already on the table 'cause my son picked it up on his way home. 

As we are eating dinner, I keep glancing back at the 'package' I so wanted dinner to be over so I could open it up.  At last, the last morsel was eaten and I can now open it and see what was waiting patiently for me inside.  Now, what could it possibly be...it was hard, so I figured it was a book.  So when I opened it I saw it was a book, at first I thought it was a journal, but no it was a book on birding.  101 Golden Rules of Birding.  What a surprise, Kristyn and Patrick have been reading our blog, and they sent both San & I the wonderful book pictured above.

How great is this, as I flip through the pages, one of the first things that catch my eye is the section entitled 'Birding Buddies'.  In this chapter it mentions that 'Birding is a solid foundation for many friendships, because it gives you plenty to talk about'.  How true this is.

So San and I will continue blogging, birding and bonding.  We welcome all to join us on our blog and experience the adventure with us.

Thank You Kristyn with a 'y' and Patrick.  We love you dearly.

Guilty

I must say, I feel guilty for not blogging the entire week.  We have been crazy busy, our first tax deadline is March 15th which is Monday.  So all corporate tax returns must be sent out today to make it on time. 

That said, each day I see more and more birds at the feeder, so last Sunday I tried experimenting with my backyard birds to see if they would eat out of my hand.  The weather was perfect, so since our feeders were empty I thought it would be the perfect time to try since they would be looking for any food they could get.  (I figured they wouldn't be to picky where the food was.)  But of course they would prove me wrong.  So while my husband was filling the feeders and me with food in both hands I positioned myself right next to my feeders and I waited.  Not a bird in sight.  I wasn't expecting any miracles, but who knows.  Now after about 5 minutes, still not a bird in sight.  So my husband hangs up all the filled feeders, and wouldn't you know it I hear birds behind me, meanwhile I am still standing still with arms invitingly stretched out but still no takers.  Then they come, about a half dozen Tufted Titmouse.  Not of course to my hands but to the feeders filled with the split nuts.  Once they landed on the feeder they took one look at me and couldn't quite make out what on earth I was doing near their dinner table.  Most of them would fly to the feeder, see me and fly away.  But I still persevered waiting for a Black Capped Chickadee since they don't seem to care whose hand feeds them.  Finally my waiting paid off.  I saw two Chickadee's and they were checking me out.  So guess what happened next....  My husband and son decide to come out into the backyard and away fly all the birds.  I will try again.

Greetings from Florida!

Just a quick hello.  Wish my BFF was here because the birding is great!! Been busy since we arrived at the folks.  Today the weather is very severe, thunderstorms and rain, tornado warnings.  Looks like it is clearing just a bit.  Good thing.  We are headed out to the meeting tonight.  Have just one picture to post.  I couldn't resist.  The bird may not be wild but the kids definitely are!