Back to back For the Birds columns

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Here are the last two For the Birds columns, mostly focused on what readers have been seeing this spring.

Photo by Chris Bosak A male indigo bunting eats seeds from a platform feeder in Danbury, Conn., in May 2018.
Photo by Chris Bosak A male indigo bunting eats seeds from a platform feeder in Danbury, Conn., in May 2018.

If the past season was the Winter of the barred owl, this is the spring of the indigo bunting.

I’ve heard from numerous readers and friends throughout New England and even Canada about this bright blue bird visiting their backyards. The cause for excitement is obvious as it is one of our more colorful birds, flashing a brilliant blue plumage. The brilliance of the blue plumage is dependent upon the light.

It is also nice to hear that so many of these birds are around and delighting backyard birders in large numbers. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are another popular bird this spring. I’ve had limited luck with indigo buntings this spring, but for me, it’s been a banner year for rose-breasted grosbeaks. I’ve seen as many as three males in a tree overhanging my feeders. A female visits the feeders often as well.

It’s also been a good spring for warblers and nearly every walk last week yielded yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, black-and-white warblers, chestnut-sided warblers, American redstarts and yellow-rumped warblers.

I’m not the only birdwatcher enjoying a productive spring. Here’s what Continue reading →

NSFW bird photos

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Gino Farina of Jaffrey Center, NH, caught these wild turkeys at the right moment, spring 2019.

I’ve never happened across copulating turkeys and until this spring I had never been sent photos of turkeys copulating. That changed earlier this month when, in the span of a few days, I received two such photos. Thanks to Wayne Snelley of Pepperell, Massachusetts, and Gino Farina of Jeffrey Center, N.H., for taking these excellent shots and sending them to me.

The future of turkeys seems safe for now. (NSFW means Not Safe For Work for those not fluent in Internet speak.)

For more photos submitted by readers from throughout New England, click here, or click on the Reader Submitted Photos link from the menu above.

Wayne Snelley got this shot of copulating wild turkeys in his yard in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

Birding ID quiz II

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Here’s another birding ID quiz to kick off your summer. Bonus points if you know why it looks as if it’s been squashed by something.

Comment below, email birdsofnewengland@gmail.com, or answer in your head. Thanks for playing along. Answer coming tomorrow.

Bird ID quiz to kick off ‘summer’

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Summer doesn’t officially start for about three more weeks, but it unofficially starts this weekend. What better way to kick off the summer than with a good, old-fashioned bird ID quiz from Birds of New England.com? I’m not giving you much to go on here, but it should be more than enough. A great summer bird for New England.

Comment below to answer, send your response to birdsofnewengland@gmail.com, or just play along in your head. Thanks for checking out http://www.birdsofnewengland.com

Bird babies already

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Photo by Chris Bosak
Young Canada geese walk along a road in Danbury, CT, May 2019.

Songbirds are still passing through on their northward migration and new birds that will nest in the area are arriving every day. For instance, I saw my first-of-the-year house wren and eastern wood pewee last week. But some bird species get an earlier jump on the breeding season. Owls started months ago, many robins have nests with babies now and Continue reading →

A walk for the birds at Oak Hills

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Some bird nerd with cool birdwatching peeps.

I’m a little late with this posting but better late than never. A few Saturdays ago I led a bird walk at Oak Hills Park in Norwalk. I was honored to be invited by the park’s Nature Advisory Committee to be the bird guide. Of course, I accepted because I love spreading the good word about birds and I have a soft spot for any volunteer organization that promotes nature appreciation and saves land.

As a bit of background, Oak Hills Park is mainly a golf course and the nature trails are on land that was once targeted to be cleared for a driving range. The Nature Advisory Committee now stewards that part of the property, which is valuable for birds and other animals — and plants for that matter. Case in point, during the walk we came across a box turtle in the woods. The box turtle is one of many animal species in decline because of loss of habitat.

The walk drew a large crowd and we saw many exciting birds. The highlight for many, myself included, was a very cooperative scarlet tanager, one of the most colorful and brightest birds we see in New England during migration. The red-bodied and black-winged bird flitted around and rested at eye level not far from the gathered crowd. I also pointed out over and over the sound of the Continue reading →

A few yard visitors, part II

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Photo by Chris Bosak A ruby-throated hummingbird visits fuscia blooms in Danbury, Conn., May 2019.

The ruby-throated hummingbirds came back a bit late this year, to my yard anyway. Last year it was late April. This year it was early May. Regardless, they are back and buzzing around like they own the place.

A few yard visitors, part I

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Photo by Chris Bosak
A rose-breasted grosbeak eats safflower seeds from a feeder in Danbury, Conn., May 2019.

Now that Warbler Week has passed and the spring migration is on a downward trend (but far from over), I’ll take the next few weeks to share photos of some yard visitors I’ve had this spring. As always, feel free to contact me with what birds you’ve been seeing. Send to chrisbosak26@gmail.com. Be sure to include the town and state in which the sighting was made. Thanks!