Earth Day Wrap-up

Earth Day 2009 turned out to be beautiful in the Southern Tier, at least how I remember it. Yes, I usually record the weather conditions when I am out birding. But on that particular morning I must have been in a more experiential and less data-driven mindset because I have no details. And too much has happened in between, too many other bird lists with weather conditions, so I can't remember a thing about that morning, other than I didn't get wet. It must not have rained.

I grabbed my coffee and headed outside for a few minutes of listening. I didn't expect it to be quiet, I expected birds, frogs, toads, dogs. Closing my eyes to deeply listen showed how much man-made machinery my brain tunes out. The steady hum of traffic from I-86, sirens and car horns from the town, someone running a generator nearby, neighbors heading off to work.

Northern Cardinals may duck out of sight, but
their calls are an unmistakable part of our yard.

The birds, thankfully, were at the forefront. Cardinals, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches - the usual suspects in full song. Recent arrivals augmenting the soundscape, Tree Swallows, Chipping Sparrows, phoebes, and blackbirds. Siskins still buzzing, there must be nests around. I'll be watching for fledglings in the weeks to come.

Pine Siskins are sticking around later than usual this
year, and in high numbers throughout the region.

And with promising migration weather rolling in for the weekend, the day list is sure to explode soon (hint: because I'm writing this after the weekend, it did! Shhh, more on that to come.).

Location: Prospect Hill - Home
Observation date: 4/22/09
Notes: Conditions: not recorded.
Number of species: 18

Mourning Dove 2
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 7
Tufted Titmouse 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 8
Chipping Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 11
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 1
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

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