Backyard Birding

By Carol Oakes

 

We all need positivity in our lives right now, which is why I’m encouraging everybody to start noticing the little joyful beings flitting around just outside your door. Birds are everywhere! One of the most fascinating aspects of our sheltering in place has been witnessing our local birds in unobstructed action. They are oblivious to the virus that has stopped the human world and are still going about business as usual. Nature continues and she is thriving with little interference from people.

While we have all become experts at social distancing, and many of us are limited in our movements in and out of home, we ourselves are also becoming experts in our neighborhoods. Never have I seen so many people walking! It’s actually a pleasure to step outside and see families, children, and dogs, all strolling along the streets and chatting with neighbors from six feet away.

Since I can no longer drive to my favorite Bay Area birding spots, I’m contenting myself with birding in my backyard, around my house, and around my neighborhood.

Here are a few of the birds that have popped by to say hello in the past week.

 

A colorful Spotted Towhee. Check out those bright orange eyes.

 

Anna’s Hummingbird.

 

The clown-like Acorn Woodpecker. Approximately nine inches long.

 

Love that red beret!

 

Nutall’s Woodpecker. Approximately seven and a half inches long. This picture was taken through my window, so it’s a bit blurry!

 

California Scrub-Jay wondering when I’m going to add more suet to the feeder.

 

A Golden-crowned Sparrow wondering the same.

 

American Goldfinch.

 

Beautiful male Hooded Oriole. Always a pleasure to welcome the Orioles back!

 

An Oriole in the rain…

 

A female Wild Turkey casually cruising through my backyard. This is a first!

 

Beautiful tail feathers.

 

One last look before disappearing into our unsuspecting neighbor’s backyard.

So take a look around.

Like it or not, we have extra time on our hands these days. We all have hobbies and interests of our own to occupy our hours. But I’d like to encourage you to set down your paintbrush, walk away from your jigsaw puzzle, glance up from your laptop. Go outside and take a moment to really look around your backyard, your front yard, out your window, and down your street.

Check out the trees, the bushes, the grass. Look up at the overhead wires and further up into the sky. Chances are, you’ll see a bright little bird soaring overhead. No need to identify it. Just notice, and enjoy the hope and freedom birds represent.

 

 

Carol’s piece was adapted from her original blog post on her blog, carolgoesbirding. Please click here to read more of Carol’s work. Carol Oakes is a Marin/Sonoma County birder and a recent graduate of the Master Birding Program at the California Academy of Science. She is also a member of the Marin Audubon Society. Carol’s blog is about her adventures in birding. Her goal is to help other people discover and appreciate birds. All photographs were taken by Carol.

Have a shelter in place birding story you’d like to share? Email Melissa with your 800-1200 word essays at mramos@goldengatebirdalliance.org. Wishing you joy and peace through birding!