Catherine

Act 1: Birds have always mattered to me--even as a child I loved to watch them. As an adult I've tried to be more 'scientific' and precise,  identify them and find out more about them. Sooo birds are important--just as every other animal, actually! They pollinate, and otherwise help spread seeds, clean up what other animals leave behind, provide food and so much pleasure! Act 2: In my area (Prov of Quebec), plastic bags have been outlawed (though in our current conditions the stores do seem to be using them again--sigh...), and am careful with elastic bands, too. I'm also an avid, organic, gardener and, as much as possible, use native plants--and will now be more.... obsessive about it! Act 3: In my observations I have noticed changes in the bird population, but I credit that in part to the fact that I now know more. There are some species I now see that I didn't before, and some in larger flocks. I compare what I see to my (vintage) Roger Tory Peterson guide, and do find that his "northernmost range" has been extended: some birds that were limited to the New England states are now fairly common here. Act 4: I have very much enjoyed this course, especially the input of others, located near and far from me. Their participation made the course come alive for me. I have also enjoyed (am enjoying every day!) the live birdcams, especially the Sapsucker Woods one, which is close to my ecological area. I found the ability to watch a bunch of different birds at the same time to be very good for learning to distinguish males from females, from juveniles, the different blackbirds and woodpeckers, their feeding behaviour..... I may try to have a bird feeder again--had to give it up because I couldn't make it squirrel proof (in spite of buying one that was supposed to be.....). Thank you, Cornell, and thank you all participants! Catherine

That is a lovely picture, Sandra! What is the bird???

Activity 2: since I have friends in England and I've been to and around London, I thought I'd check out the two sites near there, and it was truly amazing to see how obvious the answer to the environment would be: around Down House the largest numbers were meadow and grassland types: pheasant, doves, partridges. The only surprise there were the several types of gulls that were mentioned--perhaps they are like the ones here, having become "urbanized" (and being rather a pest around shopping centre parking lots....). The other site, Sevenoaks, is a nature reserve, very close to Down House  and lists especially various types of geese, swans and ducks--again a very obvious list, as it is located around several small lakes.

Red-winged blackbirds are very common in my area (Island of Montreal), but I've never seen one with so much orange on the wings (your first photo): maybe regional, or just the way the wings fluffed? Catherine

The Joy of birdwatching!! I just connected with the Sapsucker Woods birdcam for the first time, and have immediately become addicted... :) When we see birds, it is usually flying overhead, or flitting through tree branches, or landing on the ground and taking off again. Seeing groups of them do this, and repeatedly.... is wonderful and very helpful in identification and behaviour observation. So I also did it.... repeatedly.... about five minutes per observation. And most of the birds were the same every time, but very varied: starlings, grackles, red-winged blacbirds, a blue jay, a mourning dove and various types of woodpeckers. I thought my biggest identification difficulties were with sparrows (I'd just about given up...) but now I realize how many similar but different types of woodpeckers there are. I think I saw three types: a hairy(?) and-or a downy(?), and possibly a red-bellied.  The other thing that surprised me was how civilly they got on together when there were many different species, and how argumentative they became when it was just the blackbirds. I wonder whether that is because they are aware that they are similar species (are they?) and see each other as rivals, but know that a mourning dove or a woodpecker is not. I took a screen shot and will try to append it... Now back to the webcam live.... :)

That is so lovely, Stephen!!! I'm jealous--since I join some others with the squirrel frustration. Here there are greys (majority), some with a reddish top on its back and tail, some blacks, and.... some whites. Others have said that even the so-called "squirrel-proof" bird-feeders are no match for this army. Do you not have that problem? Many of the classmates do a lot of bird-watching and identifying from their house, through their feeder: I would love to do that, too..... :(

Thank you for that photo of the pileated woodpecker, Curt! I've been commenting on it regarding others' posts, and here is a photo! Very typical, I think--and, of course, very impressive. It reminds me of the walks I used to take through a very small woodland (disputed terrain between a city and a developer--and the city was still winning:), when I often saw it (and certainly heard it) every day. I guess (for today) it is my favorite bird :)

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....