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...And Migration is Underway
by
Peggy Fasciani
Happening to glance out my kitchen window, and
noticing an unusual flurry of activity, I decided to
sit on my back porch and investigate with my binoculars. Within
a period of one and half hours, a
total of 18 species of birds was seen on this day,
August 29.
There were four robins sitting in our water fountain, and
two bathing in the concrete bird bath my husband and I had formed
on the ground under the pine tree. Three, maybe four, female rose
breasted grosbeaks were feeding on the red berries of the dogwood
trees. A flicker searched for ants on the grass, as a downy
flew from feeder to tree. A female oriole flew about, waiting
for its turn at the water fountain.
As one beautifully iridescent grackle strew sunflower seeds
from the feeder, three, count them, three chipmunks scurried out
from under the decaying oak stump to join the banquet. We had seen
little excavated openings and known some little critter was living
under there, but it had never ventured out for us to see - now we
knew there were at least three!
During this time, six tiny, nondescript, streaked sparrows,
species unknown, were busily feeding on the seeds of our weed/lawn.
For the first time in over twenty years of birding, I witnessed
ten molting juvenile cowbirds - strangely marked with half
black and half brown feathers.
Two hummingbirds came in to feed from the sugar water feeder.
House and goldfinches pecked at the thistle feeder,
with one goldfinch more interested in a purple coneflower.
And then there were the usual yard birds, excitedly joining in
the frenetic activity, flitting about from water to feeder, to flowers,
to tree - nuthatch, titmice, catbird, cardinals, blue jay, mourning
doves, and chickadees. Could it be possible that all
this would take place within about an hour and a half?
And then it was over. As I sat waiting, a black
swallowtail and a fritillary came slowly onto the
butterfly bush, but all else was silent.....and
migration is underway.
 Wings
Over Dutchess, September
2005
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