Knowing I’m interested in birds, people occasionally ask me to advise them on how to get started in bird watching. And I usually answer, “just walk around your neighborhood and pay attention.” And that’s exactly what I did to gain inspiration for this initial column.
April is a great month to start the bird watching hobby, or to just renew a long dormant interest. During my walk this afternoon I encountered the usual suspects. First on any neighborhood list at this time of year is the American Robin. They’re frequently seen on the grass and are very noisy, always making their loud musical chirps. Sometimes, the males may break out their musical song, especially in the early morning. It won’t be long until they pair up and begin nesting.
Also prominent on most neighborhood lists is the Song Sparrow. They like to hang out in clumps of bushes, skulking around and, at this time of year, bursting out with at least a segment of their typical song. Want to impress your friends when they ask, “what’s that little brown bird?” Just answer that it’s a Song Sparrow and most of the time you’ll be right.
I don’t always hear a chickadee on my walk, but I did today. They frequent one of the feeders in our area and often call out “chick-a-dee-dee.” The most common species in our area is the Black-capped Chickadee; they look quite handsome with contrasting white cheeks and black cap.
For all the birds I have mentioned so far, the males and females look more or less alike. (Presumably they can tell the difference, but we bird watchers usually cannot). For other bird species I encountered today, the sexes differ in appearance. One interesting local bird is the Spotted Towhee. The male Towhee is black with orange sides, a white belly, spots on the wings and a bright red iris. Females, in contrast, are a drab brown. Towhees have an interesting call that sounds a little like a mewing cat. They like bushes, too, but sometimes are out and about. As they fly away, notice the white spots on the corners of its black tail. Spotted Towhee, indeed!
Another small neighborhood bird with white tail feathers -- the outer feathers very visible in flight -- is the Oregon Junco (official name, Dark-eyed Junco). These birds hang out all winter in loose flocks, only splitting into pairs this month. They are ground-nesting birds and, once they establish a nest, can be very quiet and secretive. Sometimes people find a junco nest hidden in the tall grass beside a fence post or the like.
Northern Flickers are a type of woodpecker and, unusual for woodpeckers, they often are on the ground (they like eating ants). They are good-sized birds, larger than a robin, and are predominantly brown. They have a nice black crescent mark across their breasts and the sexes have different face markings. When they fly away, a bold white rump patch is a sure give-away for identifying this species. So is its raucous call.
Finally, I want to mention hummingbirds. We have two species: Anna’s, which stay year-round, and Rufous, which returns from its wintering grounds in March. The Rufous male is bright rusty color with an iridescent orange chin patch. The hum of his wings is very noticeable and distinctive. If there is a hummingbird feeder in your neighborhood, then you have local hummers. But this time of year, with all the flowers in bloom and numerous small insects to catch, hummers are not primarily hanging around feeders. Rather, the males are trying to dominate a feeding territory. Almost anytime you see a big clump of blooming salmonberry or red-flowering currant bushes blooming you are likely to hear a hummingbird nearby.
In spring a new species of migratory bird species is arriving each week. In future columns I’ll give you an alert about what has arrived. For this week, we note that several species of swallows have arrived, but they are still hanging out in larger flocks and for the most, have not yet taken up nesting territories.
George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department; he also has a 40+ year interest in bird watching. Contact him at george@theJOLTnews.com
Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, a 14-year-old Olympia area bird enthusiast and avid photographer.
11 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Deskandchairs
Way to go Liam! Hope you have lots more to share
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
johngreen
A wonderful break from all the bad news lately, thanks.
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
margaret
thanks George. I look forward to this column!
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
RichardH
Great column! Moved here from the Northeast 2 yrs ago and am having fun getting to know the birds of WA and comparing them to Northeast birds.
THank and keep it up
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
CMcManus
Fun column! How about "Bird Break"?
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
Drutty
thank you for this column, a wonderful addition~!
Thursday, April 7, 2022 Report this
levikowalski
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-birds!? :)
Friday, April 8, 2022 Report this
johngreen
Birdnerds
Friday, April 8, 2022 Report this
sunshine39
Thanks for answering the question of why the H'birds are not using their feeders these days,I've been wondering where they were?
Saturday, April 9, 2022 Report this
jlongley
George,
Thanks much for your entertaining and useful new column of what's happening in the local bird world of Thurston County. I've been watching, and feeding, birds for many years here in Olympia, but you taught me a few new bits of info to help ID locals in the area. Your photos are well-done, as well. I wouldn't expect anything but the best info from you, after reading your many thoughtful pieces on the World of Salmon in the Squalli Absch News for the 11 years I worked for the tribe. I look forward to many more columns on our birdies of the Northwest.
Jim Longley
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Report this
GeorgeBurazer
THURSTON'S BIRDS is my choice. It is short and to the point. George Walter's column add to the gardening
topics that JOLT carries. Both are outdoor activities and at this time of your, people like myself can't wait to
get out and discover what Spring will bring. Before moving to Lacey, I worked in photographic sales and several
of my co-workers were bird watchers. I was hooked! Now my photography hobby subjects include birds here.
Can't wait to read George's next story and see Liam's pictures.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 Report this