Wingin’ It: The best place to watch birds? Your own backyard

As this is a special issue of the Press, some people may not be familiar with Wingin’ It. We started writing the column at the urging of our friend, and late editor of the Harvard Post, Ann Levison, who shared our interest in birds. We used to wander up the road, have a cup of tea, and talk about the birds we had seen in our yards.

A Cooper’s hawk. (Photos by David Durrant)

In Harvard we are lucky to have miles of conservation trails, large state and federal conservation areas and, for the most part, properties that are attractive to birds and other wildlife. We are often asked what is the best place to go birding, to which we usually reply, “Your own backyard.” Observing birds around your home gives you a chance to become familiar with the different common species. Once you know the general impression of size and shape of common birds, it is easier to recognize the more unusual species. There are many resources to help you identify birds; Cornell’s Merlin Bird ID app is especially useful. You can find sightings for a specific conservation area in Cornell’s eBird app.

With the onset of spring and the start of migration, bird activity on the farm has ramped up. In the past two weeks, barn swallows, tree swallows, chipping sparrows, hummingbirds, catbirds, mockingbirds, Baltimore orioles, and several warbler species have returned to the farm. In March, red-winged blackbirds showed up on the platform feeder, and wood ducks, common mergansers, mallards, and great blue herons visited our pond. Overhead we have seen red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, a broad-winged hawk, and a Cooper’s hawk. We occasionally find feathers of birds that the Cooper’s hawk has caught. This week there were a few grey tail feathers on the lawn that we guessed could have come from a mourning dove. We confirmed the guess the next day by seeing a lucky, tail-less, mourning dove eating seed below our feeder.

Our resident birds are coming into their breeding plumage. The sight of bright yellow goldfinches, brilliant red cardinals, and bright blue bluebirds around the feeders is a truly spectacular sight. Other birds, like the white-throated sparrow with its bright yellow lores and white throat, or the bright rust-colored cap on the chipping sparrow, are equally beautiful.

In addition to identification, it is interesting to observe behavior, especially in the spring, as birds begin to gather nesting material and, later on, food for their young. We have been watching an American robin build its nest in a spot easily seen (to his delight) by our grandson George. The red-winged blackbirds are searching around our swampy meadow looking for a good nesting place and gathering marsh grasses and reeds for their nests. Our bluebirds have nested in at least two of our nest boxes. A nest box in our vegetable garden already has a brood. We have been observing both parents actively gathering caterpillars and other insect and returning to the nest box. The barn swallows are busy gathering mud and water from the pond to build their cup-shaped nests in the barn.

A Carolina wren. (Photos by David Durrant)

Once you start more closely observing bird behavior you will begin to recognize courtship activity. A favorite of ours is watching a male cardinal offer seeds to the female. Recently, when David was sitting on the terrace one afternoon, he observed a pair of Canada geese on the pond. The two geese were swimming in a tight circle and alternately dipping their heads in the water. Thinking it might be a type of courtship display, he watched for about 20 minutes and, lo and behold, the male mounted the female! Soon afterward the pair flew off.

Though we don’t keep a life list we do make note of birds observed on the farm and keep a diary of yearly arrivals. The last two weeks have been busy, with a total of 47 species observed.

Great bird watching—nearby

Once you feel you know your yard birds, we have some great areas for bird-watching within a few miles. One of our favorite areas is the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. Here you will find a mix of habitats along the Nashua River that attract a wide variety of birds. This time of year you can expect to see a number of warblers. On and over the ponds will be great blue herons and a variety of ducks, including wood ducks. There are tree swallows and barn swallows swooping over the ponds, and usually a belted kingfisher that can also be seen, or heard, along the river. Red-winged blackbirds are a continuous noisy presence. Along the Tank Road you can find rose-breasted grosbeaks, American robins, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and white-throated, song, and swamp sparrows.

Another great place with a similar mix of birds is Bolton Flats. Lately there have been sandhill cranes, snipe, a mix of ducks, and one can usually hear an American bittern. In wet season you will need good rain boots, as areas tend to get flooded.

There are several groups that lead bird walks in this area. This past week David joined a small group of Boxborough Birders for a walk around Horse Meadows Knoll, a property of the Harvard Conservation Trust. In a couple of hours 30 species were identified. Joining a walk like this is an excellent way for both novices and more experienced birders to get out and see the birds. One will find that birders are a pleasant bunch and always eager to share their knowledge and observations. 
 

Pamela and David Durrant live and work at Micheldever Farm on East Bare Hill Road. Their 24-plus hens provide eggs for local customers, and the Durrants produce most of their vegetables and fruit from their gardens. Tetley, their 16-year-old rescue dog, can usually be found lying on the front porch ready to greet passersby.