Kyle

Thank you so much for this course. 1.  Birds matter to me because of the beauty they bring to the world and the value they provide to the ecosystem. 2. I'm continuously trying to limit my use of plastic, but it's really hard.  I'm interested in finding shade-grown coffee.  Most importantly, I'm in the process of making my backyard a very bird-friendly habitat by finding some native shrubs to add to the trees I already have growing. 4.  I keep trying to find new birding locations.  I'd like to try another course, perhaps something related to waterfowl.

Activity 3 - I'm so glad that the American Goldfinch was an example to view here. I've been seeing a bird at my feeder recently that I couldn't identify.  Turns out that it's a goldfinch.  Their feathers are so much more muted in the Fall/Winter.  The brilliant yellow becomes more gray/tan. The loon followed a similar trend where the color on its head is less bold. Activity 4 - At my local waterfowl preserve, Canada Geese are a year-round attraction.  In December, I could also expect to see Mallards, Wood Ducks, and possibly see a loon or even green-winged teal.  Other birds that will be in the trees surrounding the area are American crows, mourning doves, and song sparrows. In June, the geese, mallards, and wood ducks will still be around.  It is a hot spot for chimney swallows and spotted sandpipers, barn swallows, and great blue herons.

I watched the Cornell Feeder Cam for a different experience from my normal feeders. 1.  I observed mostly mourning doves, and I saw several red-winged blackbirds and starlings.  The blackbirds were the most aggressive and even pushed out the northern cardinal that showed up. 2.  I definitely spotted a lot of the most like birds today.  The coolest was a turkey vulture that landed near my son and I as we were walking.  It seemed to be enjoying a meal and didn't want to leave.

1.  I identified a house finch from shape and color.  It was tricky because so many of the sparrows and house finches look alike.  I'm wondering if molting makes a difference in identifying. 3. I noticed sparrows and chickadees coming to my birdfeeder.  They would come for some seeds, fill up, and retreat to a nearby tree. Then, they would repeat. 4. I love Carolina Chickadees.  They are smaller than sparrows.  They have a black crown/nape and black throat.  The back is gray with a whitish belly.  In PA, they seem to be at the top of their range and they go further south in the US East Coast.  Their sound is a squeaky whistle.