Bird Songs

It has been a long cold winter in West Michigan, again. But, despite the cold, spring can be heard in the air.

Yesterday, while sitting at breakfast with my husband, I heard a Red-winged Blackbird. I was lucky, too, since the temperatures were in the 50's and I could and did open my window and listened to them sing ALL day. A little later, I saw 6 blackbirds in our willow tree. These birds are the early scouts establishing nesting territories with song, posturing, and other aggressive behavior. Their songs, though, give me great joy and I never tire of listening to them.

Then, this morning as I ran in the rain to get the mail, I heard just one short melodic call. I hurried inside to tell my husband that the American Robin was back (or should I say home). Shortly, afterwards I saw 6 robins on the lawn. All summer long, I have robins singing in the early evening. I have learned to identify individuals by their song. Once, I had a young robin, practicing its songs and he could not reach the high notes. (definitely an alto)

Reflecting back on the other bird comments made in this house, I realize that we hear the birds first, and then we know to watch for them. I heard my first Sandhill Cranes in mid February but only saw them this week.

Even though many birds winter here, their songs are different and happier in the spring. Last evening in the dark, the Canada Geese were flying overhead, calling to each other, and looking for a place on open water on the lake. (a most welcome summer sound.) Since early February, despite the near zero temperatures, the Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, and Black-capped Chickadees have been singing their love songs to each other.

Despite the weather, bird song is in the air and spring is around the corner.

Hope you hear them, too.

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds

All images © MSCI

Gray Tree Frog

Saturday, it was the annual summer garage sale around our lake. My husband and I went searching for items in our neighbor's junk that would be treasures for our grandchildren (after a cycle in the dishwasher). This day is also an occasion when neighbors spent time visiting and sharing stories. I found a gem (story not junk) that I want to share.

Our neighbors DM and RAM have a nice yard with flowers and bird houses. Since we share an interest in birds, RAM showed me the 5 baby Black-capped Chickadees in a birdhouse next to the front door and the baby American Robins in the bushes by the garage.

Mama chickadee with food

5 baby birds in a nest with warm fluff

Then she said, "I also have a frog living in my little green outhouse on this bench" (next to the front door, too). She went on to tell me that this frog has been living at this outhouse address for 3 years. Once in a while, it goes away for a few days during the summer. In the winter, it probably hibernates nearby and then in the spring it comes back. Last summer DM and RAM even heard it's mate singing from the bushes. (frog singing is night time music)

I hurried home to get my camera.

While taking pictures, the frog wasn't too happy with my camera lense pointing at it, so it slipped down backwards into the outhouse seat and hid from me but not until I had my pictures!

Outhouse

My home!

White fluff on its feet is cottonwood fuzz


A two seater home!

My research tells me that this is a Gray Tree Frog, Hyla versicolor. It is a chameleon frog that changes its color to match the background. Two identification marks, a white spot under both eyes and yellow-orange markings on the inside of the hind legs, can be seen in the photos.

What an amazing frog!

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
The Calls of Frogs and Toads
Animal Diversity Web
Oklahoma Wildlife Department
Frogs and Toads in Color and Sound
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds
Camera: Canon EOS D60
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM

On The Road

I am on the road again, heading south as fast as my old RV will go. Even though I have travelled some of these interstates many times, there is always something different or new to see. I like best to watch for birds and make a list for each state through which I travel. (yes, I am a lister)

Birds are hard to identify while traveling at 60 miles per hour. Rest areas and re-fueling stops (food or gas) are the hot birding spots but surprises do happen.

Just a few miles from home at a gas stop, some Horned Larks searched the snow covered field for food. I checked The SIBLEY Guide to Birds and saw that the larks at their northern edge of their winter range.

(Photo by John of a lark without snow)

My second surprise was a Red-shouldered Hawk at an northern Indiana rest stop. This bird, too, is at the northern edge of its winter range. (I have learned a new birding detail)

As I travelled south, I can't wait for signs of spring. Sure enough, at my first rest area in Illinois (there are so many), there was a flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings eating crabapples, probably not their favorite fruit but good in late winter.

Its good to be on the road again and birding along the way.