Birds are famous for their beautiful plumage, but their songs and sounds are just as much a part of their identity and day-to-day life.
Video from Petersonfieldguides on YouTube
Back to the Peterson Field Guide Video Series
“Bird Songs and Sounds” Video is from petersonfieldguides at YouTubeBack to the Peterson Field Guide Video Series
We had another great day at the Space Coast Birding Festival which ends tomorrow, Jan 26th. We are home now, but they continue on without us.
Dawn, Jeff and Me
Met up with Dawn and Jeff several times again today. She does Dawn’s Bloggy Blog. Then off to some more workshops. First off was Reinier Munguia’s, “Bird ID for Kids” to help with some upcoming lessons with kids. Reinier was still not up to normal, so he let his daughter do the presentation. She is a 9th grader and did a fantastic job. She has been in the field with her dad since she was 3 months old, straped on her father’s back.
In the afternoon it was “Taking the Fear Out of Identifying Gulls” by Alvaro Jaramillo of Field Guides, Inc. He did another great presentation and again I picked up some great information.
By the time that ended, I was in “information overload.” With all the workshops and seminars, birding, plus walking around the exhibits and chatting for the past few days, I was ready for “home.” So was Dan. When we did get home, a 90 mile drive, we found that the cold weather we have been having did “a number” on a few of the plants in the yard. Checked the outdoor temperature and it had gotten down to 26 degrees. We weren’t here to cover the plants. The ones in pots were okay because we had set them in the carport before leaving. Would I go again, You Bet!!!
While thinking about bird feeders and how birds approach them to eat, I started comparing that to how we approach the Word of God.
Goldfinch on Feeder
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1Pe 2:2)
Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. (Psa 119:140)
I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. (Psa 119:162)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105)
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psa 119:103)
Here are some of my thought about birds at my feeders:
Hummingbird Feeders (Hummingbirds and Orioles)
Hummer at Feeder, Camp Carlson, KY
Suet Feeders (Woodpeckers, Titmice, Nuthatches, etc
Regular Feeders (Most birds)
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psa 19:7-11 KJV)
All pictures taken by Dan.
About.Com has some very good information on it about Birds. Today I received a newsletter giving help identifying the different parts of the bird. They were using the Passerines. The “passerines are mostly small land birds and include many familiar types of species such as flycatchers, thrushes, sparrows, and warblers. They are sometimes called songbirds because many passerine species display complex vocal behaviors, and they are sometimes called perching birds because their enlarged flexible hind toe (the hallux) allows for perching on top of vegetation and other structures.” (About.Com)
This article was worth passing on for you to view. Please check it out.
Passerine Identification
Making List of Your Birdwatching Adventures
Many people keep list of the things they see and hear while out birdwatching. There are several kinds of list you might want to consider starting.
Life List
This is a list of all the birds species you have seen or heard. The sound of a bird you heard is acceptable in lists (if you can figure out what you heard or recorded.) It is good to get a date and location of the first sighting of each new bird.
Trip Lists
I also keep a birding list when I go birdwatching. If we go to Lake Hollingsworth or Merritt Island NWR, I keep a list of that outing. I list all the birds I see or hear at that place. Like the other lists given here, I put the date, location, weather condition (sunny, overcast, windy, etc) time and whatever else is important. Sort of like a combined list and field note. It is my way of doing it. I then enter each trips list at ebird.com. (I’ll explain that in another blog post.)
Keeping Field Notes
These are your impressions of the bird as you observe it. You could describe it in words, sketches, colored pens, etc. to help identify the bird later. When you are at home with your reference guides, these notes will help to figure out which bird you saw and nail the ID.Your first impression of the bird’s size, proportions, colors and markings, bills, leg color, what the bird is doing, song or sounds, and the habitat, plus a sketch can all be helpful later.
Keeping a Bird-Watching Journal
The Journal differs from Field Notes in that it is less technical and more your impressions of the whole experience of watching the birds. Along with the date and location, you can detail the weather, the surroundings, what you think the bird is doing in more personal terms, how that makes you feel, etc.
Keeping a Birds of the Bible List or Journal
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)
More ideas could be mentioned, but you be creative and do what helps and motivates you to find out more about the Birds of the Bible. Later, drop a comment or email and we can share your ideas on this.
Try to decide the size of the bird being observed. When you start looking in the guide books, the approximate size will be very helpful.
Smaller than a Sparrow – 2 to 5 inches
Sparrow Size – 5 to 8 inches
Robin Size – 8 to 12 inches
Pigeon Size – 12 to 16 inches
Crow Size – 16 to 24 inches
Goose Size – 24 to 36 inches
Larger than a Goose
Below are links to helpful articles on the internet about spotting birds and then how to identify them. There are plenty of online resources that specialize in this. No sense re-inventing the wheel.
Parts of a Bird from About Birds
Bird Idenification Tips from About Birds
Birding for Beginners Ten Tips for New Birders – from Wildbirds.com
There are some good articles on the internet that will help you get started identifying birds. Some of the simpler ones are:
How to identify a Bird – from Birdwatcher’s Digest
Bird Identification – from Wildbirds.com
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When we lived in Tamarac, FL, we had a park nearby in North Lauderdale whose naturalist encouraged me to become a birdwatcher. She was a good influence and shared her knowledge with me. I in turn now would like to share what I have learned with the readers of this blog. Though I doubt that I will ever have the level of “expertise” that she or others who have taught me have, I still desire to encourage others to start enjoying the wonderful and awesome birds around us that the Lord has created.
To become a birdwatcher:
How do you observe them? At first, just take note of their:
This is enough for now. I just wanted to encourage you to start watching birds and enjoying what is around us in our busy lives. In future postings, I will going into more details.
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 