The next thing I noticed is that I pay more attention to bird songs and seek out, at least with my binoculars, the birds that don't actually show up at the feeder. My handicap is that I'm not very familiar with birdsongs. For most of my birding life I've depended on my friend Bill to whom birdsongs are as familiar as English. It's like an open-book quiz. I never seem to remember the songs of birds I don't see. I just keep asking, "Bill, what's that...." And he never tires of providing the answer. I've been listening to Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs which is pleasant, but includes so many songs I'll never encounter, that my attention wanders. With the help of sites like Bird Songs, I can fairly easily put together a disk of particular songs I'm interested in, with identification for lessons and without, for quizzes.
Finally, I noticed that the best parts of birdwatching have nothing to do with counting. Last weekend, we were privy to a hummingbird's leisurely shower in the water dripping over the edge of the "cup-runneth-over" birdbath.
Bill tells me hummingbirds never bathe in still water. I imagine when you're that size, there's a danger of drowning. But he happily hovered for several minutes in the dripping water before landing on the wire fence to groom. I didn't run for the camera. I just sat and enjoyed watching the hummingbird's grooming. (This is last year's picture of the birdbath. The hummingbird's not in the picture. You can also see last year's picture of a hummingbird in the bee balm here.)
3 comments:
(Unrelated to today's blog entry.) I usually abide by a self-stated rule that I do not utilize a gift until the thank you note is in the mail. That being said, I have to say that I have been totally involved in using LibraryThing, and am finally getting around to thanking you for sharing that website on your blog. It has made such a difference in my life. Just knowing that there is a list! Still not organized books (non-fiction), but still, I can determine if what I am looking for is somewhere here. I am old-fashioned enough (or is that just plain old enough?)that I only know about the Dewey Decimal System. So many of my books are not coming up with that number, there must be something else in use. Maybe someone will take pity on my ignorance and educate me. I am shy about asking at the site as everyone seems so not in my league. (Way above and beyond me.)
Anyway, I love that pic of the bird waterer. I don't keep running water out for the birds, unless you count the creek that runs through my property. Last year I had up to 15 hummingbirds at a time at my feeders. I really enjoy them.
Love your idea of *counting* over cocktails!
I agree about the attraction of a dripper/mister - moving water seems irresistable to birds.
abglib, you're inspiring me to get back into The Library Thing. I haven't done much with it since my first foray. But it really is fascinating and useful.
Laura, you don't think the cocktails will affect my accuracy, do you? I mean, it's only twenty minutes. How far off could I get in twenty minutes?
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