I have a list of all birds I’ve identified over the last ten years during my morning break walks from work in Fargo. These are birds I’ve identified without the aid of binoculars. The area is very urban with a weedy lot and a normally dry water retention area. My list total is 145 species. Individual year totals range from 70 to 88 species. Some unusual sightings have been Common Loon (twice), American Bittern (twice), Green Heron, Sora (twice), American Woodcock, Townsend’s Solitaire, Cape May Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, LeConte’s Sparrow (twice), Lark Sparrow, Dickcissel, and White-winged Crossbill. To illustrate how barren of trees the area is, I’ve only had White-breasted Nuthatch once and Hairy Woodpecker twice.
Mark Otnes Fargo ND [email protected] On 6/19/12, Jim Ryan <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > <[email protected]>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 > -- Mark Otnes Fargo ND 701-241-4194 [email protected] ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
