Robin

Birds matter to me for so many reasons!  They really are a joy to watch, as stated in this course.  But most importantly, they are indicators of ecosystem health, and without a healthy natural world, our human spirits will suffer.   Spending time in nature is key my emotional well being and birds are a big part of that! Seven simple acts to help birds ... I am already doing many of these!  But I will say I have not yet gotten stickers for my windows and thankfully have not had any birds that we know of fatally crashing into them.    We do have a window feeder now, so that the cats can enjoy from indoors.   Luckily our yard already had lots of native plants there when we moved in 12 years ago and I already have been trying for years now to cut down plastic use but could always do better, and feel good  that our family of five never even fills the smallest garbage receptacle the city of Seattle offers.  No pesticide use, except for a month ago, when we needed to treat our birch tree, or it would be overcome by the bronze birch borer and have to be taken down.  It didn't seem like there were many options left, late in the game to realizing the problem.  I think there is an 8th, very important thing every bird lover can do - write their state and local lawmakers and tell them you support legislation that will protect and conserve bird habitat.  Be as specific as you can.   I can't say whether I have personally noticed bird populations changing over time.  i will note, that growing up in AZ, my parents used to have very large flocks of Robins come through every winter and though I don't live there anymore, they report that only a few here and there are ever seen.  I'm sure there could be many reasons for this.  I have moved around a lot in my adult life and now, having been in Seattle for a time, can't say about the populations in that time period - also  because I have just begun to devote more time to watching the birds during the pandemic. Yes, this course, and Liz's Nature Journaling course got me hooked on learning as much as I can and now I can't stop!  I am a lifelong learner.  But I must say that the Pandemic made this all possible since my part time jobs are not happening right now, and these courses are also something I share with my three girls while we are all at home all the time.

I chose the two AZ spots, being a graduate of the University of AZ... Clearly Roger Road is near water, since there are so many species of ducks and other waterfowl.  But there are also many sightings of species like flycatchers, warblers, kinglets and wrens that require some understory so I imagine it being a brushy type habitat with some desert trees.  Mt. Lemmon has more birds of prey, woodpeckers, and, and owls that might require suitable trees for food and homes.  The top of Mt. Lemmon is a much hire elevation and vegetation is so different than at its base - but maybe that is cheating!

Wow!  Had no idea how different the Loon's plumage appeared from summer to winter.  And, is the more dull plumage in the winter for the American Goldfinch due to need for camouflage when there is less foliage or just to save energy during the non-breeding season?

Wow, the cardinal does not migrate any distance - perhaps elevationally? It also sticks to the South and Eastern US.   That it not apparent from the maps.  The warbler crosses the Gulf of Mexico and makes its way North all the way to Hudson Bay, and probably needs a lot more resources (primarily fuel) than the cardinal, since it does not move around as much. I found it very interesting that the Tanagers both avoid the very middle of the country right down the midwestern states - perhaps they do not find food or refuge here.  The Western Tanger sticks to just that  - the western part of the US and Central America.  But the Scarlet Tanager seems to occupy the longitudes that are farther east, reaching into South America and parts of Central America. The Rufous Hummingbird seems to start at higher latitudes in Central America/Mexico and sticks to the Western coastal areas in North America for the most part as it moves north in the spring/summer, but turn fall, it migrates back down to Central America over the mountains and surounding areas  - the Rockies/Sierrra Nevadas.  Ruby Throated stays more Easterly as it migrates north in the warmer months and never makes it past the midwestern US.  Maybe they have evolutionarily adapted to the Eastern patchwork of vegetation, cities, and  agricultural areas?

I always love watching the crows in our neighborhood, and see them trying to scare away the cats.  I talk to them, and seem to be interested in listening.