Backyard Bird Watching: First Oriole of Spring
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We saw our first Baltimore Oriole this morning. He was unmistakable and beautiful – bright orange, black and white, a small bird – only about 7″ overall.
Our nectar feeder has been ready for nearly a month, and that was his first stop. In backyard bird watching, as in most hobbies, preparation pays off!
The Birds of Wisconsin Field Guide
Other helpful resources include The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds. We have both the western and eastern editions, and having lived in the western US, as well as the midwest – have put them both to good use. I find them a bit more difficult to navigate than the Wisconsin Field Guide, but they do cover more territory and would be invaluable for the traveling bird watcher.
Article continues below bird watching book recommendations.
Summer Bird Watching Adventures
We’ll be taking our field guides with us this summer when we camp in Wisconsin’s north woods. I’m hoping to spot my first Scarlet Tanager; the male is a bright scarlet red bird with jet black wings and tail, which I’ve learned prefers mature, unbroken woodlands, where it hunts for insects high in the tops of trees. I’m also hoping to find the secretive indigo bunting; the male being a vibrant blue and seen most often at woodland edges.
Please leave a comment and tell me what birds or other wildlife you’re hoping to see this summer.
Photo Credit: My first picture of a bird by carriecha on flickr
2 Comments
May 26th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I am most looking forward to the hummingbirds. I’ve planted some bee balm (has red flowers) that is very attractive to them. I am also hoping to spot my first bald eagle this year when we vacation in Northern Maine.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
We’ve had a hummingbird visit once or twice this year already, but the bigger birds keep scaring it off. We might need to move the feeder since it’s a bit early for the red flowers that normally attract them in the summertime. I hope you get to see that bald eagle this year!