Vol. 86 No. 6

FROM OUR READERS: No Sparrows

FROM OUR READERS: No Sparrows

Being visited by wild birds while working in my outdoor office is an invigorating momentary distraction from my labors. Every morning before I plug in on the patio table, I open my rodent-proof bird food container and scoop out seeds. nyjer for the goldfinches, corn for the sparrows, black sunflower seeds for the mockingbirds, suet for whatever bird comes to call, plus sugar-water for the hummingbirds.

FROM OUR READERS: Two Robins In a Birdbath

FROM OUR READERS: Two Robins In a Birdbath

Not exotica that you would grab your bins, rev-up your SUV and drive across three states to observe, beaming with pride as you record its sighting and count on eBird. Rather the robin is a friendly bird, more like a next-door neighbor.

You won’t have to trek to the Amazon or Patagonia to see a robin, though once-in-a-lifetime trips like those are inked on many a bucket list. No. You will spy the robin in Ponderosa pine forests, urban landscapes and grassy lawns pecking the ground for earthworms. Her nest is made of mud, her eggs an eponymous and beautiful blue that you just might decide is the perfect color for your kitchen.

FROM OUR READERS: Reclaiming Ourselves Through Nature

I still remember the first day I truly found the wilderness. It was a cool day in July, a rarity for the desert of Los Angeles I call home. I had woken up early that day to go running with some friends, a favorite pastime of mine; our destination was a patch of open space just outside the valley.

FROM OUR READERS: Owls Nesting in Our Yard

FROM OUR READERS: Owls Nesting in Our Yard

One evening in mid-May, two friends and I were sitting on our front porch (with masks and social distancing) after an evening hike. Their musicians’ ears heard owls! The next day I started looking for them at dawn and dusk. Then, in the middle of the following day I saw a head sticking out of the old nesting box I had built for an acorn woodpecker which my husband, Marc, and I rescued from a downed tree six years ago.

FROM OUR READERS: The Fledgling

FROM OUR READERS: The Fledgling

The grayish brownish thing I discovered underneath the salvia in the backyard garden made me hold my breath for weeks.

I discovered this hidden thing about four years ago around the end of April. A jerky movement at the top terrace caught my eye. Squatting down sumo-style, I gingerly lifted the leaves. All right, what are you? I was face-to-beak with a baby bird. The bird froze and I immediately let go of the leaves.

Oh great. Just great.

Winging It: Discovering The Caribbean Birding Trail, Part II: Dominica—The Rare Parrots' Paradise

Winging It: Discovering The Caribbean Birding Trail, Part II: Dominica—The Rare Parrots' Paradise

The morning sky was gray and the clouds thick with the threat of more rain. What had started out earlier as light showers had turned into a steady downpour as we sat perched on a wet wooden bench beneath a camouflage poncho, expertly strung up as a makeshift tarp by our bird guide.

Birds of the Season – June 2020

Birds of the Season – June 2020

By any standard, this spring has been an unexpected and unprecedented one. It would seem impossible to write this column without mention of the coronavirus pandemic. While birders have been fortunate to be able to continue their pursuits less affected than many others, this birding season has been overshadowed by world events.