The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Joy of Birdwatching › Activities: Exploring Birds
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I watch birds A LOT but being told to by assignment makes it even better! Gives me a good excuse to sit and watch even more. When my husband says, "Are we having dinner?" I can answer, "Oh sorry. I have to sit here and watch birds for an hour or two for a very important assignment." How can he argue with that? I just got a new camera and I'm trying to learn to use it but it may take awhile. I hope to post better pictures soon.
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Went on my favorite walk over the weekend, along the Ebey Slough in Marysville WA. I spotted two Canada Geese (swimming birds), a Marsh Wren (songbird), and Great Blue Heron (wading bird). Couldn’t get great pics but I got a couple I’ll attach. My favorite backyard bird is Red Breasted Nuthatch. I have never been able to snap a pic as they are pretty “grab and go” type songbirds. I LOVE the call they make. Timeless as it is...the horn-like quality makes me laugh.
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Lisa, A thought for your nuthatches, if you're using a camera that allows you to switch to manual mode, you might try setting it to manual focus and either full manual exposure or aperature and shutter priority. With manual focus, point camera somewhere where you know they will go to, at a particular spot near a feeder for example, and focus the camera on that spot. With the camera in aperature and shutter priority mode, set shutter to something fast like 1/2000 sec and aperature to 5.6 or 6.3 maybe. You can let the camera decide what ISO to use though if you normally run your pictures through a post processing software then you could easily get away with setting the camera to underexpose by -0.3 possibly as far as -1 so that it'll select a lower ISO. That'll result in a darker picture with less noise that you can brighten up in Lightroom or whatever software you use. Or, set camera to full manual mode with the same shutter and aperature as above but select the ISO yourself. Being unsure of what kind of camera you're using, I think you may be able to accomplish this on any dslr, slr, or film camera. Phone camera apps now nowadays have an option to switch to a manual or pro mode that gives you many of these controls too. Hope this helps! I don't know that this is the best way to get you good pictures as I'm still learning a I go but this is currently how I approach getting pictures of elusive animals - set shutter, set aperature, adjust ISO for correct(or better) exposure, then maybe tweak shutter again.
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Activity 3 - Saw a juvenile bald eagle in my neighborhood this weekend. It’s amazing to watch them change and mature.
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I can relate! Last year I was given the opportunity to follow a pair of Cardinals as they raised their two young and this year I had a parent Carolina wren with (her?) 3 fledglings following her around begging for food. I also found a Brown Thrasher nest in my Azalea hedge that had 3 eggs in it, 2 of which hatched. I saw the baby birds only a couple of times while they were in the nest but never once they left. I see brown thrashers more often now though! Lol It's fun to watch mama bird fly all over the yard getting food with 3 young right behind her or, watching a nest, the little heads pop up at any sound thinking it's a parent bringing food. FOOD, FOOD, GIMMEE FOOD, IT'S BEEN TWO MINUTES AND I'M STARVING!
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Although not in my backyard, I do sometimes see herons in nearby rivers and natural areas in Maryland. It's always a treat to see them, and they fly so majestically.
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Activity 1. I really enjoyed the wall of birds, and especially enjoyed the video which showed how the artist developed the mural. The last few years, in my down time, I occasionally color birds in an adult coloring book that I have. But I do not have the talent of drawing them as this artist does. It was inspiring. I like all types of birds; none so far rise to favorite. But it was interesting to read about the big, flightless birds, pelicans and toucans. And the birds of paradise are amazing. I found the map very interesting and hope to go back to it. Activity 2. I was surprised to learn that there is a category of bird called buntings, and that a cardinal is a member of that group. Cardinals are quite common in my area. We also have a large number of blue jays which like the tree outside my apartment. It seems that many hatched not too long ago. I'm not sure which category these fall in to, as my book classifies them in the jay, magpie and crows. (Are they considered songbirds?) As I completed the lessons I also started a life long bird list, and was surprised but happy to receive what seems to be validation of a painted bunting sighting last year. I live about a state North than it's normal range, (in Maryland) but I do believe that I saw 3 of them hanging out under an awning during the bird count in 2017. Unfortunately I could not get a good picture at the time. Activity 3. I was thrilled to see a pileated woodpecker in the tree out my window a few days ago. This large woodpecker with a crested, pointed red head stayed a very short while, but it made my day. The birds outside my apartment do not tend to stay in place long.
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These two Cooper's Hawks have been hanging out by our house (San Diego, CA) for the last month. They've been fun to watch on our daily walks!
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This is one of 3 loons that hangs out in the bay of our house. I spy on them every day with binoculars and i love when they dive and disappear for a minute and reappear closer to me. I’ve never see them arrive or leave the lake, they seem to always be there
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Our bird feeder has been very active this spring. We live in northern BC, Canada, so our spring is just arriving now. Purple finches (pictured here), white-crowned sparrows, and yellow-rumped warblers have been moving through our yard.
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❤️
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A Sandhill crane couple seems to like the pond behind our house in Florida. This spring they hatched two little ones and have been busy digging up the yard for grubs to feed them. Dad is also trying to teach them the fundamentals of flight. Every so often he runs ahead flapping his wings and the little ones run behind trying to flap but their wings are still too small. They grow fast though. Last year’s hatchling was fully grown at twelve months and sported the distinctive red cap.
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What a nice scene. It's always fun to watch hatchlings and these seem special indeed. Thank you for the description of the Dad teaching the young ones to fly. That was really enjoyable and interesting to hear about.
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I loved learning where different birds spend their time by exploring the Wall of Birds. That is a graphic I will revisit as I learn more. At present I am focused on bird calls and songs on my daily walks and I have got to remember to bring my binoculars along so that I can try to locate the bird as it calls or sings. Meanwhile, a Spring photo from last week in our yard...
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So today from my sit spot, which is at a table and chair next to a window while I do schoolwork, I saw the following usual suspects: Black- Capped Chickadees, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Cowbirds, Red-Winged Black Birds, Robins, Grackles, American Goldfinches, and Bluejays. I also saw and identified two NEW birds: a White-Crowned Sparrow and a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak!!! The Grosbeaks made me squeeee with excitement. I live in rural Vermont. The Grosbeaks could sense I was trying to take a picture and dashed away each time! This was the best that I could get. But flying away actually does look pretty cool!
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Such a beautiful bird, and lucky for you! I haven’t seen any at my feeders but I have a friend who gets them often at hers. I think she offers a wide variety of seeds etc. to attract as many different birds as she can. What type of seeds was your beauty enjoying?
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@Terry Wow, what an amazing sight! Nice job.
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This is a poor photo taken from my phone. Discovered this Yellow Headed Blackbird at a little city based nature park. I love the wild throaty call it makes. Makes them easy to find because my eye sight isn’t great. Makes bird watching hard being so blind. My kids make fun of me. But I love to feed the birds and try and find new species I haven’t seen before.
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I think your photo is pretty good! I haven’t seen one of these.
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Hello from California, I am really enjoying this class! I have been a casual birder for several years, but am really discovering many new things. From the Bird Wall, I spent a lot of time just exporting species that I have not seen, but hope to some day. From the U.S. the Greater Roadrunner has always fascinated me and I recently took a trip to Joshua Trees National Park (just before the shelter in place started) hoping to see one. I was not successful, despite learning that one could be often found hanging out in the parking lot of the Park Ranger station. I did see a few other new species...a Black Throat Sparrow and California Thrasher. The Eurasian Hoopoe was also fascinating....I had read a bit about it and its strange plume on its head. Humming birds have also been a big favorite, and I keep a feed in my yard that is owned my a very aggressive Anne's hummer. It is amazing how close they will get to me sometimes if I go out the check the feeder when they are around
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Hi everyone, here is another photo I was able to get today while birdwatching. I am sure that this one is a Brown Thrasher. He was out near a small pond in WV. Thanks!
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Fantastic photos Michael! Thanks for sharing :)
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Out today to do some bird watching, and saw this guy. Was able to get a photo and I believe this is a Orchard Oriole. Can someone confirm my this? Thanks, and stay safe. Mike J.
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Yes, that is an Orchard Oriole.
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It's redwing season in central New York. Got this photo yesterday at the Montezuma NWR. Saw several other birds that we had to spend time in the field guides to identify; not so with this guy.
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This course is getting me to go into depth in a topic that I have always wanted to explore, but never had the time. This Bird Academy is great and has made me realize that I have always loved birds. I have been going through all my digital photos and a surprising number are about birds. I am fortunate to live in an area where there are typical suburban birds and also plenty of water fowl. My favorite all time flyer is Anna's Hummingbird. I keep a few feeders topped off as well as planting a hummingbird garden. My yard gets visited by California towhees and sparrows ( I think a white crested sparrow) and I see plenty of brown pelicans, terns, gulls and egrets on my walks. Because of this new found interest, I think that I have been able to identify a black oyster catcher, a curlew and a killdeer!! That was pretty cool! Thank you!
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Hello, I am enjoying the course, especially during the virus lockdown. I live in a senior community and we are being encouraged to stay in our apartments while this pandemic lasts. However, I can get out (with mask and social distance) for a walk down to a small pond on the premises. I have seen quite a variety of herons down there. I've seen the great blue, either a little blue or a green heron and also the black capped night heron. I'm not sure I am distinguishing the little blue or green heron properly (help). My thanks to the Bird Academy and its instructors for making this course very interesting for an amateur bird watcher. David Bagwell
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David, the little blue is blue all over including blue bill and legs. Whereas the great blue heron is really gray the little blue really is blue. In build it is a mini version of the great blue, slender and long-necked. The green heron has a different build, stocky and more horizontal, with yellow bill and legs. Not very green. The neck is definitely brown and usually has his head tucked into his shoulders.
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I am enjoying this course and live in Rhode Island. My all time favorite bird is the crow. I find them fascinating and have watched a documentary about them that shows how smart the crows are. Currently at my feeder are alot of American Goldfinch and house sparrows. I like the Goldfinch because I can easily identify them.
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I saw this little guy the other day in a medium sized tree in the parking lot across the street from me. I can seem to identify him in the field guides I have. I live in Portland, Oregon and saw him in the afternoon of a late April day. Any ideas fellow new birders? Cheers.
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Looks like a Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler.
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Staying in place in Minnesota. Working on Bird Academy Classes and ebird lists. I love the loons and they are returning to Minnesota for the spring & summer. Listening to their call in the evenings from across the lake is a reminder life is good. Picture is from a lake where the young loons gather as a group before leaving for Florida and the gulf coast for the winter. Normally there are only a couple of pairs on the lake but in the Fall the young birds (25+) gather here, from other lakes in the area, before leaving together.
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I've always loved birds and said I would learn about them 'some day.' That day is here! I am in the Appalachian foothills of north Alabama at the moment. This house has Eastern Wood-Peewees that return to build a nest over one the doorways each year. They perch in the open long enough that even I can see them can see them with the binoculars (among the skills I need to practice). Indigo buntings are around here but I did not see one this time. I was thrilled to see several Pileated Woodpeckers this weekend. As I child I saw them in our backyard in central Alabama but I have not seen them there in decades.
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I'm enjoying the course. I live in Northern Wisconsin and regularly see chickadees, bald eagles, nuthatches, downy & hairy woodpeckers and we have an osprey nest on our road. The past couple of days (including yesterday afternoon), I enjoyed the visit of a yellow-bellied sapsucker. Not sure why it's called "yellow-bellied".... Does anyone know? Seeing all your gorgeous photos, I need to resurrect my good SLR camera. I've gotten lazy and have just been using my iPhone but really need to zoom in more to get the kind of photos I'm seeing on this thread. Thank you, everyone.
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