As you can see from the attached photo, at least one early nesting species found this material attractive. Who knew that this bunch of prevented hairballs would instead be a treasured nest material?  We watched with delight as this Pine Siskin spent up to 15 minutes picking out each individual cat hair, carefully arranged in his or her (we think this is a female) beak before flying off with a mustache of fur. No expedient grabs of clumps of hair for her! A few minutes later she was back for another load.  This species seems quite “polite” – several other birds would wait their turn sitting on near by branches and it was all very orderly. This is unlike the squabbling of American Goldfinches as they jockey for position at the seed feeders with displays of aggression and frank pushing.

 So while we spend a lot of time enjoying how birds behave I was also struck at the many disparate ways the same event can be perceived by our human species. During our bird count for this winery the owner had also invited a group of George Fox ornithology students. Like a mixed flock of little brown birds, this group of students had very different reactions to the very same event. The vineyard owners in appreciation for our efforts served us lunch so we got to sit and visit about what we saw. Some of the students focused on how cold they got, how hard the hilly terrain was, how they didn’t see X species they needed for their life list and etc. My husband I an who walked the very same paths instead were awed by a Northern Harrier doing its mating swoops up and over the hills and we were glowing with awe in observing that behavior.  Amazing how what we see influences how we feel. And yes it was rainy and hilly and wet….

 In the spring we can have moments of joy if we take just a few minutes to watch what is going on and take a breather from the concerns of the day. This is a lot of fun and it changes the way you see your own back yard. What “trash” is treasure for others? How can you enjoy what is right in front of you?   What new learning can I have today?  All available in your own back yard or a short distance away. If you would enjoy a fun outing a short distance from Cedar Mill—consider driving through the wine country in Yamhill County. The owners of Youngberg Hill Vineyards allow birders to walk the perimeter of their property if you check in at the tasting room. We saw a large number of very interesting birds there and it was peaceful and quiet.   If you wanted to stay longer they have an Inn there that looks amazingly peaceful. Or simply look out your windows or as you go about your daily chores.  Consider the biodynamics of your own home— maybe some dryer lint for the birds? Maybe some yard debris not so carefully cleaned up so that it can be leaf litter for the thrushes to throw around as they scratch for insects. Maybe some fruit past its prime left out for the birds to peck?  

 Before the trees leaf out is the best time to scan for owls so get outside and look for large nests before spring and new leaves creates camouflage for owl babies.   Great Horned Owls are particularly fond of using nests from hawks, eagles, crows or even abandoned squirrel nests.

 Great Horned Owls are among our earliest birds to nest in this location.  Later on of course we’ll see some ducks and geese building nests. Our latest nesting birds tend to be the American Goldfinch who doesn’t lay eggs until much later in the summer. Even now at our feeders we can see these Goldfinches start to change from their drab olive winter plumage to their bright yellow breeding plumage despite the fact that the date for egg laying is months away. 

 My own personal experience is limited with owls but when I see one I am truly awed.  These are magnificently camouflaged creatures. The attached picture is from Fernhill Wetlands where we were incredibly fortunate to see this bird peeking over the nest.  According to reputable sources these birds mate for life and start producing offspring when they are about two years old. Both male and female share the duty of sitting on the eggs. There are typically two eggs, which take around 30 days to hatch, and then more time to develop feathers and leave the nest (technical term is fledging). So we look forward to watching this family grow over time. We did not see the other bird but hope to.  This will require careful scanning of trees given their camouflage and another dose of incredible luck.

 I have heard Great Horned Owls in my back yard in Cedar Mill at night. I know they nest in this area. Their – hoo hoo hoo hoo and maybe even one more note at times, is loud and distinct. Once I saw one at dusk land in my back yard tree for a few moments. That was a real treat and the only time I have seen one in the 13 years I have lived in my home.  I hear them a lot in January and February and then when they start to nest they don’t call..

 My brother had an encounter with a Great Horned Owl as he was running in Forest Park with his small terrier dog. The owl apparently thought the dog would be tasty and made a run at the dog. They will eat whatever is available including small dogs and cats. Mostly they eat rodents..

 What mostly amazes me are their huge eyes, which can bring in lots of light to see in dim conditions. Birds have so many adaptations to specific habitats. Some of them have beaks for cracking open nuts, some drill holes in my trees for sap and insects and owls have huge eyes to see at night. It reminds me of our human signature strengths. We don’t all have to be alike and being different and unique may allow us to thrive together.  It also is fascinating the variations in responses to owls in history. While these creatures are in fact hard to study due to their habits this has not stopped fertile imaginations from interpretations. In many cultures owls are revered for wisdom and are symbolic of fertility (such as being the companions of many ancient goddesses of fertility in recovered artwork—due to their association with the night maybe?). Other cultures have found them to be symbolic of rather evil and dark things like harbingers of death and destruction.

 Human’s beings are able to interpret the very same event or animal in markedly diverse and creative ways. To me the owls are intricately adapted to harsh conditions and are such a rare treat that I am transfixed. I think I watched this particular owl for about an hour and the time just melted. What awes you?

 Get outside and see..

It amuses me when American Robins show up on the Audubon Society rare bird alert in winter months because most of them do in fact leave for the winter. While they are incredibly common in the spring and summer months here they are relatively rare in the winter. I experienced an afternoon last month when our cherry tree was full of robins they must have been migrating though in a flock since I have not seen any since. I am reminded that Robins are the first birds to sing around 4 AM in the spring with their “cherrio cherri up “ songs. It’s very quiet at that time in the winter…

Our most rare back yard bird was a single Tundra Swan who appeared in our wetlands in January. The folks who have lived next door for about 25 years had never seen a swan in the wetlands so this definitely qualifies as an irruptive species, at least for our little area.

The swan was lovely. It was banded and its neckband had a number indicating it was part of an avian flu study originating in Alaska. I was able to find out that this bird, a female, was banded in White Salmon Alaska when she was about 2 years old. Where she has traveled since that time I don’t know. Several of her banding cohorts are currently in the Ridgefield National Wildlife refuge in Washington. Why she became separated from the flock is a mystery. However this bird appeared to find a new flock of Canada and Cackling geese, which is great for socializing and protection from predators.

Other irruptive species are being found more and more in Oregon. This winter we have had unusual ducks including Ring Necked ducks, Common Mergansers as well as many Green Winged Teals and Hooded Mergansers. Who knows why we have so many of these “unusual” birds in our ponds. Of particular note are the sightings of Snowy Owls in the Northwest. I have not seen any in my back yard but am always hopeful…

So birding can be a treasure hunt for rare creatures but now I know the scientific term is “irruptive”. Keeps my brain active but mostly makes me look out the windows… have fun looking..

No more gold shiny orbs or flashing crystal bulbs. Instead I see the natural forms of my garden “skeleton”. Fortunately I have planted some bushes, which produce berries, some trees with interesting bark coloration and patterns and lots of great dogwoods which change color in the cold temperatures to showy reds and yellows.

As the leaves have fallen, we can more clearly see some of our Cedar Mill winter bird inhabitants. While many of them are in their “drab” winter wear we can in fact see some hints of the vivid breeding plumage soon to come.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the white-edged flash of Junco tail feathers. They are a common sight in our winter yards. Usually they lurk around under bushes to find food but as they flit from one dark cover to another we may see the quick flashes of brilliant white, which stands out particularly well in our recent string of foggy days.

Other birds also treat us to small patches of resplendent colors. Our over-wintering resident, male Anna’s Hummingbirds have iridescent crimson on head and throat, which glints in the (rare) sunlight. The Yellow-rumped Warblers are aptly named. As they visit the suet feeders near our windows I admire their outfit, which includes matching bright yellow on their heads and some on the flanks. Our male Downy woodpeckers have obvious red patches on their crowns of their heads. Pine Siskins become common in the winter as the groups who summer in the North come here for “warmth”. These non-descript little birds are often in mixed flocks of both types of Goldfinches (American and Lesser) and other “little brown jobs” or LBJs.

Many of the small winter birds fly in mixed flocks. So take a look the next time Bushtits swarm your suet feeders. Almost always in my Bushtit flocks of late, there is a lone Ruby-crowned Kinglet. They are about the same size but clearly different; they are deep olive, the have two white wing bars, an eye ring and a slightly larger and plump body shape. If it is a male, and he has a moment of excitement we may be fortunate to witness the split second display of the incredible luminous scarlet topknot as they feed on the suet.

As the busy-ness of the holidays wind down and the glitter of the artificial decorations is stored in boxes for the next season, we have a chance to enjoy the pleasures of ordinary, quiet winter days. We can reflect on our goals for the coming year, make plans and resolutions but we can also choose to enjoy some quiet before the yard beckons us to spring chores. We can look for the small moments of wonder in a flash of color.

And as those of us lucky enough to have a break from work go back to the tasks awaiting us—may we keep our promise to enjoy the daily opportunities to find delight in the living “ornaments” adorning our surroundings.

Birds fluff up their feathers to trap warmth, they seek shelter in brush piles or other sheltered areas including birdhouses so don’t take those down! They seek more food to generate warmth. They flock up together to huddle and save heat. They seek alternative food sources. If we thought ahead last spring and planted sunflower seeds we now have huge sources of seed in our gardens. ( Or we might peruse garden seed catalogues which arrive soon for seeds to plant next spring). If we planted some crabapple trees that fruit that will feed several species all winter as well as decorate our yards with bright red orbs in the gray days. Or we might leave some of our flowers, which have gone to seed out a bit longer before cleaning them up since these might attract goldfinches and others to snack on those treats.
Most of the birds that must have warmth or have specific nectar or insect foods have migrated south. Every year people worry that leaving out hummingbird feeders might encourage those hummers to stay who need to leave. Don’t worry about this. The best evidence is that migration is related to day length not food availability so leave the hummingbird feeder out for the Anna’s hummers who do stay in Portland all winter. As the nectar dries up those birds tend to feed off of sap and any remaining insects. Hummers have been demonstrated to be able to reduce their metabolic rates over the winter so as not to have to eat as much. But I have seen hummers in freezing temperature try to eat out of frozen feeders. My husband rigged up a warming lamp to shine on the hummingbird feeders for the ones who were hungry. Alternatively you might bring in your feeder at night so that it stays fluid to put out again in the morning (assuming it warms up during the day!). For hummingbird mixtures to freeze it has to be really cold since the dissolved sugar freezes at a lower temperature than plain water. However I have had frozen feeders for several days in most of our winters.

Non-nectar eating species also can have trouble finding natural sources of seeds or insects. Black sunflower seed is high in energy and very appealing to a wide variety of songbirds. The foods containing millet have not been that successful for my feeders. I wonder if those mixes are more for other areas of the country or the birds in my yard will pick other foods offered more selectively. Maybe mine are picky! Other treats that attract birds to my yard are cut oranges, which I impale on a nail on my bird feeder—towhees and thrushes in particular like fresh fruit. Many birds “flock up “ in winter to stay warm together, avoid predators and help find food. In Cedar Mill we see large flocks of Bushtits, sparrows of several sorts, Chickadees and Juncos.

It is helpful to provide clean water. Certainly with lots of rain there are innumerable puddles. However puddles in the street can be contaminated with oil, run off of yard chemicals and other contaminants from asphalt. Maintaining a birdbath that is clean and free of ice in the winter is a huge gift to birds. We use a special birdbath low voltage heater, which is safe to put into the water (in general avoiding electrical items in water is a good idea!) to keep it ice-free and we are rewarded with innumerable woodpeckers, sparrows, the few hardy Goldfinches who brave the cold, and even hawks drinking out of our birdbath. Put a few drops of chlorine bleach in the birdbath so that no mold grows in the winter. Keep your feeders clean too. This reduces disease transmission from so many “customers”.

Suet is a favorite winter food of many birds including nuthatches, chickadees, finches, sparrows, towhees and woodpeckers. If you note any sick birds be sure to clean your feeders more often. I wrote a posting about cleaning out hummingbird feeders and this still needs to be done in winter albeit less often. Many people don’t think of cleaning suet feeders but they should be cleaned often as well.

The loss of leaves allows us to see the birds more clearly. Our woodpeckers are more easily viewed pecking for insects. In Cedar Mill we have several types of woodpeckers including the Downey, the Hairy, several Flickers, an occasional Sapsucker species and sometimes even a Pileated. If it’s a nice day and you want to go for a short walk consider going to the Hillsboro Library. In the dense oak woods to the south and southeast is a kind of woodpecker rarely seen outside of this small area in Oregon—the Acorn Woodpecker. These old oaks are riddled with holes in which these birds stash their winter cache of acorns. Winter can be a great time to help hungry birds, which allows you to view them closer than you might in the other seasons where more food is more widely available to them. One of my all time favorite winter activities is sitting in my comfy chair with my cat and either a book or knitting and every once in a while glancing up to see which birds are at my window feeder. Sometimes I count but mostly I just enjoy…

However in meeting people from all over the US and even the world that come to this area to bird there are many ways to enjoy this hobby. I recently took out a woman from Little Rock who was here for a conference. She always arrives a day before the conferences to see the local sites and to go on a guided bird watching trip. So we went to Pittock Mansion, to Fernhill wetlands and my back yard in Cedar Mill! She said she greatly enjoyed seeing our backyard birds. This was from a woman who has gone to 47 countries to watch birds, has a very long “life list” and travels in the US extensively on business. So our area in fact is “very birdy”. While it’s wonderful to travel it can also be a great trip to see what is in your own back yard.
Her goal in the US was to see 100 birds in every state. We made it to about 89 that day—it was a rather slow day for migratory birds. On some other day getting to 100 in a day would take some movement to different habitats such as water areas compared to forested areas but is very possible.

She saw the most birds in my back yard. This time of year the bird life pretty much “turns over” from the summer residents to the winter ones. Some birds pass through but most of them are coming from the north to stay for the winter. Others like our Rufous hummingbirds left in mid September for places further south to rest and feed before coming back here in the spring to breed.

Some of my biggest “finds” this fall have been in the sparrow category. Most people think of sparrows as little brown non-descript birds that lurk around under bushes. True but also missing a lot of variety if one really watches them. As I was cleaning out some garden foliage I noticed a small brown bird digging with both feet vigorously, which is odd. This bird was kind of jumping up and down while digging which most of our typical sparrows such as Song Sparrows don’t do. I looked more closely and it was a Fox Sparrow—much darker with some reddish on the tail feathers and definitely very streaked. This behavior, which was distinct, was my clue to look more closely. Often in migratory flocks of sparrows one can see several different types. Our Golden Crowned Sparrows are returning for the winter. Their rather plaintive and sad calls can be heard around my yard now. I can see flashes of their very golden head coloration—more so on older birds than those newly hatched ones. The White Crowned Sparrows also tend to either come through this area on their way south or some stay the winter. Very rarely we get other sparrows for a day or two. I had a White throated one in my yard for about two hours—not long enough for my husband to get a picture so it’s just in my own memory!
Similarly a Lincoln’s sparrow hung out in our yard for a few days to feed before continuing on his journey to the south.

So however you like to see birds is great. Make long lists—travel extensively—sit in your living room looking out while knitting—any way can take you on a pleasant “journey” away from daily cares. Who knows maybe you can see 100 birds in one day! See how many you can find….

They are in fact “hiding” to some degree in that they molt (lose feathers) and look more like females after the breeding season. The exact timing of this change varies on the specific duck species. In some ducks such as Mallards the change over is later in the summer compared to earlier breeding ducks such as the Wood Duck.

Many other bird species also change into more dull winter plumage—for some of them the sexual dimorphism (i.e. how males and females appear) is less dramatic even in non-breeding plumage than the ducks. The change over into female like appearance of feathers in ducks is called the “eclipse” plumage.

There is a brief period when some of the flight feathers are molting where the birds cannot fly. One notices a very drab appearance, which mostly fits in with the gradual change in grasses from green to brown and tan as the summer rains decrease and grasses go to seed. The ducks also are quieter. If you think back to a spring pond and its sounds, the fall pond sounds are very muted just like the coloration of the duck inhabitants.

However for those interested in puzzles and minutia, one can still recognize that there are male ducks mixed in with the females and the juveniles. For Mallards the key feature is the bill. In females all year long the bill is somewhat orange with a black “saddle” like splash over the top. In male Mallards the bill is uniformly yellow or straw colored. This feature is certainly less of a marker when the males have their spectacular green glossy heads in their breeding plumage—who would even look at bills?? But in the winter when both males and females are a dull mottled brown the bill difference is obvious and does not require a lot of inspection to see the difference. But one does have to be interested in that degree of detail and for some non-birders this is just the type of trivia that gets to be the brunt of jokes.

So if this helps you enjoy your wildlife viewing, take a look. If this seems over the top in terms of detail just rest assured that, yes, the males are still there…

Awe is a state of wonder and pleasant surprise that transports us into a different psychological realm. Most researchers in the field of positivity believe that if we notice “awe” moments we improve our mental health. When we appreciate or decide to have a pleasant day a calming effect occurs.  Some of this is the tendency to want to share with others. At other times it takes us out of our typical ways of thinking about our surroundings to remind us of the grandeur of nature and the natural world.

Awe reminds us we are part of something larger than our own concerns. It elevates our spirit.  Many times awe is due to noticing amazing things in our natural environment- or traveling to natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon or to see the Northern Lights. But we can have awe experiences in our own back yards if open ourselves to this possibility.

Migratory season is certainly one arena for awe as we see birds we have not seen for many months. Spring brings us new growth in plants. Inspiration is a different emotion—feeling amazed by the capacity of human for achievements. Both are forms of positivity, which have been studied extensively by psychologists in the past 20 years.

I have been awed many times—in my own back yard as I have seen Western Tanagers in their colorful plumage eat all the suet I put out – knowing they have many miles to travel to their breeding grounds and feeling amazed by their determination. At other times I have been awed by how adorable the baby hatchings are, which encourage the parents to hunt for worms or seeds to feed them. The parents’ diligence is awe-inspiring. And I have been inspired to respect the transience of life as a Sharp Shinned Hawk grabs a Goldfinch out of the air to feed it’s babies in the nearby nest. Being awed means wondering why the Cedar Waxwing is named “waxwing” until one sees the “blot” of red on the wing which must have reminded a long ago observer of the red wax that used to seal envelopes! Look for this bright red spot on the Cedar Waxwings in your yard! (See accompanying Pet Barn ad in this month’s news for a photo of the Western Tanager)

Another source of awe is to realize that I CAN recognize the multitude of bird songs in my backyard.  On a recent day to pick up my newspaper I heard a song I didn’t recognize. Being aware of the “usual” background noises, in this case my neighbor’s tree was “dripping” with migratory yellow warblers eating bugs. On another day I heard what I thought was a “robin who had taken opera lessons” and then realized—that is a Black Headed Grosbeak. His song is full of trills and “fancy” notes but sounds like his “cousin” the American Robin. One can be awed in one’s own back yard IF you are mindful. How many people went out that day to retrieve newspapers or put mail in boxes or just walk and never heard the magical warblers or saw the “operatic robin” which really was a Grosbeak.

Have you been awed lately? If not consider the possibilities outside.

Hormones also cause the changes in bird feather coloration we see in the bright spring plumages of many perching birds.  Some of these birds have spent the winters in southern climates eating and preparing their bodies to go through the arduous energy expense of laying eggs and feeding the chicks.  After they fly back to the nesting sites many of them go through a molt where they lose their old tattered dingy feathers for a new set of “Easter best” breeding attire.

These same hormones cause the male birds to sing loudly to advertise not only their fitness as an attractive mate but to signal where their prime nesting territory is. During this time of year some particular songbirds also get very very aggressive especially to birds of the same species or birds who pose a threat (such as the bird eating Cooper’s or Sharp Shinned Hawks—who are also feeding nestlings!).

Robins in particular in our area – and Northern Cardinals in the eastern part of the US—tend to get particularly feisty if they believe they see another male robin. And since they are urban birds that nest close to houses and other buildings they “see” other robins in windows in which their own reflection becomes the “enemy”. Many of my neighbors call every year since I am the “bird lady” to ask – “Why does that robin start flinging itself at my window—usually at 5 AM?” And then of course  they want to know what to do about it.Many people are concerned about the birds and whether they might get hurt but also concerned about how noisy this behavior is to the inside house occupants.

Most of the research from ornithologists on this topic indicates that most birds don’t hurt themselves. Nevertheless we all know of robins that have gotten concussions and either died or a roaming outdoor cat does them in while they are stunned. In certain years when the concentration of robins is high, more have to nest near houses so this behavior varies from year to year depending on how densely packed the robins are to each other and competing for nesting sites.

The research is all over the map about what to do. One can read web sites, which recommend draping plastic snakes over outside windows (isn’t that attractive?) and other sites indicate that this is not effective at all.  Most authorities recommend not doing much since if one covers one window the robin as it flies around will find another one or a shiny car surface. So if this bird is waking you up—certainly drape something over the OUTSIDE of the window. Simply pulling the inside blinds or drapes down does not appear to change the reflection in the window—which is what Mr. Robin’s hormones perceive as a threat. So drape whatever seems useful and least ugly to you—maybe even a windsock that flutters in the wind breaking up the reflection but also of course some kind of opaque material that you have around works too.

Robins in our area tend to have two breeding seasons and most produce two batches of chicks—so you may have to repeat this window covering later on. It also might be a great excuse to not clean your windows but most of us are so hungry for the sunlight to come in that this may not be an attractive option. But then again it might be…..

Bird watching is really a poor moniker for the experience one can have outside if one is aware of birds (and other natural environmental items such as plants and bees and snakes!). To me going outside to “watch” birds is short hand for getting into an absorbing new way of looking at the world. I find that it is enough of a challenge that I get into the state of flow.

This state has been described in the psychological literature as a pleasant mindset where the experience of time “flows” and the mind is absorbed on the present task so that all worries about the past and thoughts for the future melt away in favor of the present moment. This is one definition of the meditative state.

There are many described types of meditation—some sitting and breathing quietly but another equally valid type, which is “walking meditation” which simply has one notice what is around. Both types have incredibly long pedigrees for being useful for health (lowers blood pressure and helps immunity as two examples) but also for improving creativity and problem solving. Sometimes the mind needs to shut off the major sections to have issues resolved in more “underground” ways.

I just took some very nice women from Cedar Mill on a bird tour. And we listened. And we saw many things. And they said they didn’t realize how fast the time flew and how pleasant it was. Getting into that mental flow state while adding a few birds to the life list and learning some ecology is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

So what do you hear outside in your yard or on your trip to the grocery store or gym? I hear the White Crowned Sparrows who have just migrated back from their southern winter haunts. Their complex song reminds me that spring is here. So many people don’t seem to even notice these birds singing away in the tops of trees or on poles—they literally are everywhere in Cedar Mill. If you don’t know what a particular bird sounds like go to the Cornell Ornithology web site www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478 and type in a bird name in the “all about birds” search box. You will be rewarded with a recording of this bird. The best way to learn bird songs of course is to watch them sing—that way one accumulates a particular bird one at a time. Trying to learn all of them on a CD or a tape is incredibly hard to remember. But if you see one in your yard and watch it sing, you will have many clues to help your memory.

This week in my back yard I welcome back our swallows. They appeared really late this year compared to the 12 years of records I have kept about my back yard wetlands. They are about one month late in fact. Now they are swooping over the pond eating the latest insect hatch and chattering away. No nest building yet but I imagine that will occur after they fatten up from their long journey to this location.

I also am hearing the return of the Virginia Rails who do a very odd “ kidick, kidick “ song. These elusive birds are rarely seen, in fact in all the years I have spent looking at my wetlands area I have only seen them dart out once from the grasses and cat tails. The Marsh wrens are doing their rattling breeding song going from cattail to cat tail. The warblers are just starting to appear and so are the amazing small Common Yellowthroats- they call “ witchedy witchedy” and they appear in my yard mostly yellow but with their “Lone Ranger” black eye mask. Soon possibly a Green heron will arrive in my wetlands but they tend to be the latest spring migrant who appears. The house finches are singing away lustily from the tops of the trees and it sound like spring…

I even heard that some folks have seen hatched Anna’s hummingbird nestlings… now the flowers need to bloom to provide the nectar for these rapidly growing babies…

Bird Watching is really “bird hearing, bird seeing and bird knowing”. Have fun.