Sightings of our Feathered Friends

Have you noticed that the volume has been turned up on the morning chorus of bird song? Our local breeding birds are getting serious in their efforts to establish and defend territories for nesting and for raising young. More and more of our visiting migrant birds are arriving to add their voices to the choir.

In another sure sign of spring, many of these birds are molting into their bright breeding plumage. Just yesterday evening, Arboretum gardener Nicole Lewis and her young daughter, Maysie, observed six very yellow American Goldfinches cavorting high among the flowers of the massive Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, behind the Scott Arboretum office. Maysie is already quite the young plant enthusiast, and she is developing into a good birder for a four year old.

Also yesterday evening, I spotted my first warblers in breeding plumage. These Yellow-rumped Warblers were also high up among oak flowers very busily chasing insects. Keep your eyes and ears open because spring has definitely sprung.

If you are interested in learning how to attract birds to your garden, Nicole and I will be teaching a workshop titled “The Bird-Lover’s Garden” on Saturday, May 3 from 10 am to Noon. Nicole and I will also be leading the Early Morning Bird Walk on Sunday, May 4 from 7 to 8:30 am. Come join us and maybe we will see some of Maysie’s American Goldfinches.