Good topic, Al. I live in a *very* urban area. Between two major thoroughfares. I can throw a rock from my front yard and hit the firehouse (literally).
Over the course of a year, I may see something good during migration but I tend to ignore the "yard birds" list because of my urban location and the fact that I have changed residences far too many times. I have lived in no less than 4 different homes in the last 10 years, even more as you go back in time. A long, personal story. That said, during breeding season, I'll hear or see: *Chimney swifts House Sparrows Cardinals Robins House Finches Chipping Sparrows Crows Starlings Pigeons* Occasional *White-breasted Nuthatch* and *Downy woodpecker*. Used to hear *Nighthawks*, but not as consistent any more (sigh). In the distance I may see a passing *Great-Blue Heron*, *Bald Eagle* or *Turkey Vulture*. (I'm not far from the Mississippi River) Best birds I've seen in my current location (of almost 6 years) - most are migrants: *Magnolia Warbler Purple Finch Baltimore Oriole Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Great-Crested Flycatcher Cedar Waxwings* -come each winter to feast on hackberries for a week or so. *Gray Catbird* - has come twice for mulberries about this time of year. *Yellow-Rumped warbler* In the past (at previous residences), my best yard birds are *Screech-Owl Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Flicker Sapsucker Swainson's Thrush Goldfinch.* These were urban locations also (within the city limits of St. Paul or Minneapolis), so the "quality factor" of these sightings, relative to their location is much higher, IMO. -- Sincerely, Jim Ryan Saint Paul's Westside ---- One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between Man and Nature shall not be broken. -* Leo Tolstoy* A well governed appetite is the greater part of liberty. - *Lucius Annaeus Seneca* ---- On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 11:21 AM, Al Schirmacher <alschirmac...@live.com>wrote: > What’s in Your > Neighborhood? > > > I am a birder (sorry, haven’t adjusted to the retro but > definitive term, “birdwatcher”, again. > Besides, half of my birds come from hearing, not watching. But that’s > another article). > > > For me, this means driving to my local refuge (20 miles > distant), interspersing walks at closer wildlife management areas and > hiking > trails, keeping an eye on the backyard, taking occasional state trips, and > leading a few tours. > > > > It rarely, however, means a neighborhood walk. > > > But times have changed, finances will be tighter during this > transition period, so a substitutionary neighborhood walk is, probably, > necessary. > > > So I journeyed out this morning. I live in a rural development, converted > agricultural land, lots of 2.5 and 5 acres, limited trees, small marsh > close by, > two busy highways converging. My yard > list is not too bad (130 species in 8.5 years, much of that due to > migration), > particularly considering the largest tree is eight feet tall (an aspen we > haven’t > cut down), and our three conifers are 12 inches high. On Saturday > mornings in the late spring and > summer, while journaling at the table, I can hear and see ~25 species, with > some variety, and some enjoyment (Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlards, other > grassland species still persist). > > > And that’s what I anticipated. 25 or so species. Nice, limited, but > nothing to write home – or you – > about. > > > Never did I anticipate 50 species in a six block > radius. Never did I anticipate > discovering two new ponds off an ATV trail. > Never did I anticipate: > > > · > Red-headed Woodpecker > > · > Yellow-bellied Sapsucker > > · > Pied-billed Grebe > > · > Yellow-throated Vireo > > · > Warbling Vireo > > · > Belted Kingfisher > > · > Northern Rough-winged Swallow > > · > American Redstart > > > during a non-migratory time. > Nor did I anticipate that House Sparrow would be the 50th > species, and no European Starlings would be present. > > > So time for a bit of humility. Time to be a bit more “green”, even if it > is primarily > for retrenching purposes. And time to > ask the question: > > > “What’s in your neighborhood?” > Al SchirmacherPrinceton, MN > > > > (Can be electronically shared or reprinted with permission.) > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
