tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89844010594915241702012-01-24T10:46:03.343-07:00Information and experiences about backyard birding in Utah, including species, feed, identification, and more. Helpful tips for observing and feeding birds, landscaping to attract birds, and enjoying the life of a casual birder.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.comBlogger1981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-2409785585973978492012-01-15T19:15:00.003-07:002012-01-15T19:27:49.272-07:00

The holidays flew past faster than sparrows chased by a hawk, but before the year ended I managed to add one more lifer to my list, taking me to a grand total of 254. About an hour's drive to the north, at a small park with a lush pond and a thriving population of domestic ducks, mallards, and wood ducks, there lurks a trio of what I believe to be the most beautiful ducks in the world - Mandarin

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-13963859280281818712011-12-16T08:53:00.004-07:002011-12-16T09:02:25.496-07:00

Last week I celebrated my third anniversary of becoming the About.com Guide to Birding / Wild Birds, and I can't believe how the time has passed so swiftly, and how the site has grown and developed. In the past three years, not only have I provided hundreds of articles on bird species, feeding birds, attracting birds, birding travel, conservation and more, but I've also done weekly newsletters,

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-65909587093763160392011-12-04T08:24:00.004-07:002011-12-04T08:32:18.678-07:00

I always know it's getting near to winter when the dark-eyed juncos make an appearance at my feeders. In previous years at the old house, I might only see these sleek little sparrows a few times during the entire season, but this year at the larger, more bird-friendly abode they've made an early appearance and are now regulars. As ground-feeders, they often prefer either foraging around my deck

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-68767430082827127662011-11-21T13:45:00.007-07:002011-11-21T13:57:14.312-07:00

These are the golden days of autumn, and while much of Utah's migration has concluded, the birds that remain are gilded in fantastic light and beauty. I saw this firsthand a couple of weeks ago when we visited a local park that is home to a generous flock of ducks, including mallards and a wide range of hybrids. Just at the right time of evening, the setting sun washed over the pond, and even

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-701023350839259552011-11-11T08:25:00.003-07:002011-11-11T08:37:42.506-07:00

Last week, I had the most amazing birding experience, completely by accident. As my husband and I were making popcorn in preparation for watching Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, I turned toward our large kitchen window and saw what looked to be a large leaf flutter upwards and out of view. That might not be so unusual given the season, except it was not windy enough that night for

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-3288690482456724192011-11-03T08:45:00.003-06:002011-11-03T08:55:17.637-06:00

What with home selling and buying, moving, work changes, health concerns, and more this year, I haven't been into the field to enjoy birds in months, but this past weekend I took two hours to reacquaint myself with the joys of binns hanging around my neck, my field bag and camera bag bumping on opposite hips, and the feel of cold fingers in the autumn breeze as I fiddled with a focus wheel. I'd

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-25970047136189699782011-10-19T14:50:00.003-06:002011-10-19T14:58:16.541-06:00

While I'm still adjusting to the new house and yard, it is always sheer joy to see a new bird species visit. Earlier this month I had a special visit from a pair of northern flickers (red-shafted as they are in the west), and these large woodpeckers spent quite some time foraging around a series of decaying stumps near the back fence. They would peck around the ground, cling to the sides of the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-65834787418275156172011-10-07T18:49:00.006-06:002011-10-07T19:00:06.353-06:00

Seeing as I haven't been in the new house for many months and the yard is not as bird-friendly as it could be as yet, I'm thoroughly enjoying the "easy" birds that visit. Some of the most treasured are the California quail; large coveys live in the neighborhood and may visit my platform feeding area several times a day.In the past few weeks I've delighted in watching the chicks mature; from

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-78726789257680530842011-09-29T13:26:00.004-06:002011-09-29T13:35:22.786-06:00

I'm happy to announce that earlier this month I took on a new role in the online birding world - I'm now the official National Examiner for Bird Watching and the local Utah County Bird Watching Examiner on Examiner.com. This gives me the opportunity to explore even more local birding as well as share my experiences with a wider national audience, in addition to my work as the About.com Guide to

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-9653399954156018552011-09-12T20:18:00.003-06:002011-09-12T20:27:49.352-06:00

I've been besieged with backyard cuteness recently; several coveys of California quail have discovered my extensive platform feeding station on the corner and stairs of my deck, complete with white proso millet and cracked corn, two of their favorite foods. The excitement starts with a flurry of chipping from the parents as they lead their brood into the yard - I can hear their calls from almost

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-60763631076960190212011-09-03T20:32:00.003-06:002011-09-03T20:42:18.580-06:00

It was over a week ago that I had to be the hand of mercy at the end of a black-capped chickadee's life after it suffered at the paws of a neighborhood cat. I spoke with the neighbor who owns the animal, expressing my concerns and my wish that the cat was to be kept strictly indoors. While I disagree with their assertion that "no one can keep a cat indoors 100 percent of the time" (I know a fair

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-4922661897088498292011-08-25T21:23:00.005-06:002011-08-25T21:38:56.772-06:00

Just a day or two after we moved to this house, I was thrilled to find black-capped chickadees a plenty. They've staked out several of my trees as their own, given my husband a thorough bawling out for daring to come near them when mowing the lawn, and nicked countless seeds from my feeders. Today, however, I wished we'd never had a single one in the yard. We also happen to have a Siamese cat

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-33139829913182349042011-08-13T20:23:00.004-06:002011-08-13T20:38:10.965-06:00

Just about one year ago, I added the gray catbird as a lifer and felt lucky to do so - I'd seen a bare glimpse of a trio of the birds foraging in Provo Canyon, and while the look was adequate for identification, it wasn't as memorable as I would have liked. Just a few weeks ago, then, we were walking again in the canyon, yet in a much more popular location, and I couldn't turn around without

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-56509384752749694802011-07-17T17:54:00.005-06:002011-07-17T18:03:28.550-06:00

Ever look at a new space to put a birdfeeder and draw a blank as to how to best attract birds to it? I've been drawing a blank on the new yard now for several weeks. Part of it is because we haven't yet sorted the interior completely (waiting on furniture deliveries, upgrades, and design), and while I do have some feeders up in the interim, I haven't developed the plan I want for all the feeders

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-75406603024309649942011-07-01T11:09:00.011-06:002011-07-01T11:41:19.745-06:00

An era comes to an end - I have moved to a different home, leaving behind all my work to create a backyard habitat for birds in the old house, my first house. The curbing that expanded the beds, the fruit trees for birds (hawthorn and crabapple), the perennials chosen for their nectar and seed-bearing natures to provide ample food, the integrated dust bath, the window box feeders... All gone. It

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-83834307402438017102011-06-10T09:09:00.013-06:002011-06-10T09:34:14.532-06:00

There are many things to be learned from backyard birds, and I'm fortunate to have mallards that regularly visit my platform and tray feeders - they've taught me a lot. The past few weeks have been some of the most stressful, most hectic of my life, but you can always learn from ducks...Take time to savor the moment, whether it is a warm patch of grass and sun or a cool dip in a nearby pond.Try

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-72470009299512758232011-05-20T08:54:00.009-06:002011-05-20T09:05:23.574-06:00

It has always interested me how certain birds have very precise feeding preferences; they will only visit a certain type of feeder, will sort through a mixed seed to find their favorites, and may even eat in a very particular way. This is never so apparent at my backyard feeders than when the lazuli buntings come to visit.These beautiful spring birds are mad for millet - they will swarm over my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-63044956837899702302011-05-04T20:30:00.008-06:002011-05-04T20:51:51.928-06:00

This spring has been a dramatic one for the resident mallards in our neighbor's pond. Each year a pair scouts the pond in early nesting season, and invariably we see the ducklings for a day or two before they graduate to wilder surroundings than a cultivated backyard pond. This year, however, two drakes have been contending for the affections of one female, and one of the drakes has been the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-64906467199065444482011-04-24T17:03:00.007-06:002011-04-24T17:19:56.540-06:00

It's getting harder and harder to easily see new birds in Utah as my life list keeps growing, but earlier this month I had the best of luck looking for loons on the mountain reservoirs. While most spring birds have not made extended appearances yet, the common loons are most gracious as they pass through the mountain west, and they readily rest on the deep, chilled reservoirs before continuing

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-7039083179294631082011-04-17T08:31:00.009-06:002011-04-17T08:51:41.377-06:00

Despite it now being mid-April, winter has been protracted this year and spring isn't as advanced as you would expect. The weather is warming and flowers are beginning to bloom, however, but most trees are holding tight to their winter hibernation, at least for the moment.Still, I saw the first sign of spring in my backyard several days ago with the reappearance of the Cassin's finches - at least

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-2994256198082785672011-03-27T15:43:00.019-06:002011-03-27T19:38:32.354-06:00

Having a very urban, relatively bland backyard can make backyard birding a challenge, but I was thrilled to add a new yard bird to my list this weekend: a rock pigeon. The irony is that these birds are often one of the most common in urban areas, but they've never before graced my feeders. Two of the beauties - a matching pair of classically plumaged birds with iridescent necks - found my feeders

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-71024158917891666512011-03-20T17:10:00.003-06:002011-03-20T17:18:08.454-06:00

Spring still hasn't quite arrived here in my part of Utah, but it is getting closer. Ice has receded on many ponds and shores, and for a short visit today we strolled along one of those shores in American Fork, at a pond where mallards and their manky relatives stay the winter. In a dirty little secret of mine, we took along a very small hunk of bread to feed the flock - just a rare treat, and

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-31035745636441523352011-03-16T17:42:00.003-06:002011-03-16T17:50:57.904-06:00

Sometimes, birds aren't at all appreciative of the effort you make to provide a comfortable, safe, backyard habitat for them to enjoy. I have a heated bird bath that I've tried to keep meticulously filled and clean all winter, yet earlier this week the American robins that stopped by for a refreshing dip were far more interested in the scummy, filthy water that has accumulated on the base of our

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-69907784631386380662011-03-12T18:32:00.003-07:002011-03-12T18:43:07.205-07:00

The weather is warming, the snow is melted, and spring is most definitely advancing on northern Utah, so I was surprised last weekend to see a pair of foraging dark-eyed juncos near Skipper Bay in Provo. These birds are rare in my backyard but I see them quite regularly through the winter as I hit the wooded trails, but I don't recall seeing them quite so late in the past couple of years. It was

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-64125422917702259952011-03-09T14:34:00.005-07:002011-03-09T14:56:29.060-07:00

Sunset Park is one of my very favorite birding spots in Las Vegas, and after this last trip, it is even more impressive. Previously, the park has consisted of an extensive area of playgrounds and ball fields that aren't very enticing to birds, and the highlight has been Sunset Lake - the artificial pond that hosts many different types of waterfowl. Around the lake is a wide stretch of open ground

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-13860463201741755532011-03-02T17:26:00.003-07:002011-03-02T17:38:07.344-07:00

On our recent weekend in Las Vegas, I had a quick glimpse of Down Under, thanks to a tip and some hotspot advice from a couple of different birders. I recently had a reader ask me about black swans and whether or not they were migratory, as he's seen them in Vegas, and to follow up on the sighting I asked a contact I have in Vegas about the birds. Sure enough, they were still around - and happily

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-78839041886818375442011-02-26T20:10:00.002-07:002011-02-26T20:28:14.492-07:00

I learned a harsh lesson last week visiting the Tonaquint Nature Center in St. George. I've birded the area several times previously and it's a pleasant and productive area for a relatively brief stop - not too large to be unmanageable in less than an hour, but not so small or plain that it doesn't attract a range of birds. In fact, in the 45 minutes or so I was there, I positively identified 17

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-67823651381931439502011-02-16T08:13:00.006-07:002011-02-16T08:37:07.523-07:00

The first sign of spring flew through my yard this week - or more accurately, through my neighbor's yard to feed on the leftover apples - a butter-butt, or for the less colloquial, a yellow-rumped warbler. I noticed the bird hawking around the tree a bit and its behavior wasn't at all sparrow- or finch-like, which are my two most frequent visitors this time of year. A quick peek through the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-33302029670643896512011-02-10T09:03:00.003-07:002011-02-10T09:18:07.592-07:00

On my recent trip to Powder Mountain - where I added the hairy woodpecker to my life list - I also added another bird, and given that I saw it last on the trip, it would qualify as my most recent tick. An elusive, high mountain bird with stunning colors, it really is a crowning glory to a successful bird outing: the gray-crowned rosy-finch.I've rarely seen a bird so aptly named. This finch has

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-15308737462526275132011-02-06T10:43:00.004-07:002011-02-06T10:54:48.245-07:00

I wrapped up January's birding with two fantastic new lifers, though one of them may not seem so spectaculary: the hairy woodpecker. Not an uncommon bird, the hairy woodpecker has nonethless eluded me whenever I'm in the appropriate habitat, but with this bird walk to Powder Mountain in northern Utah, it was an easy bird to spot.First, the bird was in the middle of the road near the ski resort's

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-59830642418533193412011-02-01T21:27:00.003-07:002011-02-01T21:37:05.446-07:00

If you haven't heard, February is National Bird Feeding Month, and this year the birds need those extra tasty tidbits more than ever. The extreme snowfall over much of the country and even the bitter cold here in Utah make it harder for birds to find food just at a time they need more calories to maintain enough body heat to survive.I have over a dozen feeders around my two yards - front and back

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-75912589815582193742011-01-29T08:02:00.004-07:002011-01-29T08:13:15.104-07:00

I generally don't pay attention to awards in the so-called blogosphere, as many of them are tacky gimmicks designed to do nothing more than to garner a few more visitors to the awarding website rather than the blogs supposedly awarded. This week, however, Backyard Birds Utah was included on what I truly believe to be an impressive list - 30 Terrific Bird Blogs - hand-picked and assembled by Guide

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-27629505468624249482011-01-25T20:06:00.004-07:002011-01-25T20:17:05.746-07:00

I had some welcome guests in the yard a few days ago, guests that many backyard birders scorn and shun but who are always appreciated in my yard: European starlings. Colorful, energetic, and perky, they were amusing to watch as they poked through the exposed mulch from melting snow and their cacophony of chatter was a welcome din to mask the bland traffic noises to which I am so accustomed in

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-46043624599779522452011-01-21T19:35:00.007-07:002011-01-21T19:54:11.750-07:00

A winter wonderland may be filled with frozen water, but it's liquid water that birds crave. By providing water in your backyard via a heated bird bath all winter long, you'll see a wide range of thirsty birds visiting the bar for a quick drink.I love my heated bird bath - a very simple plastic basin with a concealed heating element (to prevent shorts and increase the lifespan of the heater)

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-6418313294764391132011-01-18T11:46:00.004-07:002011-01-18T12:14:45.389-07:00

It's always nice to discover a new birding location, a great spot to see different birds with a different view than your very familiar local trails. Over the weekend, I joined a bird walk with Bill Fenimore of the Wild Bird Center in Layton, and we visited Beus Pond in Ogden. It's a nice, medium-sized pond with a rich riparian habitat: open water and flowing streams even in the winter, many

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-59124538417436219632011-01-10T13:33:00.012-07:002011-01-10T13:54:25.557-07:00

This weekend I took a trip to Alaska and back, at least with birding spirit. On a listserv tip, I visited a new-to-me park along the Jordan River in West Valley City to observe some winter waterfowl, including the 245th bird to be added to my life list - the Barrow's goldeneye. The black-and-white males have elegant, chic plumage with a distinct crescent-shaped patch on the cheek, while the more

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-54488897871839306252011-01-08T18:54:00.004-07:002011-01-08T19:18:24.464-07:00

Anyone who might doubt the need for evergreen trees in a winter landscape as part of a bird habitat need only to watch my trees on any chilly day. My house sparrows flit back and forth from the feeders to their favorite winter perches, which include a dwarf mugo and two Colorado blue spruces, and at times it can look like the trees are strung with feathered ornaments. On a stormy day, they will

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-60067668057292940402011-01-03T20:40:00.006-07:002011-01-03T20:57:44.271-07:00

I may not have great bird diversity in my backyard during the wicked Utah winter, but there's no denying that I have great numbers of birds. That is never more obvious than when the flock of Eurasian collared-doves comes to feed. My backyard doves, in particular, never seem to have learned that doves are typically ground feeding birds, and instead they've learned how to attack the hopper feeder

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-70191229902511679952011-01-01T20:53:00.004-07:002011-01-01T21:10:55.405-07:00

When this first day of the new year dawned bright, cold, and clear, I could think of no better way to welcome 2011 than with a birding walk. My husband and I headed down to the Provo River trailhead near Utah Lake, a stretch we've walked several times in the past couple of weeks, but every walk is a surprise. This morning's birding was among the best I've had there in the past weeks, and twenty

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-27505760154157866802010-12-16T17:29:00.005-07:002010-12-16T17:43:41.108-07:00

Patience certainly pays off with birding, and no matter how many times you visit the same area, you never know if you'll spot something new. I couldn't tell you how often I've birded the section of the Provo River Trail from the lakeside trailhead to the first loop, but this past weekend, during my most recent visit, I added a new lifer to my list: the white-breasted nuthatch. These aren't very

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-6943024975126374702010-12-10T09:16:00.004-07:002010-12-10T09:29:45.933-07:00

Okay, so the title is a misnomer - I wasn't actually looking for a snipe when I was birding this past weekend, but the Wilson's snipe near the Provo River trailhead was an astonishing surprise. I was watching a few chilly mallards and a pair of winter-plumaged pied-billed grebes when I saw a bit of movement on a sandbar island in the river. A quick check through the binoculars was all that was

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-65421530031869681292010-12-06T19:36:00.004-07:002010-12-06T19:48:03.095-07:00

This past Sunday marked my two-year anniversary as the About.com Guide to Birding / Wild Birds, and what a flight it's been. In December 2008, I was fresh from initial training and introductions, and overwhelmed with how much lay ahead. Two years later I'm no less overwhelmed, and I'm still learning more every day. Today there is even more ahead of me, despite two years of content, daily bird

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-20230717132334599082010-12-03T21:02:00.003-07:002010-12-03T21:13:02.231-07:00

Sometimes you can look at a familiar bird for quite some time before realizing just why the bird looks "off." This happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I noticed an unusual house finch at my Nyjer feeder. Now, for a lot of backyard birders, the fact that this male is orange rather than red would be enough to bring him to notice, but I've actually had all three male house finch color

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-65031121149979189562010-12-01T15:20:00.003-07:002010-12-01T15:36:25.541-07:00

The mourning doves I enjoy so much have been having a rough time since they returned to the yard just a couple of weeks ago. First, the weather changed drastically from hot to cold very quickly, and then, just another day or two later, the Cooper's hawk made a meal of one.I always do enjoy seeing backyard hawks, despite the fact that when I do it often means my backyard flock has suffered a loss.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-8817733215883367942010-11-28T08:47:00.004-07:002010-11-28T08:59:16.865-07:00

At this time of year, the weather in Utah is ultimately unpredictable, as my mourning doves have discovered in the last week. At first, it was wonderful lazy dove weather - perfect for sunning and stretching out in the toasty mulch beds. The doves will do that for hours, shifting position now and then as the sun shifts in the sky, but always just calmly enjoying its warm rays. Occasionally there

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-79194763978414127572010-11-18T13:05:00.004-07:002010-11-18T13:17:27.260-07:00

Even as the weather gets colder and the leaves drop to earth, I'm reminded of spring birds. Our neighbor has a beautiful pond with a boardwalk path and a rock waterfall (I'm totally jealous of the water feature), and every spring a pair of mallards arrives for a few days. They will feed on the algae and cracked corn - which we provide in both our yards - for several weeks before disappearing to

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-87820683026295525312010-11-15T11:04:00.004-07:002010-11-15T11:15:31.172-07:00

Over the weekend I was thrilled to have a familiar bundle of feathers once again at my feeders. All summer I had dozens of mourning doves - feeding, sunning, stretching, preening, and trying to get laid - all through the yard, but they've been sadly absent for the past few weeks. Instead, the Eurasian collared-doves have taken over, but I've missed the gentle mourning doves.When I went to take

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-52276304362010486062010-11-12T11:33:00.003-07:002010-11-12T11:41:57.726-07:00

Living in Utah, I'm fortunate to be near to one of the best (and one of the few) freestanding aviaries in the country - Tracy Aviary. Several weeks ago we joined as members of Tracy Aviary, and have visited several times since. While it's not the same as one's backyard and I'd never count the captive birds on any sort of list, it is still an amazing facility and well worth visiting.There is a

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-86864333038674511972010-11-10T19:24:00.003-07:002010-11-10T19:36:22.703-07:00

For the past few days, between 3 and 5 p.m., I've had a new guest for dinner - a sharp-shinned hawk. He's tried different tables in the backyard, first on the fence, then on the feeder stump, and today in the hawthorn tree, but never seems to have luck choosing what he wants from the menu. On the first day dinner very nearly came to him as after ten minutes of waiting for the server, a Eurasian

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-50694370035927073652010-11-06T20:36:00.004-06:002010-11-06T20:50:26.223-06:00

While I haven't been out for much dedicated birding in recent weeks (migration is over and the work schedule is crippling), my husband and I did manage a casual walk at Skipper Bay near Utah Lake a few days ago. As the sun was setting and light draining from the sky, the birding wasn't phenomenal - a northern flicker, small flocks of red-winged blackbirds, a great blue heron on the osprey's now

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-40568316055547935172010-10-25T20:05:00.005-06:002010-10-25T20:21:39.829-06:00

Today brought a surprise - after an unseasonably warm autumn, the first snowflakes fell across the yard just before noon. While they didn't stick nor did they actually seem to make it all the way to the ground, the sight of them made me glad that two weeks ago I bought a good supply of necessary winter seed. It was a special occasion - celebrating the ninth anniversary of Bill Fenimore's Wild

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-44143899436928153912010-10-22T15:03:00.005-06:002010-10-22T15:15:22.349-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I had to make a tough decision for my front landscaping and took out one of its most bird-friendly features: two Colorado blue spruce trees. The trees were put in before we ever bought the house, and they were poorly positioned - one within two feet of the sidewalk and the other two feet from our garage. These are trees that will grow to forty feet tall and a twenty foot

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-13626689853498514072010-10-20T20:49:00.006-06:002010-10-20T21:08:31.221-06:00

Despite their ravenous appetites and often demanding nature, birds really aren't that picky. I've noticed this in the past few months as one of my least chic feeders has become my most popular - a simple section of old stump.I'd been eyeing it for weeks this spring when someone in our neighborhood removed a tree and left several generous sections of thick trunk by the curb, and eventually my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-24259982796434254602010-10-05T15:16:00.006-06:002010-10-05T15:27:49.039-06:00

This is the time of year when birds can come and go quickly as they stop by our yards on migration or just for a snack as they go about their lives. Sitting in my office working away today, I glanced out the window at just the right moment for a fantastic view of such a visitor - a northern flicker who has happily discovered the sunflower hearts in my feeder.Northern flickers (the red-shafted

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-36527452347882952112010-10-02T09:00:00.004-06:002010-10-02T09:16:54.149-06:00

The weather has been unseasonably warm here, and dry even for Utah, which has put a bit of a damper on birding in the last few weeks. Migration should be well underway, but warmer weather tends to slow the birds down as they see no need to rush toward the south. A lot of birders look for a sign that migration has well and truly begun - the appearance of a known migrant, or perhaps the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-56635200062462392722010-09-27T19:11:00.008-06:002010-09-27T19:47:15.571-06:00

It can be brutal to be a bird, especially to be a nervous mourning dove in a backyard regularly visited by Cooper's hawks. Such was the case several weeks ago, when I looked out my patio doors and saw what appeared to be the remnants of another hawk hunt - a pile of feathers pressed into the grass. This is a relatively common occurence in my yard, and typically one or two birds fall prey to my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-80181050215937428592010-09-20T20:26:00.004-06:002010-09-20T20:39:55.531-06:00

To pish or not to pish is an aggravating question for many birders. Pishing, the practice of making subtle noises to encourage reclusive birds to move into a better viewing position, can give birders a clearer view of an otherwise hidden bird, but it can also agitate the birds and keep them from foraging, preening, incubating nests, caring for hatchlings, and doing other necessary

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-58421882727404141222010-09-06T19:43:00.002-06:002010-09-06T19:58:40.891-06:00

Sitting out on my patio a couple of evenings ago, I was treated to an aerial show as a half dozen common nighthawks were feeding at twilight. Their grace, speed, and agility is unmatched, and seeing them led me to muse how glad I was that the common nighthawk is already on my life list. Close study of them on the wing would be an incredible challenge.I was reminded of how I added this beautiful

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-14452824150367644312010-09-01T19:41:00.004-06:002010-09-01T19:56:38.739-06:00

Sunday morning, while the sun was still low and the air still cool, I headed out for my first bird walk in several months. My only intention was to refresh myself with one of my favorite walks - a loop from Canyon Glen Park east along the Provo River - and hopefully to see some of my favorite birds in the area, including American dippers, song sparrows and black-billed magpies. What I got was far

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-59509078712563428922010-08-27T21:08:00.005-06:002010-08-27T21:23:07.765-06:00

I know I haven't blogged much in recent weeks, but in truth I haven't birded much either. Summer in Utah is viciously hot, with unrelenting sun and no relief even from the occasional thunderstorm or brief shower. The birds are less active, and so are the birders. I have been less active as well, only keeping up my feeders and caring for my backyard birds. They appreciate the attention for sure,

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-29022319906364843002010-08-03T18:11:00.005-06:002010-08-03T18:30:49.417-06:00

Part of getting a life is giving yourself time to live it. As a freelance writer, I work continuously - it's always easy to do just a bit of work in the evening, tend to one task on the weekend, or take a few moments on a holiday to cross one more thing off the to do list. My work is such that for over a year I've not taken a real vacation or holiday - every day, all 365, I've worked in some way.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-64919259525303717422010-07-11T17:58:00.005-06:002010-07-11T18:45:30.230-06:00

It's been far too long since I've blogged, but as the time gets longer so does my life list. I've had a range of fantastic sightings this spring, from more than 40 birds in Jamaica to a few new western birds on a press trip to Fallon, Nevada, to a common nighthawk sighting within feet of my backyard. My new lifers are...American RedstartArrow-Headed WarblerBananaquitBlack and White

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-10088063606913125842010-05-13T13:24:00.003-06:002010-05-13T13:32:05.431-06:00

Every time I try out new optics for birding, I'm amazed at how much of the avian world I've been missing. Last year I purchased a new pair of binoculars, and recently I purchased an upgraded camera. Instead of my pocket point-and-shoot, now I'm capturing birds with a Canon PowerShot SX20 IS. Granted, I couldn't tell you what all those numbers and letters mean, nor have I deciphered all the

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-22935518641250451452010-05-07T21:03:00.004-06:002010-05-07T21:23:38.308-06:00

All last month I was an April fool -- a birding fool, that is. In the past few weeks (and I'm including the first week of May in the update), I've taken two birding press trips to review outstanding field locations, purchased a new and better digital camera for better birding photos, welcomed at one new yard bird, added at least 48 birds to my life list, and been in more airports than I can care

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-34343686838742586662010-04-01T20:35:00.004-06:002010-04-01T20:53:14.911-06:00

Spring weather in Utah can be unpredictable, with a chilly start to a morning that leads to a warm day that leads to a fluffy snowstorm in the afternoon that finishes with a clear sunset and balmy breeze. On such days, one has to take advantage of birding whenever possible, and it is always possible to get lucky.I got lucky last weekend, but it wouldn't seem so at first. We began our walk at one

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-84368841774972083772010-03-27T08:30:00.003-06:002010-03-27T08:42:54.646-06:00

What a difference a week can make for birding. Two weeks ago, I participated in Utah's annual Tundra Swan Day with a birdwalk to see these lovely birds. The trip didn't quite turn out as planned - Utah's unpredictable spring weather intervened, and we spend quite some time on a ridge overlooking what we knew to be a flock of thousands of tundra swans, but seeing white birds through a white

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-87520625827733719492010-03-13T07:27:00.003-07:002010-03-13T07:40:30.525-07:00

In the past few weeks I've been discovering just how valuable local listservs and field reports can be for sharing new bird sightings and tips for finding rare vagrants. While adding the long-eared owl to my life list in January was the first time I've used such tips, it certainly won't be the last, and I've been fortunate to have several more opportunities.Of course, just because you have a tip

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-7862970734834184052010-03-07T17:39:00.003-07:002010-03-07T18:06:52.217-07:00

For the past few days, spring seems to have been lurking just over the mountains, waiting to descend upon the valley in a rush of warm winds, green grass, and birdsong. That was not to be earlier this week, however, when four inches of heavy, wet snow fell overnight, burying feeders and shattering branches all over the neighborhood.In the backyard, the nets I keep beneath Nyjer feeders to catch

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-69304289576772825872010-03-02T15:17:00.006-07:002010-03-02T15:47:40.836-07:00

Every birder knows that the more they visit one location, the less likely they are to see new birds. Of course, the occasional rarity or vagrant is always possible, but still uncommon.With that in mind, I didn't have high hopes for our recent trip to Las Vegas, and my return to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and Sunset Park. When I'd visited these same areas last year, birding extensively, I

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-73030507027675724732010-02-21T08:39:00.002-07:002010-02-21T08:51:13.948-07:00

Finally I've begun keeping my life list in a more systematic way, rather than adding to the lists here and manually counting each bird to discern my total. I copied my list into a spreadsheet, which I eventually hope to expand from just an alphabetical listing to several variations, including family and species groupings. Nonetheless, looking at the list this way is enlightening.One benefit, of

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-56608251046965892362010-02-19T21:15:00.003-07:002010-02-19T21:54:20.239-07:00

It's been crazy for the past few weeks, both with work and with birds, and twice in just under three weeks I've traveled hundreds of miles to see fantastic birds. Much to my delight, on both trips I've discovered new lifers.The first trip was to the St. George Winter Bird Festival in southern Utah, at the end of January. I've been to the festival before - last year - and came home with a wide

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-56428846698860548942010-01-24T16:52:00.004-07:002010-01-24T17:12:40.301-07:00

Birding may be a solitary hobby, but collaborating with other birders often leads to great rewards - tips on birding hotspots, new bird sightings, more accurate identifications, testing new equipment, and more. I'm always happy to share my tips with others, but I'm afraid I'm not quite so connected into receiving tips myself, though I don't hesitate to ask for help when I need it. I have recently

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-82090708804224230562010-01-17T19:55:00.008-07:002010-01-17T20:31:45.363-07:00

It's all well and good to enjoy birds in one's neighborhood, but it's not quite the same as having them visit your yard, your feeders, your birdbath. Just when I'd been lamenting the loss of the pine siskins and the emptiness of my backyard, the very next day I could hardly tear myself away from my binoculars with all the bird action. A generous flock of American robins descended on the property

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-14837982405571469112010-01-14T13:09:00.002-07:002010-01-14T13:15:29.988-07:00

Looking out at my feeders and seeing how empty they are day after day can be disheartening in these coldest, grayest days of winter. Last winter I was inundated with tremendous number of pine siskins in the midst of their biennial irruption, but this year not a single siskin has graced my feeders. While they’re not particularly colorful birds, nor do they have pleasing personalities, their sharp

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-25808893939291278062010-01-02T20:51:00.004-07:002010-01-02T21:12:39.959-07:00

While the past few months have been hectic and work-filled, I've still managed to make some time for the birds, though closer to home. One of my most successful efforts has been leaving our patio table out this winter rather than storing it in the garage. I've put my platform feeder on the cross supports beneath the table, effectively shielding it from snowfall, wind, and other inclement weather.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-45690424834477486732009-12-06T10:03:00.003-07:002009-12-06T10:13:14.304-07:00

Western scrub jays are one of my favorite birds, and I put whole peanuts out for them frequently in the summer. For the past few weeks, however, the peanuts have sat forgotten in their small dish on the patio table, only occasionally being disturbed or vanishing, though each time I've missed the perpetrator. Walking outside to finish putting up Christmas lights earlier this week, however, I saw

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-46405168662991929822009-12-01T15:18:00.003-07:002009-12-01T15:27:04.990-07:00

Winter is slowly descending upon northern Utah, and despite warmer temperatures for the past few weeks the nights are positively chilly and I’ve had my birdbath heater in position for several weeks. After all, there’s nothing more pathetic than watching a house finch peck at a frozen birdbath and look at it as if puzzling why they can’t drink the ice, but fortunately my backyard flock of sparrows

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-51842709150908385292009-11-15T19:05:00.004-07:002009-11-15T19:32:16.086-07:00

I had a birdfeeder epiphany a few weeks ago - all my feeders are in the backyard, and while I'm working studiously on upgrading the landscaping to create a bird sanctuary, it is obviously a long-term project and a slow process. Meanwhile, I have mature aspen trees, small blue spruce trees, boulders, and a few shrubs already in my front yard, but no birdfeeders. Why not?Most people tend to put all

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-76660718890004322732009-11-02T18:50:00.004-07:002009-11-02T19:01:59.796-07:00

The weather is definitely cooling off, the days are getting much shorter, and there's a nip in the air whenever I go out to refill the feeders. Just as so many animals cache food for the winter -- even birds -- so too should birders be sure they're ready for the change in seasons. In the past couple of weeks, I have... Swapped out some larger capacity summer feeders for smaller, more sheltered

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-34847259591575818482009-10-20T17:12:00.006-06:002009-10-20T17:35:35.794-06:00

It's easy for birders to assume that the waning autumn is a poor time to find new and unusual birds, particularly if you are not located along a major migration flyway. To my delight, however, I've discovered just the opposite. Twice in the past weeks I've been hiking in the mountains and been fortunate enough to add new lifers to my ever growing life list.The most recent additions come with

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-80869174516665150182009-10-11T20:15:00.007-06:002009-10-11T20:40:53.748-06:00

I'm always thrilled when my backyard birds put on a wild kingdom act, whether it's feeder aggression threat displays, begging fledglings, bathing, preening, or stretching out in the sun. The most exciting events, however, are hunting hawks, and I've been priviledged recently to have my Cooper's hawk, Dart, attack in my yard. Many birders have a soft spot for their backyard birds and despair if a

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-22679528884542733292009-10-08T18:30:00.002-06:002009-10-08T18:47:43.250-06:00

While the birds may be heading south now, I'm already making plans for their return next spring: specifically, I'm on the planning committee for the 2010 Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, which will be May 13-17, 2010, right in the midst of spring migration. The festival will include numerous workshops, bird-related vendors and artwork, expert guest speakers, and dozens of field trips to prime

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-3237592124692841392009-10-03T18:56:00.003-06:002009-10-03T19:06:00.668-06:00

Fall migration is always a wonderful time, even more so when it makes stops in your backyard as it did with mine this week. I was working at the dining table, always watching the sparrows and house finches munch at the platform feeders, when I noticed that one of the sparrows looked different than the rest of my dinner guests. It had a distinct pale eye ring, very fine streaking on the head, a

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-61464061324560343572009-09-27T17:37:00.005-06:002009-09-27T18:12:28.977-06:00

Fall is upon us here in Utah, or at least it seems that way to gaze up at the mountains as they turn brilliant shades of orange and red. The yellow coloration isn't quite here completely yet, but it will come as the season blazes to a spectacular finish.It can't get much more spectacular than the nearly four hour hike through the mountains I did today, with two new lifer birds joining my list.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-56931229205734416612009-09-12T18:27:00.004-06:002009-09-12T18:44:04.276-06:00

I haven't been birding much in the past couple of weeks, but the action locally has been exquisite. Not only have I continued to see Dart around our neighborhood, but during a drive near the Provo Airport this evening, I spotted a pair of lovely Swainson's hawks hanging out on power poles. The birds - new on my life list - are unmistakable with their white chins and brown bibs, and these were

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-6657866483157766292009-09-08T20:55:00.003-06:002009-09-08T21:08:01.151-06:00

Exciting news from the backyard this week: after careful study, consultation with Bill Fenimore, and more than a little research, I've concluded that this year's mystery hawk is a juvenile Cooper's hawk. I'm thrilled, as my earlier hawk visitors have most definately been sharp shinned hawks, but from the outset this one looked different. Not so much in general coloration - though the slight red

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-8004290107835668312009-08-25T21:06:00.003-06:002009-08-25T21:23:09.821-06:00

I had a visual revelation last weekend during a birdwalk with Bill Fenimore of the Wild Bird Center in Layton - what a difference new optics makes for a birder's enjoyment, particularly one with my sometimes questionable eyesight! Bill was generous enough to let me take a pair of binoculars (8x42) from the store to try in the field as we visited the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, and

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-55531627299856612022009-08-14T10:20:00.005-06:002009-08-14T10:38:11.947-06:00

Summer is a superb birding time, but unfortunately that also means it's not the best time for blogging. For the past several weeks I've been busy cleaning and refilling feeders, traveling to see new birds, taking regional birdwalks, and otherwise getting out into the birding world instead of sharing my experiences here in the virtual one. The best news is that I've added quite a few birds to my

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-50122025295425579042009-07-03T15:52:00.004-06:002009-07-03T16:09:11.059-06:00

I'm ashamed to realize and admit how long it's been since I've posted here, more than a month in fact, but June was a very full and very hectic time. The highlight of the month was a wonderful trip to northern Michigan, where I grew up and first developed my interest in birds from the seagulls we used to feed at the waterfront to the blue jays that perched outside my bedroom window demanding

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-43085472646109357862009-05-31T08:09:00.002-06:002009-05-31T08:18:25.160-06:00

I'm fortunate in that while I live in a moderate desert climate, the Provo River, Utah Lake, and Great Salt Lake are nearby and draw in millions of birds of hundreds of different species that I can observe quite easily. In the next week, I'm traveling to even better water attractors -- the Great Lakes region -- where I hope to do some magnificent eastern birding that will be just as exciting as

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-68240804581309665512009-05-28T11:30:00.003-06:002009-05-28T11:45:30.784-06:00

As I started out for a birding walk over the weekend - heading for a holiday picnic breakfast and early morning sightings - I realized I'd forgotten to toss my camera into my field bag. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but it always seems as though the one time you don't have a piece of equipment you need it the most. During this walk we spotted many beautiful birds that we see

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-22576503280434566392009-05-24T19:12:00.004-06:002009-05-24T19:28:36.249-06:00

With constantly dripping weather, today began as a disappointment with little promise of good birding, but once again the birds were a surprise. Early in the morning, after I'd about given up hope of venturing into the canyons for a bit of weekend birding, I saw a most welcome guest on my platform feeder: a male red crossbill. I'd wondered earlier this week what had become of the two pairs of

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-52028940804980583732009-05-21T20:12:00.006-06:002009-05-21T20:46:56.165-06:00

A festival is, by definition, a celebration, and I certainly have reason to celebrate after last weekend's Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. I participated in a trio of amazing field trips -- one to a large, local pond that featured a great blue heron rookery, another to a private duck club (a birding destination not available to the general public except during these special events), and a third as

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-81563273687324291862009-05-14T20:12:00.005-06:002009-05-14T20:47:38.721-06:00

After a long delay in finishing the fencing portion of the landscaping renovation, I'm thrilled to share the transformation of the backyard. Without delay...The feeder station adjacent to the patio, instead of poking from grass that became saturated with spilled seeds, sunflower shells, and other unpleasant detritus, is now surrounded by expanded curbing and wide, rich planting beds (thus

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-48734654542856544362009-05-10T20:34:00.003-06:002009-05-10T20:51:05.437-06:00

I found a new place for lovely birding today, along a section of the Provo River that is only infrequently familiar to birders, hikers, and other guests. While it is following along a section of an historic railroad track (one unused on Sundays), it is a lush riparian zone that is home to many birds. Along the way, I spotted American robins, song sparrows, American dippers, European starlings, at

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-68624540852116870012009-05-03T18:15:00.006-06:002009-05-03T18:27:04.976-06:00

After days of hectic scheduling and steady, dreary rain, the weather cleared today enough for a bit of local birding, and I wasn't disappointed in the results. My husband and I spent an hour on the Brigham Young University campus, watching ducklings and mallards in the botany pond as well as exploring the gentle paved trails along a heavily wooded and carefully maintained hillside. There, I

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-16123864146334262082009-05-01T19:58:00.004-06:002009-05-01T20:09:08.467-06:00

I've been waiting for May for a very long time. Spring is arriving in good force, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing with more intensity each day. Not only do I have a wonderful mixed flock in the backyard - mourning doves, American robins, pine siskins, house finches, Eurasian collared doves, California quail, and lesser goldfinches just today - but the Great Salt Lake Bird

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-4760108929539413982009-04-30T13:14:00.005-06:002009-04-30T13:30:25.387-06:00

In the midst of replacing feeders for the new landscaping (not quite finished yet - one project to go before I unveil the "after" pictures), I've had the old feeders balanced precariously on a pole stuffed into a trash can of discarded sod. The birds haven't minded, and for the past two weeks I've been treated to the frugal and unfinicky behavior of my dumpster diving pine siskins, who have

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-63014534474113404382009-04-23T17:53:00.008-06:002009-05-14T20:48:48.128-06:00

It seems like sweet coincidence that this is my 100th blog post, just over a year since I first began my project of converting the backyard to a bird sanctuary complete with dedicated feeding stations, appropriate landscaping, bird-friendly flora, and water features. In just a few more days, the first tremendous phase of that project will be completed as the foundation for the altered yard is

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984401059491524170.post-41450386139980366932009-04-18T19:54:00.008-06:002009-04-18T20:20:14.298-06:00

There are times when a birder ventures to a new location in the hopes of getting lucky and finding a new species for their life list. I hit the birders' jackpot on a trip to Las Vegas in the past few days, where I was fortunate to visit the City of Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve as well as Sunset Park. Between several hours at those two locations, I managed to add 15 new species to my life list.

Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04273489575295433505noreply@blogger.com0