Hello new OBB-ers, and welcome to the 2009 edition of the COE-Outdoor Birding Basics class!

Updates about class as well as trip reports will be filed here throughout the course, and if you’re looking to learn about past classes’ successes feel free to page back into the back catalog of this blog.  Check out the tab at the top of the page titled “What to Wear” to get an idea about how to dress appropriately for the weather, and get ready to dive into Spring alongside the arriving birds.   Along the right side of the page are lists of links that provide resources to learn more about birds through listening to birdsongs, watching bird videos, reading on bird blog sites, and checking out the websites of various bird-related groups (like the Lab of Ornithology).

I’m looking forward to our biweekly birdwalks, and I hope you are too!

Hello out there! It’s been about a month, but if you’re still checking on this blog once in awhile, please go ahead and take the end of course survey, which is very similar to the last one: click here.

Thanks for a great Spring, and I hope that your interest in birds continues to grow!  Feel free to drop me a line in the future…

Here are some cropped photos I took of a Clay-colored Sparrow that was on central campus yesterday. He was so patient that another person taking photographs had to back up because the bird was too close for his camera to focus!

On another note, I hope everyone had fun birding with the class and that each of you will continue to work on your skills as I know I will.

Kimberly

Happy Birding!

Nathan Williams

The winds were cold and the birds were practically nonexistent as we made our way slowly down the South Hill Rec Way Trail…Despite the environmental conditions, we were rewarded with great views of a Northern Waterthrush, and were serenaded by an elusive Blue-winged Warbler…

Our last field trip will be tomorrow morning, with a return to the Lab of Ornithology and Sapsucker Woods. Dress for the cold, and be prepared to see birds!

Location: South Hill Recreation Way
Observation date: 4/29/08
Number of species: 20

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 3
Blue-winged Warbler 1

Northern Waterthrush 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 3

Here is a picture of that elusive White-throated Sparrow and the surprise Eastern Towhee at the end.

“Old Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody”

Eastern Towhee from the Van

(watching the White-throated Sparrow)

This Cornell Natural Area lived up to the “Bird Sanctuary” part of its name right from the start, awarding us with fun views of a Brown Thrasher in a thicket, three new species of warblers, and a beautiful (and patient) Eastern Towhee (all of these were new sightings for the class!). The geese at the beaver pond kept us company in the cool breeze and helped us pass the time until that spectacular white-throated sparrow popped up out of nowhere! Thanks for a fun morning…

(geese on the beaver pond…)

Location: Durland Bird Sanctuary
Observation date: 4/24/08
Number of species: 28

Canada Goose 3
Mallard 3
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Eastern Phoebe X
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee X
Tufted Titmouse X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
American Robin 2
Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler (He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Seen)
Pine Warbler 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 3
White-throated Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Common Grackle 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
American Goldfinch X

(Bold species are new to the class)

My geology lab started at the Arboretum today, so I went a little early and did some post-birding and photography. Many of the bird species we saw yesterday were still there, but I also had an Eastern Phoebe and Pileated Woodpecker.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

American Robin

Crow and *Red-tailed Hawk, not Northern Harrier

Eastern Phoebe

*Red-tailed Hawk, not Harrier

Pileated Woodpecker

Canada Goose

There is nothing more exciting than having a giant woodpeckers flying straight at you out of nowhere when you are not expecting it. This afternoon, on my way to chemistry lab, I experienced the sheer joy of having TWO Pileated Woodpeckers fly towards me, only veering at the last second to avoid colliding into me. This is a gorgeous bird and to see two within 3 feet is truly an unforgettable experience!

Many of you might not know that in addition to the Mundy Wildflower Garden and the Newman Arboretum, the Cornell Plantations manages a series of Natural Areas across Tompkins County.  We will be visiting one tomorrow called the Durland Bird Sanctuary.  So what is a Cornell Natural Area?

(From their website) Cornell Plantations manages 3500 acres of biologically diverse natural areas including bogs, fens, gorges, glens, meadows, woodlands and other valuable communities and features.

These ecologically fragile areas, obtained by gift and purchase, are protected for research, education, and the enjoyment of informed visitors.

Please help us to protect these delicate areas by reading and following our visitor use regulations.

There’s a locked chain that leads to the parking area, so if you plan on meeting us there you’ll have to wait for us to get in.