Mary
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1. I was very intrigued studying these migratory patterns. I had no idea the Cardinal was so specific to the eastern United States; that some birds migrate through our area on the way north and some, like the Rufous Hummingbird, come through on the way south; and that, while the Sandhill Crane is frequent here, it's prevalence is higher north of here. Knowing these migratory patterns will help me know what to look for and be able to find some of these species later this summer. I look forward to it!
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1. During my observations I spied Cassin's Finch, Black-capped Chickadees, magpies, Hairy Woodpecker, Bullock's Oriole, robins, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Vesper Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, and five Sandhill Cranes. 2. I love Merlin. Most all those on the "Most Likely" to see today, I saw except for the Song Sparrow. 3. Most of those I selected, interestingly, happen to be shore or water birds which do inhabit our county but are in habitats unlike where I live. They included the American Coot, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, and then I hope to see, near where I live, the Pygmy Nuthatch and the Belted Kingfisher. I've really enjoyed using the resources available through our classwork. I've also added the National Geographic Guide to Birds in Western North America. I, too, need a better zoom lens for my camera! Could someone explain why the Bullock Oriole, I believe, was once called the Northern Oriole?
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1. The difference between the shape of the Hairy Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker, to me, is in the silhouette - the Northern Flicker being more streamlined with a rounder body. 2. Three birds with white on their body: the Black-capped Chickadee, the Mountain Chickadee, and the Black Phoebe. The Black Phoebe's white chest makes it easiest to distinguish. The difference in the two Chickadees is a bit more challenging. The Black-capped Chickadee gives itself away but the Mountain chickadee can masquerade as a Black-cap if one doesn't look carefully at the horizontal white stripe over the head. 3. Robins search the lawns for food - worms and ants and so on. The Red-winged Blackbirds peck beneath the feeder but also feed from the feeder. The Chickadees feed from the feeder but also perched on the Cone-asters for last years' berries. 4. Cassin's Finch frequents mountainous regions where I live. They are a small sparrow-like bird with distinctive color markings of red, gray, and white. They seem to love the feeder and protection of the cottonwoods and evergreen nearby. They seem to often be in pairs - the colorful male with the brown, white striped and freckled female.
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I've followed the activity of these fine-feathered friends for some years on our ranch in northwestern Colorado, all without any expertise. So, here I am to learn more. During the pandemic I'm also compiling a bird book of all the birds known to frequent here for my granddaughter, whom I've introduced to birding. She has feeders at her house and uses a toddler pair of binoculars. I voted for the Bohemian Waxwing, a beautiful bird. If we're lucky, we see the Cedar Waxwing. Birds from three different groups include the Mountain Bluebird as a songbird, the Bald Eagle as a raptor, and the Hairy Woodpecker from the woodpecker group. We've seen all three this spring. I'm quite fond of Sandhill Cranes. They've increased in numbers in our valley over the last ten years and I never tire of hearing of their arrival. I may try to send a video of a group gathered in one of our meadows last week. I don't know if videos work or not.
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