Birding in the Backyard
Now that spring is here, I have been doing more walking on the property and paying close attention to all the changes that are happening on the land. The plants are all sprouting like crazy. We've got thousands of bulbs all around the house thanks to the previous owner who was a dedicated gardener. The lilac bushes/trees are starting to pop open. Soon the fruit trees will be blooming as well.
One of my favorite changes during springtime is the return of migrating birds. They are arriving now and either just stopping by on their way further north or they are here to stay for the season and are decked out in their finest feathers looking for a mate and a place to make a nest. I am grateful for the great variety we have on the property despite being out in the middle of rolling wheat fields. I guess a few mature willows, fruit and fir trees along with an ephemeral stream are enough to bring the birds in. When we looked at this house last August we were swarmed by hummingbirds so I am hopeful for more variety coming over the summer months. So, here is a list of all the birds that I have seen on the farm since moving in in September. Most are recent arrivals with the return of the sunshine.
AS OF 3.20.10
great horned owl - nesting
northern harrier hawk
American kestrel
red-tailed hawk
raven
Canada goose
killdeer
gray partridge - nesting
mountain quail
Northern shrike
red-shafted Northern flicker
goldfinch
house finch
dark eyed junco
rufous sided towhee (I think it is now called the Western towhee)
black-billed magpie
song sparrow
red winged blackbird
robin
European starlings :(
Savannah sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Mallards
Ring Necked Pheasant
Western Meadowlark
UPDATE 5.20.10
Mourning doves
barn swallows
rufous hummingbirds
white-crowned sparrow
nighthawk
Since it is only just beginning to warm up, I am looking forward to all the new birds we may get here. I'll be updating this post periodically as new species arrive. I am hoping for at least 50 different species on the property over a 12 month period. Keep checking back!
One of my favorite changes during springtime is the return of migrating birds. They are arriving now and either just stopping by on their way further north or they are here to stay for the season and are decked out in their finest feathers looking for a mate and a place to make a nest. I am grateful for the great variety we have on the property despite being out in the middle of rolling wheat fields. I guess a few mature willows, fruit and fir trees along with an ephemeral stream are enough to bring the birds in. When we looked at this house last August we were swarmed by hummingbirds so I am hopeful for more variety coming over the summer months. So, here is a list of all the birds that I have seen on the farm since moving in in September. Most are recent arrivals with the return of the sunshine.
AS OF 3.20.10
great horned owl - nesting
northern harrier hawk
American kestrel
red-tailed hawk
raven
Canada goose
killdeer
gray partridge - nesting
mountain quail
Northern shrike
red-shafted Northern flicker
goldfinch
house finch
dark eyed junco
rufous sided towhee (I think it is now called the Western towhee)
black-billed magpie
song sparrow
red winged blackbird
robin
European starlings :(
UPDATE: 4.20.10
Ruby crowned kinglet Savannah sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Mallards
Ring Necked Pheasant
Western Meadowlark
UPDATE 5.20.10
Mourning doves
barn swallows
rufous hummingbirds
white-crowned sparrow
nighthawk
Since it is only just beginning to warm up, I am looking forward to all the new birds we may get here. I'll be updating this post periodically as new species arrive. I am hoping for at least 50 different species on the property over a 12 month period. Keep checking back!
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