Wednesday, January 21

Just so you know

Just a quick post to let you know I've entered a bird phase. Weird. I always got a little smirk when I heard the term birder. I'm not one, by the way. More of an admirer. It started with these magpies that fly around our house. At the time I didn't know they were magpies. I only noticed they were different and beautiful compared to the crows I used to seeing out my Seattle window. Now I can't stop looking at birds. For Christmas I requested a book on European birds. Santa came through. We keep the book on the kitchen table. Audrey calls it mine owl book. Identifying them is harder than it seems - especially for a person (me) who has no working short term memory. Maybe it had a white stripe. Maybe it's tail feather was off to the side. Hmmm.... is small and cute in the description?

Here are the birds I've been able to identify (I think!) so far . . .

Robin

White Throated Robin

Does anyone have any tips of identifying birds? Not that I'm a birder. I'm just sorta curious.

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A few more hours to join the Charm Quilt Scrap Exchange. We're up to 24.
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15 comments:

Emily Malate said...

I love birders!! I've been thinking about picking up the same hobby for the birds here in Hawaii!! Although, I really love the insects too...

Jessica said...

Whenever we are hiking in the spring we seem to run into tons of birders. All I know is that it requires oodles of patience, but it is fun! And to always keep a camera at your side! Happy birding!

Carrie said...

We had magpies growing up in Eastern Washington. Amazing that they're everywhere!

Brooke said...

Years ago when my dad had cancer and had to stay at home for six weeks, we started birding. I always enjoyed it but don't often see a lot of new birds that I haven't identified. Go get the green book (maybe by the audubon society) best one out there.

This Girl loves to Talk said...

ha ha.. magpies are hated in Australia.. because in Spring their brains swell and they peck at anything with a 100 metre radius of their tree!! to protect their babies....so kids are so scared when walking to school, or through parks.. it only last for about 2 months and then they don't peck anymore.. but when they swoop you... arrrrrrr it is so scarey!!

Mozi Esme said...

Way to go on your birding hobby! I've always envied people who could tell me the names of birds, but never have taken the time to figure it out myself...

Mama Llama said...

I have the same problem. By the time I start looking through my field guide to try and identify a new bird, they ALL start to look like the bird I just saw out my window. Unless I can snap a picture, I'm lost.

Road Trippers said...

Hi,

We are novice birders and it's a wonderful hobby with kids. It keeps them focusing on nature instead of advertisements! With your first glance, always try to capture the legs, beak and size to memory. This will help you the most when you're stuck between 2-3 birds that it "could have been". Have fun!

Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish said...

We have been on a bird kick since last year and still going strong. Check out this cool site for identifying and listening to birds

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/


Happy Birding!

Annie said...

I love birds and call myself a birder but only silently to myself!

Anonymous said...

You might like to look at this series of postings - a lot of bird love going around!

Anonymous said...

oops. forgot to add the address for the last post!http://blog.creativekismet.com/
Bridget

Allison said...

I am also a secret birder. Binoculars are awesome for finding the singer of that odd song coming from a few trees away.
I try to find one detail that I am positive of and then go through my Stokes Field Guide to Birds.
Not too much variety in the city, but I did have a rose-breasted grosbeak and a ring-necked dove last spring.
Still can't tell the difference between a purple finch and a house finch!

Kimberly said...

We love watching birds. There is something so peaceful about watching them.

Leslie said...

i love birds! my sister calls me bird nerd. The best tip i have is to put out seed for them, and keep it full, near your house that way you can get a good close look at them while they are eating. then you have a better chance at id-ing them

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