Early this spring a neighbor commented that her husband recently had replanted part of their yard with grass seed and, although he was not equally impressed, she enjoyed watching the flock of golden-crowned kinglets that were scratching it up. These neighbors are not species-counting hard core birders; however, they do keep an eye on the local bald eagle nest, watch northern harrier hawks hunt over the nearby fields and protect occasional killdeer nests in their rock garden. So, like many of us, they are backyard birders.

 

Backyard birders are people whose interests range from just experiencing pleasure when observing the activities of the birds in their neighborhood to people who are passionate about protecting birds and providing the most favorable possible habitat for them. Most backyard birders, whatever their level, are interested in learning more about these colorful and active animals.

 

For many of us, birds represent the best of “pets.“ Although they are neither domesticated nor caged, we can interact with and enjoy the antics of our backyard bird friends on both a seasonal and daily basis.

Whether it is through “talking” with the ravens or crows on a morning walk or by assuring that the sugar water feeder is out before “our” hummingbirds return from their winter in the tropics (to the same feeder they frequented the previous year), we can establish relationships with the wild birds that are as strong as with many more common pets.

 

The more we become aware of the differences in the birds in our yard, the more we realize that each species has its own particular characteristics. We start to notice the bright colors and melodic songs that appear in the spring as the males try to wow the females — compared to the fall when many species molt into a fall traveling garb. We start to notice that some birds seem to favor one type of food over another; thistle seeds attract siskin and goldfinch (our colorful state bird) while other species prefer mixed or just sunflower seeds.

 

Others seek mainly worms or insects. Red-hot pokers always seem to draw cedar waxwings, even if we do not see them in our yard the rest of the year. If you have an English walnut tree, you almost can be sure that the crows will pay a visit — and leave their evidence in the broken shells in the street.

 

Food choice is one reason we were able to suggest to our neighbor that perhaps it was not a flock of kinglets in her yard. When we look at a field guide, we see that the golden-crowned kinglet is illustrated with a nice golden crown, usually more distinctive in the book than we will observe in nature. However, if the guide describes feeding habits, we will learn that the kinglet primarily eats small insects and their eggs while moving quickly through tree limbs. It would be quite unusual to find a flock of them feeding on grass seed.

 

A further look at the guide eventually would bring us to another golden-crowned bird, a sparrow that is common in this area — in the right season. We could study a bit more and realize that while we are experiencing the arrival of several species of birds that have wintered in the south or tropics as they return to this area in the spring to breed and raise their young, we also are witnessing the golden-crown sparrows that over-winter in our area change into their breeding colors and flock together before they start a trip to their breeding grounds in Alaska and northwestern Canada.

 

Because so many of us are backyard birders who are interested in learning a little more about our feathered friends, but really don’t have the passion or interest to become hard core birders, the two local Audubon groups have joined forces to provide a series of programs on backyard birding. The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, the Clallam County chapter affiliated with the National Audubon Society, is providing the overall guidance and funding for the programs. The family oriented, hands-on, two-hour sessions normally will be on a Saturday from 10 a.m.-noon at the Audubon Center located in Railroad Bridge Park with some outside bird observation planned for each session.

 

The programs include basic bird identification, favorite foods and feeders, gardening for habitat, bird habits and characteristics such as migration and songs, building nesting boxes and more. The first session is Saturday, Oct. 1: “What Bird is That?!?” features use of field guides and binoculars (which will be available if you do not have your own). A complete schedule is linked at www.olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org.

 

The program is designed as a family activity for all age groups. Participants are encouraged to attend as many of the sessions as they can for the complete experience but they also may choose only the ones of interest to them.

 

There will be a modest fee (adults, $5 per session; under 18 free) to cover the expense of materials. An OPAS membership — or one-year extension ($20 value) — will be offered after completing the fifth session.

 

Preregistration is not required and drop-ins are welcome but anyone may call the Audubon Center at 681-4076 to assure that space and materials are available for you.

 

We hope you can join us to learn a little more about our feathered neighbors. Keep your eyes alert for the golden-crowned sparrows that soon will be returning to their winter home.