Máistir Nádúraí: Backyard Birds

12.03.2008

Backyard Birds

I haven't had much birding news to share on my blog lately. I last birded Pheasant Branch on November 27th and found 34 species, including White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. It's snowing today, but not enough for snowshoeing yet. In backyard birding news, I've put out nyjer, black-oil sunflower, suet, and peanut halves at my apartment feeders. This has attracted regular visits by American Goldfinches, House Finches, Pine Siskins, Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, and Dark-eyed Juncos. I'm hoping that the Tufted Titmice across the street at Pheasant Branch will notice my feeders soon. Other apartment birds since I've moved include Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, American Robin, American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk.

© 2008 Mike McDowell

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.