“One of the nice things about birdwatching is …”

I’ve started many sentences with that phrase over the years. The backend of that line may be finished in almost innumerable ways:

… everyone, regardless of age or skill level, can enjoy it.

… it can be done during any time of the day or year.

… no two days are alike.

… there is always something new to learn or discover, regardless of how advanced you are.

… each time of year brings its own delights.

For the purposes of this column, the sentence will read: “One of the nice things about birdwatching is that it can be done anywhere.” Not many hobbies can be enjoyed in the woods, in a canoe or kayak, at a local park, or sitting in the kitchen looking out the window with your morning cup of coffee.

This aspect of birdwatching resonated with me when I pulled into work the other day. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye when I swung into a parking space. I opened the glove compartment, grabbed my binoculars and looked in the direction of the movement.

Within seconds, I found an adult Cooper’s hawk perched about halfway up a young maple tree. Small feathers from an unlucky small bird drifted down from the branches as the hawk picked its way to the good stuff. Intent on finishing its meal, the hawk paid no attention to me as I watched for several minutes. I pointed out the scene to a few curious co-workers who happened past as well.

On the other side of the parking lot, dozens of American goldfinches flitted among the wildflowers in the garden. Some song sparrows joined the goldfinches in the garden, as others sang from nearby perches. Chimney swifts filled the sky above the garden, circling for insects and twittering continuously.

All that, and I hadn’t even started my workday yet. My shoes hadn’t touched grass or dirt, only asphalt. I greatly prefer to see wildlife while I’m in the woods or floating on a lake in my canoe, but nature also plays itself out in more observable and heavily trafficked locations. I’m lucky that I work at a place where many of these scenes unfold.

The day prior to the Cooper’s hawk sighting, I heard a pileated woodpecker in the nearby woods. Pileated woodpeckers, despite their impressive size, are often heard and not seen, as their loud “wuk wuk wuk” call carries throughout the woods. This time, however, I spotted one immediately on the side of a tree. Then I saw another on a tree a few feet away. Then another. Three pileated woodpeckers in one sighting.

The woodpeckers, likely a first-year bird with its parents or two first-year birds with a lone parent, did not sit still for very long as they flew from tree to tree quickly without resting or hunting. Their constant motion prevented me from getting a good look and determining their ages, but I felt fortunate to have seen them regardless.

The woodpeckers disappeared into the woods, and I turned to walk back to my office. Without taking a step toward my destination, I noticed three wild turkeys at the edge of the woods. They largely ignored me as I proceeded past them.

While a long walk in the woods or a several-hour-long canoe ride may be the desired way to spend the day, that’s often not possible. Luckily for nature lovers in New England, the hobby may be enjoyed anywhere. It’s one of the nice things about birdwatching.

Hmm, where have I heard that before?