Backyard Birding

In addition to reading about 25 books a year, another relaxing hobby I started while trapped at home in 2020 was backyard birding.  

It was always something that my parents enjoyed and I decided to give it a try. Armed with a pair of binoculars, “Stokes Field Guide” and a credit card to purchase feeders, poles, bird food and squirrel and raccoon baffles, I started my hobby. 

As word spread about the delicious treats in my backyard, I soon needed to download the Audubon app to help me to identify birds. To date, I have had over 30 different types of birds visit my backyard. Most recently, I discovered the Merlin Bird ID app, which allows you to identify birds by sound or a photo. 

We have a Great Horned Owl somewhere in the neighborhood that I can hear but have not yet seen. Some of my favorites are Downy woodpeckers and sweet bluebirds, although I love the sassiness of a red-bellied woodpecker who likes to chase the other birds away and squawk at me when I’m filling the feeders. (I think he’s telling me to hurry up.) 

Hummingbirds have buzzed by my head to inform me their nectar is out and chickadees will sit on the pole and watch me fill the feeders. Occasionally, I have a rare sighting of the pileated woodpecker (aka Woody Woodpecker). At times, our resident Cooper's hawk stops by but he’s not interested in the seed and scares everyone away. He particularly “prefers” slow-moving turtle doves. 

This is a year-round hobby so, yes, I venture out in the cold and snow to fill the feeders. Sometimes I toss some seed on the deck to get a closer look. Of course, to keep the squirrels off the bird feeders I now have squirrel feeders throughout the yard – but that’s a hobby for another time.

Jean Meade

Rankings & Projects Manager