The important event all birders wait for is here, Spring Bird Migration. Dust off your favorite field guidebook and your well used binoculars. The great thing is, no matter if you’re getting into birding or you can tell from 200 meters away which side of the willow shrub the singing Song Sparrow is perched on. The birds don’t show up at the same time. Providing you time to slowly get into the season. One lone Canada Goose showed up over a month ago. I assumed it was surprised to find no other goose in the area, as we were of its early arrival. It was not seen after that day. A few weeks back, three Canada Geese were spotted on the opposite side of the valley. For a few days, seven Tundra Swans were hanging out in open water. Yesterday, there were close to 50 American Wigeon in another open water spot. The crows are back, having been spotted with some of the other members of the crow family. Mating pair of Bald Eagles have been spotted around their nest, but they don’t have all that far to go for the winter. Some, if the winter is mild and there is open water and carcass available, will even stick around. Dark-eyed Juncos and American Robins can be heard throughout the valley’s bottom.
Plenty is going on outside, to keep us birders happy as we wait for the temperature to go up and more species to move in or pass through. This Song Sparrow was hanging out among the cattails, where we normally will see Red-winged Blackbirds. If you haven’t already, it’s time to bundle up and get out to the nearest open water.
