We’ve entered a new chapter in local birdwatching. Spring migration is past, and we can now settle into watching the resident birds. This is exactly what I did on a recent Sunday morning.
Of course, morning in bird time is at about 4:30 a.m. That’s when the robins start to sing in my neighborhood. The saying “the early bird gets the worm” definitely fits in this case.
The cardinal adds to the chorus 15 minutes later. The sweet song of the familiar cardinal never feels ordinary to my ears. I lay in bed and through the open windows I listen for him. Will he choose “woit, woit, woit, chew, chew, chew, chew”? Or will today start out with “pichew, pichew, tiw, tiw, tiw, tiw”? It’s not the same everyday, and that mystifies me. I can think of no better greeter to the morning than the Northern Cardinal.
House Wren singing
I am sitting on the deck amidst the garden, wrapped in a blanket with a hot cup of tea by 5:00 a.m. It is then that the House Wren springs forth out of his night roost and begins to sing with much vigor. He bursts into song that last a solid half hour. It is amazing that anything so small can be so lively and loud. All the while, the sun is starting to show itself and the light on the birds is tremendous.
Baltimore Oriole by John Graffius
And the most tremendous bird by way of color is certainly the Baltimore Oriole. Each time I see them, I am in awe by the vibrant orange and deep black plumage. The dominant male oriole announces himself at about 5:15 a.m. from some nearby perch that I cannot see and then heads into the yard from the east. Over the cedars he comes, stopping by to check out his supply of nectar, grape jelly and mealworms. After a quick breakfast, he is on his way, always leaving the yard by flying between the houses toward the street. Before he takes flight, he sings again from the feeder. Next in line is the other male, who is not quite as brilliant in color. He’s always second to eat.
American Goldfinch male
Also arriving and accompanied by lovely song are the goldfinches. A resident pair comes in each morning to feed together. I guess all the other goldies have left to establish a breeding area elsewhere, as these are the only two who show up. It’s always a real pleasure to have nesting goldfinches. Even though nest building doesn’t begin until July, the male has been singing and engaging in courtship flight, swirling into the air above the yard as he serenades the female below. One of their favorite places in the yard is the corner where the coreopsis and the woodland sunflower are blooming. They often visit there after they eat at the finch feeder. Throughout the morning I hear their soft whistles and see their little yellow heads amongst the garden flowers that compete with them for brightness.
The sense of sight is not the only sense to get a workout this morning. My sense of hearing is engaged as I hear the raspy little voice of young chickadees. Following the sound, I realize that they are in the evergreens next to the driveway. Although I cannot see them, I see the branches moving about and I know to relax and watch. I’m rewarded with a glimpse of these cute little sprites, their tails shorter than their parents’. The two of them follow the adult and make the sweetest calls as they move about. Of course, I wonder if they are asking all about how to find caterpillars and other goodies. “What’s this Dad?” “Watch me!”
The sunlight is now filtering down through the cedars and the only way to tell who is at the low birdbath is to use binoculars. This is the favorite birdbath in the yard, for it has the dripper and the birds sure seem to enjoy a good shower. Sitting as still as possible so as not to alarm them in their vulnerable state, I get great looks at female oriole, followed by a starling, robin, female cardinal and then a Red-breasted Nuthatch, the bonus bird of the morning. Each one of them has taken the time to splash themselves all over with the water from the dripper, then leave by hopping up the branches of the cedar until a safe place is found to preen before flying off.
The House Wren has taken up with song again. His breakfast time must be over. He starts in one corner of the yard and covers all corners and places in between, including singing from the gutter on the second floor. He looks so small up there. His size reminds me that this bird has come from as far south as Central or South America, and I am amazed by this feat for such a small creature.
So much entertainment in such a short time! In a little over an hour, I’ve had a quality dose of nature that I can reflect on all through the day. It makes it worth it to greet daybreak with the birds every so often.
Enjoy your birds!
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