Birding for Mother's Day!

My mother was a birder, so I grew up watching cardinals at the window feeder and listening to bird songs on the record player.  I also grew up visiting Mass Audubon Sanctuaries frequently, so I think it's fitting that I honor my mother by participating in Bird-a-thon on Mother's day weekend.  After all, I wouldn't be able to bird for 24 hours straight if I hadn't learned birding at my mother's knee, so to speak.  

Bird-a-thon will be crazed and exhausting and fun, as usual.   My goal is to increase the number of species we see by at least 10.  Tom and I were so intensely focused on shorebirds last year that we forgot to look for familiar feeder birds like the American Goldfinch pictured above. (Such idiocy is hard to believe, I know!)  Believe me, that won't happen again.  This year Mother's Day will be on my mind, and I'll remember my mothers favorite backyard bird without fail!

My mother taught me all about birds, but I am just one of many amateur birders that she inspired.  Her four siblings used to laugh at mom's bird-watching, but eventually every one of them had a feeder or two in their own back yards!  I know that many of my mom's nieces and nephews are at least casual birders, and that all my cousins brought their kids up with a real appreciation of birds and nature in general, as I did.  My second cousin's blog, BirdingGirl, inspired me to start blogging myself, and now my son has a birding blog (Nature of Oregon), too.  Three bird bloggers in one family, for goodness sake!

I admit that I was less than enthusiastic about tagging along on bird-walks as a kid - especially before I got my first pair of glasses.  I was blind as a bat, and couldn't see a bird in my hand, never mind a bird in a bush (or a tree, for that matter.)  But Mom never gave up on me.  She dragged my sister and I to every birding hot-spot in the state long before anyone invented Important Bird Areas (IBAs).  Looking back, I can't help but wonder how the real birders put up with two little kids tagging along on trips to Block Island or Mt. Auburn Cemetery.  (BTW, I'm the one with the glasses; my mother is the tall one, and my sister is the blond.)

Mother's Day is going to be really tough for our family this year.  Mom's been in a Nursing Home for over a week now, and that is a desperately sad place for anyone to be.  I doubt I would have signed up for Bird-a-thon if I had known what was ahead for my mom.  I want to cry every time I think about how excited she was to learn that I was giving another Bird-a-thon presentation for all her friends at Carmel Terrace.  She told every resident that they had to attend, never imagining that she wouldn't be attending as a resident herself.  It hurts just thinking about it, but the show will go on anyway.  I'm doing the presentation in her honor, and she'll be there to see it if I have to carry her there!

Actually, participating in Bird-a-thon and raising money for Mass Audubon is a very appropriate way of celebrating my mother on Mother's day.  It is thanks to her that I love nature and it is thanks to her that I love birds and birding.  What better way to show my gratitude than raising money for Mass Audubon and helping to ensure the nature of Massachusetts will still be here for other generations to enjoy?

Donating to Bird-a-thon is an excellent way to honor your mother this Mother's Day.  Why not make a donation in her name right now?  

Bird on a Wire!

A Northern Cardinal looking a bit nonplussed due to my invisible presence. He could hear me but he couldn't see me.

Bird on a wire! We had to replace our feeder line after it came down in a snowstorm this winter. The first wire we strung was too thin. All the feeders were shaking all the time.

Bird Balancing Act!

Beautiful and balanced.

Check out how she managed to get the shell off the sunflower seed!

Wet Birds

These birds are still handsome when wet! I think this American Robin is gorgeous!


A drowned looking house sparrow soaked too the bone.


All the birds look miserable in the drenching rain.


The Blue Jay is wilted from the rain. Of course, I was warm and dry inside the house!

This red, red robin is in no mood for bobbin' along.

The Last Snowstorm of 2011

Male Cardinal April Framingham Snowstorm

Male Cardinal April Framingham Snowstorm II


Female Cardinal April Framingham Snowstorm


Female Cardinal April Framingham Snowstorm II


Female Sparrow April Framingham Snowstorm

Wordless Wednesday - Vivid Northern Cardinals

Northern Cardinals Look Stunning in the Snow

Even a raging blizzard can't dull the brilliant red hue of our Northern Cardinals - especially the males.


The snow sets off the lovely tints of female Cardinals, as well.


She really is a beauty. Subtle rather than flashy.


This guy swooped in, grabbed some food, and then he swooped out again in a heartbeat.


This photo and the next one illustrate the dramatic fluctuations of the weather in New England. When this photo was taken at 9:00 AM on Saturday, it was snowing heavily and there was 1/2 inch of snow on the ground.


By 10:30, just 90 minutes later, the sun is shining brightly and the snow has completely melted away. I could hardly believe it, and I was born around here! The bright sunshine didn't last more than an hour, however. By noon it was snowing again. It snowed for most of the day, and the heavy low-lying clouds made the world dark and gloomy once more. Oh well. Spring is just around the corner.

Chickadee in the Sun, Cardinal in the Snow

When the sun finally came out on Saturday, everything looked beautiful - including the brightly lit background. The Chickadee, of course, looks beautiful in any weather.


He seems to have a very hard time actually eating the seed he brought to the branch. A friend of mine pointed out that sunflower seeds are pretty huge when compared to the size of a tiny Chickadee. They do keep coming back for more, so it must be working out for them.


Trouble with the seed resulted in a dejected appearance.
View Large On Black to see his face clearly.


An hour before the Chickadee pictures, the snow blanketing everything and kept falling. It does make a nice background for the male Northern Cardinal, though.


The cardinal was not pleased when some presumptuous sparrows joined his table.


At 9:00 AM the backyard was truly a winter wonderland.


Snow Falling on Branches.

Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, White-throated Sparrow, and more

Saturday, February 27. Less than 1 hour of sunshine between the snowflakes - but what an hour it was! I got tons of good pics, including this Flicker rooting around in the garden.


The Flicker from the back, showing it's distinctive red collar.


I managed to get quite a few great shots of animated Blue Jays in various poses. I really like this curious fellow, who was captured in the moments between snow and sun.


A White-throated Sparrow in the quickly melting snow. You can identify White-throated Sparrows by the yellow color between their eyes and beak.


This is the tan striped variety of White-throated Sparrow. There is a white striped version, as well.


A small female Northern Cardinal finds a sunflower seed beneath the snow.

European Starling Eating Suet!

European Starlings have short wings for such large birds. When flying, they are said to resemble four pointed stars; hence the name.


This is the first time I've seen a Starling at the suet feeder.


European Starlings are imported and therefore invasive, but I like them anyway. They have lovely iridescent coloring, for one thing.


European Starlings are brash and bold, but what is wrong with being brash and bold?


Evidently, starlings are athletic, too.


The House Sparrow is another European import.


Dark eyed Junco; an obligatory winter shot.


And of course, a magnificent male cardinal at the feeder.