• Mary
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      Hi - I'm writing from Massachusetts where I have the great fortune to live near the town forest which has deep woodland and a river - all kinds of wildlife to see! Activity #1 - Wall of Birds - I could have voted up every bird - and plan to revisit the wall often. I started at the bottom of the leader board to choose a couple of birds that were of particular interest. I found the Toucan Barbet interesting because of the way the pair sing with other - though not beautiful music I enjoyed the clicking that the female makes to accompany her mate - she is the percussionist! I also voted up the Egyptian Plover - of interest for the way the adults wet their underside and then lay over the sand that their chicks are buried in to keep them cool in the heat of the day - bird HVAC if you will! Activity#2 - Birds from different groups - I am very new at identifying birds so my choices are commonly known and found. For songbirds I have a Carolina Wren - a pair have nested in various structures at our house the last few years - this year it is in a basket on the wall of the house near the front door. second - Waterfowl group - We saw what I believe are Ring-Necked Ducks in a nearby conservation area as well as Mute Swans, mallards, and canvas back ducks. And third - in the raptor group what I think is a red-tailed hawk that has taken to hanging out over our yard (which is full of chipmunks, squirrels and song birds). fullsizeoutput_1068P1030163fullsizeoutput_154b Activity #3 - My favorite local bird is one I haven't actually seen - it is the Wood Thrush in the town forest - we often walk into the early evening and we are sometimes fortunate to hear its most beautiful melodious and ethereal song.
      • Sylvia
        Participant
        Chirps: 3
        I live just north of Toronto Canada and I saw a red-tailed hawk yesterday in the woods next to us.  All the other birds went crazy and tried to drive him away! #3 My favourite local bird is the Baltimore Oriole. I’ve seen both a male and a female at my feeder.41BBEF70-A58B-48C7-BD07-565E2F73A3C9A85820D7-FC08-4D24-BA15-0A9DC2534C634D5A1B58-F38A-4011-B5F1-274B6DE53396
    • celeste
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      A favorite bird in my neighborhood is the ScarletsP0C5IK8Siu3kQitZog55g Tanager - absolutely striking, and easy to ID! :-) I'm from California and hadn't seen one before moving here to the East Coast, and starting up birding just recently.  Have seen two so far - the one in the picture followed me along the trail a ways, and wasn't shy so I was able to actually snap a photo.
    • Trevor
      Participant
      Chirps: 8
      I don't know that I could pick a favorite of my local birds. Originally I loved the Northern Paula as I thought the call it made, a very rapid succession of rising notes, while it threw its head back almost seeming to be laughing hysterically was the coolest thing. Then I discovered Carolina wrens in my back yard and loved how spunky they were. Then I discovered Roseate Spoonbills nearby. Them being commonly mistaken for flamingos brought a little bit of exotic thrill. Then I realized just how many Pelicans I see day after day and got a few really good photos of both American White Pelicans with fish in their bills and of Brown Pelicans which are our state bird. Then I discovered Anhingas. I've been calling them swamp bats because they're always perched just above the water, sometimes on a log and others in low hanging branches, with their wings spread wide open. I found out that they don't produce as much waterproofing oil as needed (or maybe it was they don't produce any waterproofing oils) to allow them to stay mostly dry while in the water and need to sun dry their wings for easier flight. Then I discovered just how many different sounds a Bluejay can make. Mine whistle while bobbing their whole body up and down (which makes it look like them look like they are the HAPPIEST birds ever nearly jumping for joy) and chatter like monkeys and make tiny chirps almost like whispering to each other and sound their loud, raucous calls just to try to describe a few of their sounds. Then there's Prothonotary Warblers, Baltimore Orioles, Pileated Woodpeckers, Starlings, and Crows. I've decided Crows must love crunchy Cheetohs because there's been so many times that I've seen a flock of them fussing over Cheetohs. I think one day I am going to go buy a small bag of Cheetohs, dump them out, and just watch the Crows go for them. I still haven't mentioned red winged black birds or wood ducks or muscovy ducks or black bellied whistling ducks or bald eagles or belted kingfishers or cormorants or gulls or doves or pigeons or owls.. the list just keeps going! PeekabooOwl (1 of 1)AmericanWhitePelicans (2 of 2)NorthernParula (1 of 1)
      • Leanne
        Participant
        Chirps: 3
        Fantastic owl photo!  That's an award-winner.  I'm jealous, as I have heard a pair of owls around my area and the one time I saw it in a beautiful position for a photo, I didn't have my camera with me-oh the pain of it all.  Thanks for sharing these and good luck with future photos.
      • Brianna
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        Wow! What a striking owl photo. So impressive!
    • celeste
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      Activity 2 - I went on a long birding walk this morning along the Delaware River and saw a variety of birds, so I'm excited to do this one! 1) Saw a solitary sandpiper - which was very difficult to ID but I'm pretty sure it was that - from the shorebirds group. 2) Saw a Downy Woodpecker - which certainly is close to the Hairy woodpecker - but Id'd it based on its small size.  From the Woodpecker group. 3) Golden-winged warbler - which I Id'd based on it's black marking on its head -- it was difficult to ID also, warblers are tough! there are so many of them, and they're so small! So that is from the songbird category, and warbler group.... This walk is great because you go through an open field, and then into woodlands along a river with little marsh areas mixed in so there were lots of different types of birds to try and see!
    • celeste
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      Activity 1 - I chose the Bermuda Petrel. I'm drawn to seabirds, and interesting to know that this one is one of the rarest there is! Since I had to postpone a trip to Bermuda due to Covid, I'm hoping to get to see this one when I get to go sometime in the future! Pretty amazing that it was thought to be extinct for 300 years and now it's coming back (but still endangered).  Looks like my trip will have to include a visit to Nonsuch island if possible.
      • Sheilah
        Participant
        Chirps: 10
        Hi Celeste, you inspired my curiosity about the Bermuda petrel, so I looked them up. What a fascinating conservation story! I hope they continue to increase.
    • Jane
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      I live in Norfolk, Virginia, and I am new to birding. I have a lot to learn. I completed this exercise by looking up birds of the Wall of Birds that are common in my area and I derived a short list of backyard birds for my zip code using eBird. I then took my lists to All About Birds and looked up five birds to learn more about their colors and sizes, behaviors, foods and habitats. The birds I researched were the Northern cardinal, American Robin, Red-shouldered Hawk, Blue Heron and the Mallard. I listened to the songs of each bird to see if I could hear any of the calls in my surroundings. I have seen the cardinal and robin in my yard and a Blue Heron and Mallard on my daily walks. Today I think I heard a cardinal singing while I was gardening. This exercise had heightened my awareness of the birds in my local environment.
    • Cheryl
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      This is the Malayan Night Heron. I choose the bird because I am visiting Taiwan and it was the first bird I was able to identify, and I think it is beautiful.  I’ve seen it twice, by a pond hunting fish, and on the ground by a bike trail.  Both times is was quite unafraid and allowed me to get close to it. 2114FE1E-6E79-41AF-97CE-AAC9D62BA0B0
      • Amanda
        Participant
        Chirps: 4
        What a cool bird, thanks for sharing. I went to Taiwan last summer and had a wonderful time. I hope you have a good trip!
    • Amanda
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      Hello from Gainesville, Florida! For Activity 1 I looked into the Great Blue Heron and the Osprey, since I've seen both of those here in FL. I was shocked to learn the GBH eats squirrels and even other birds! They always seem so slow moving and peaceful when I see them, so I'm surprised they can take down a squirrel or another bird. For Activity 3, I think my favorite neighborhood bird is the Boat Tailed Grackle. They remind me of my childhood growing up in South Florida, so I'm glad I finally know their name and now also know the males and females are the same species (they look so different!). Thanks Bird Academy :)
      • Trevor
        Participant
        Chirps: 8
        Amanda, thank you! I didn't know the info you shared about the great blue heron and I'm sure I'm a shocked about it as you. Not to be sadistic but I kind of want to see one nab a squirrel only because I never would've thought it could or would. I think I have ospreys here as well (just north of New Orleans) but I've been told we have Harrier hawks too and I keep forgetting to go lookup the difference between them. Attached is a picture of one of them. I think I had decided it was an Osprey but I don't recall exactly. Harrier As for Boat-tailed Grackle, if I understand correctly, we have them here on the coast lines, but not as far inland as I am. I have a question about them though that perhaps you or someone could answer. They are very similar to Great-tailed Grackle. What distinguishes the two? The things I've read mostly say the difference is in the shape of their tails but the pictures I've seen don't help clarify. There's also the conundrum of identify those two versus the Common Grackle but, as I understand it, the Common Grackle is a bit smaller.
      • Amanda
        Participant
        Chirps: 4

        @Trevor Hey Trevor, thanks for sharing the picture! I’d love to see a Harrier Hawk some day. So I just looked up the difference between all the grackles, and this is what I found out. There is some difference in the tails, but like you I was unable to identify it by sight. But here’s are two tips I found really helpful: look at head shape and eye color. Great-tails and common grackles have yellow eyes and flatter heads. Boat-tails have dark eyes and rounded heads. Check out the pictures below! I am still unable to see the difference between great-tails and common grackles though, which I guess isn’t too much of a problem for me because FL doesn’t have great tailed grackles haha 05CCE5D2-ED70-4370-BDF5-C2CA797C21CDA481F3A0-2869-49C3-9097-FD77117D0CEC

      • Jacquie
        Participant
        Chirps: 1

        @Amanda Thanks for the Grackle help Amanda...they’ve been confusing me!

    • Ryan
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      I live in south-central Pennsylvania, USA.  For Activity #2, there are birds from several groups that visit our feeders.  The mourning doves don't seem to eat on the feeders themselves, but they pick at the mess that the other birds make on the ground.  I like their calls.  We have a lot of the songbird - eastern bluebird.  A pair has built a nest and laid 4 eggs in the nest box we installed for our neighbor.  Hopefully, we will see babies in a few weeks?  I don't know how long it takes.  Then we have several of the woodpecker group, including flickers, hairy woodpeckers, and red-bellied woodpeckers.  As Activity #3, I chose those red-bellied as my favorite bird I've been seeing.  They strongly prefer the suet feeder that we have, although I have seen them on the tube seed feeder a few times as well.  I think its a struggle for such a large bird to eat at our tube feeder.  I think the large woodpeckers are charismatic and fascinating.  I will try to post some photographs sometime soon.
      • Aaron
        Participant
        Chirps: 16
        We have a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in our nest box too.
    • Alistair
      Participant
      Chirps: 3
      I live in Toronto. We have some great green spaces which attract many species of birds. My favourite is the red-tailed hawk which I enjoy watching in flight, - great at soaring. It is rare for me to go out for a run and not see one or two or more. They often land on the buildings in the downtown core and they regularly spook the pigeons.
    • Marcia
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      Hello from just outside of Toronto! I'm discovering that I'm fascinated by all birds (except Canada geese -- we have way too many of them!) In our neighbourhood I was recently excited to see a Northern Hawk Owl. They usually don't come this far south. Once I finally spotted him, it was quite easy to photography him -- he sat very still on the branch, surveying his territory. He was giving me a bit of an eye, though. fullsizeoutput_2348 Just before the lockdown I was in Costa Rica, and that's where my interest in birds really came alive. We didn't see a Resplendent Quetzal, which is my favourite bird from the Wall of Birds. But I was very happy to see a Great Green Macaw thrashing around high above me in the rainforest. It was also a delight to find a Yellow-Throated Toucan. I'm thoroughly enjoying everyone's pics and stories! fullsizeoutput_22df fullsizeoutput_20f0
    • Marcia
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      Hello from just outside of Toronto! I'm discovering that I'm fascinated by all birds (except Canada geese -- we have way too many of them!) In our neighbourhood I was recently excited to see a Northern Hawk Owl. They usually don't come this far south. Once I finally spotted him, it was quite easy to photography him -- he sat very still on the branch, surveying his territory. He was giving me a bit of an eye, though. fullsizeoutput_2348 Just before the lockdown I was in Costa Rica, and that's where I really discovered an interest in birds. We didn't see a Resplendent Quetzal, which is my favourite bird from the Wall of Birds. But I was very happy to see a Great Green Macaw thrashing around high above me in the rainforest. It was also a delight to find a Yellow-Throated Toucan. I'm thoroughly enjoying everyone's pics and stories! fullsizeoutput_22df fullsizeoutput_20f0     Just before the lockdown I was in Costa Rica, and that's where my interest in birds really started to come alive. We didn't see the
      • Amanda
        Participant
        Chirps: 4
        Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing
      • Catherine
        Participant
        Chirps: 17
        I'm surprised at your comment about the Canada geese. I live near Montreal and my family and friends and I have commented about how our "regular" migration packs seem not to have come over our heads this spring--and it worries us. I know that where they congregate, people cannot come (amazing the size of their messes!), but their lovely sounds overhead--often above or in the clouds, when they themselves are invisible--is wonderful. I love hearing them--in spring or fall, when to me they tell us the season is changing. They are also amazing because of their long migration.... yikes! I was also intrigued by your photo of the hawk. Last Fall I sat in my second floor home office, looking at the large maple right in front of the window, when I saw a hawk looking right at me. I was so rattled I couldn't concentrate and list the characteristics, so I never did find out what kind if was. I was too surprised by a hawk sitting on a tree branch right outside a suburban house window... These things are so marvelous, they stay with me....
    • Eileen
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      I listen to a mocking bird most mornings about 6:00am. His song is complex and varied. He is now my favorite. Visited my Mom in Florida and have learned about quite a few birds with her. I live near Lake Erie in New York and had a large woods next to my house growing up. Enjoyed watching birds at our feeder , Mom kept a field guide on a table near the window to help identify birds. I told my friend about birds I recognized and they thought I was so smart.😃 Thanks Mom
    • Pamela
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      I love watching birds, but I am very limited in those that I can identify.  Although I could identify the birds at my feeders, today, thanks to the Merlin app, I was able to identify a bird that I saw at the top of a tree while I was out walking.  It was an Eastern kingbird.  Also, thanks to Merlin and listening to recordings available in this course, I now recognize the sounds of some of the birds I recognized by sight but not by their calls.
    • Melissa
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      Hello from Ohio!  I have recently enjoyed watching the different birds come to my feeders in all my free time.  I have a male and female ruby throated hummingbird ( which I think might be a little early for Ohio) , 2 males and 1 female rose breasted grosbeak, and 2 male and 2 female Baltimore orioles. I was so excited about the grosbeaks since I have never had them at my feeders before. My friend and I recently spotted a Barred Owl while on a walk and could not believe how close it was to the trail that we were on.  Sorry I don't have pictures, that is the next thing that I would like to work on... taking good picture of birds. I have enjoyed looking at the pictures everyone has posted.
    • Lara
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      Reading people's posts here reminded me of this bird picture I took a couple of years ago. A Greater Roadrunner posing (with a dead lizard) in front of Monument Valley's iconic view! IMG_2075
    • Lara
      Participant
      Chirps: 7
      Three favorite local birds from three different groups: 1. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds - I like these because they are so small and fast, it always feels special to actually be able to observe one. Last year we had many at our hummingbird feeder outside our kitchen window, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them again this summer. 2. Mourning Doves - I'm such a beginner with bird watching, that I love birds that I can easily identify by their song. These guys have such a distinct, lonely song that really reminds me of being outside as a kid. I've been hearing mourning doves around our house a lot this spring. 3. Red-winged Blackbirds - Again, a bird that has a very distinctive call, and they are pretty easy to spot in wet areas when I'm taking a walk along my road. I'm always trying to mimic bird songs, and this one I find impossible to mimic! Maybe that's why I find it so special.
    • Marie
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      Coogoorah 8.3.20 (7)Hi allP1120155P1100210 Hi all, I've also been enjoying the course. I've been bird watching for a few years but felt I needed a bit of structure to help me improve my skills and knowledge. I think I might be the only student so far posting from Australia! So I thought I'd show you some typical Aussie cockatoos - big loud and gorgeous birds. The gang gang (male) , the sulphur crested and lastly the biggest in my area of south west Australia - the yellow-tailed black cockatoo. I'm enjoying learning about North American birds too. Thanks Marie
      • Sheilah
        Participant
        Chirps: 10
        Wonderful pics of Cockatoos, Marie, and thanks for offering a down-under perspective. I visited a step-sister just north of Sydney in Jan 2019, and saw cockatoos in her backyard. I was amazed!
      • Ryan
        Participant
        Chirps: 2
        Great pics of Aussie birds!  I spent a year living in Australia, and the birds were one of my favorite things about it.  I bought an Australia Birds ID book, which I must still have someplace, and kept track of all the ones I saw there.  Thanks for sharing!
    • Chuck D
      Participant
      Chirps: 2
      Carolina Wren_Apr_2019_CD   One of my new favorites - Carolina Wren.  1st time seen in our yard (Cape Cod, MA) last year.  Found this nest in our planter box outside our front window w/ 3 - 4 chicks inside (hard to make out but just left and above the adults head - can see chick beak).
    • Judy
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      IMG_0342 (2)IMG_0350 (2)IMG_0328
    • Paivi
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      Hello Fellow Birders: I have always loved nature but did not get into bird watching until about two years ago when my husband and I moved to San Antonio, Texas. We have about an acre in the back, fenced and with lots of old oaks and elms. I first noticed the Northern cardinals since I had not seen them before, and they are so striking, as we all know. But what really got me interested is when a Carolina wren couple decided to build their nest in a hanging flower basket right outside one of the doors to our back patio.  I watched them build the nest, hatch the eggs, feed the li'l ones and then, finally, watched the four chicks take their first flight. They hung around for some time longer so I also saw them grow. I felt like a grandmother! Since then the  Carolina wren has been my absolute favorite bird. Signing up for this course is my first step into becoming a more serious birder. I have a few identification guides and a pair of binoculars that I have been using these last two years. So far, I have managed to identify about 50 species just in my backyard! But learning more about birds is an exciting prospect. And sharing with y'all online is a great way to start since we are now limited in our interactions in the outside world. Paivi
    • Jeff
      Participant
      Chirps: 4
      Activity #1~ The artistic work on the 'Wall of Birds' from throughout the world is amazing. I'm a complete novice to bird watching. My interest can be attributed to a couple events. The first is the 'quarantine', and the second was two mourning doves selecting a fern hanging outside my sliding glass door for their nest site. I perused the 'Wall of Birds', and learned a great deal about a variety of different birds from this planet. My favorite was probably the barn owl because of learning about its incredible hearing. I always assumed owls had huge pupils in their eyes, which enabled them to hunt at night. I didn't realize how much hearing plays apart in that endeavor. Activity #2~ I utilized a field guide to read about local birds including Mallard ducks (which I have), and other birds like the Arctic Tern. I've never seen this bird, but their migration rivals miles traveled by career commercial airline pilots! I 'inherited' the National Geographic Birds of North America, but since participating in this course, I've ordered Peterson's Field Guide to Birds in North America, and The Sibley Guide to Birds. I utilized the first to do this activity because the others hadn't arrived yet. Activity #3~ Favorite Bird? Mourning Doves literally stole my heart. Two mated Mourning Doves selected a fern outside my sliding glass door as their nesting site. I was bringing my outdoor plants inside because of a drop in temperature (Indianapolis). When I started to bring the fern into the house; I discovered a bird in the nest. I took a picture, and utilized the Merlin Bird ID provided by Cornell. I discovered it was a Mourning Dove (already admitted I'm a complete novice). I watched the bird for several days, which was about 8 feet from my dining room table. What I discovered through reading a guide was Mourning Doves (both males and females) assume responsibility in caring for their eggs. It was explained that the male and female look very similar (especially to untrained eyes). As a result, it appears to be the same bird on the nest at all times. The information was correct, I was blessed to witness the 'switch' on several different occasions. As the literature mentioned, the Mourning DMourningDoveMom.Babies5.5.20oves are not great nest builders. However, they more than make up for that as parents. I mowed my lawn twice during the incubation period, and the female never moved off the nest. One night, we had a very strong front move through with high winds. I was concerned because the nest (in the fern) was supported by a hook on the deck. The wind rocked the fern back and forth, but the male never moved off the nest. I was blessed to watch the two baby doves grow, and be feed by both parents. They have now left the nest, and are staying under low hanging vegetation, and the mother still visits. I think she's still feeding them, and they are definitely getting bigger & exercising their wings for short trial flights. Bottom line.....I'm leaving the fern out with the abandon nest hoping they will select it again. They not only 'hooked' me on Mourning Doves; they also hooked me on bird watching! My many thanks to the Bird Academy for this opportunity, and I've recommended it to several friends and family members. ~ Jeff
      • William
        Participant
        Chirps: 1
        It was great getting to hear your story Jeff! I'm also pretty new to birding and got into it thanks to the Mourning Dove and nesting birds too! For the longest time I thought that I was hearing an owl, and finally discovered it wasn't when I looked it up! Also, a Northern Cardinal nested right outside our window (it was hard to identify since the female is mostly brown), and we got to see the dad when the babies hatched!
      • jeannie
        Participant
        Chirps: 1

        @William I got interested in birding, too, because of mourning doves nesting in my rain gutter.  I've watched the doves build their nest, lay eggs, birth 2 hatchings, and saw what I call the 'changing of the guard' of the mother and father every afternoon.  Saw the first flight of a hatching!  The virus lockdown kept me home and able to spend time in my backyard, sparking my interest in birds and watching the dove family all day, every day.  The doves are still here.  Read everything I could about mourning doves, but this class has broadened my world of birding.  Love it!

      • Cathy
        Participant
        Chirps: 45
        Thanks for the nice story.
    • Toby
      Participant
      Chirps: 1
      Hi there! I found it interesting to learn about how to group the birds because that really helps me learn and remember the birds. I had some questions about how to group the following songbirds that I've recently seen:
      • American crow
      • Blue jay (they go with crows, right?)
      • Carolina wren
      • Tufted titmouse
      • Gray catbird
      • Eastern towhee
      • Northern mockingbird (they go with thrashers, right?)
      • Blue gray gnatcatcher
      • Eastern bluebird (I assume they go in "other" like the western bluebird?)
    • Carolyn
      Participant
      Chirps: 11
      I have been feeder watching in Washington State many years but most of them east of the Cascade Mountain range.  Now I'm in the Seattle area and I'm having to learn new birds and new songs so I am taking the classes to improve my skills.  Some of my favorite birds in Spokane were Pygmy Nuthatches which fledged their young for several summers in a birch snag I left standing in my garden and the California Quail who were so comical, especially in snow.  Now I am enamored with Pileated Woodpeckers  and Bewick's Wrens  (pronounced like the Buick car, I learned).  My first love is gardening so I try to make my garden as welcoming as I can and have attracted many different birds that way.  The wonderful pictures inspire me to take the time to try for some good photographs.  My biggest bird  thrill since I moved was to see a Western Tanager.
    • Stephen
      Participant
      Chirps: 6
      April 11 2019 Raven The material so far has been helpful and I look forward to the rest of the course. We live close to the river and a nesting site for a Raven pair. Over the years we have watched their antics in the wind, listened to the diversity of their calls - including their rapid "hawk, Hawk" when a hawk or eagle comes too close to home. Also, watching the training of the young birds is fascinating and entertaining.