life list
birders are a broad community, captivated by the flight and fancy of feathered creatures and enchanted by their complex song. The number of bird varieties is endless yet we rarely are aware of their presence and beauty in the city. And often take them for granted in the countryside.
I have come to birding late—which is probably not all that uncommon given my superficial observation of the average age of the demographic. It differs greatly from the temptation to capture images of these winged apparitions on digital film. Instead, you are called to observe this family of creatures and observe their nuanced behaviour and features. It challenges the power of observation.
Sometimes you can observe the intimate parenting of juveniles or the love shared between lifelong mates. Sometimes, it is a fleeting glance of a silhouette passing out of view.
Here is my local backyard list—both literally and the surrounding area which includes jaunts to the local parks in the city with Kali, mere kilometres from our home. Save for the waterfowl, most of the birds listed were feeding, perching or spotted from my backyard which has been groomed to be as bird-friendly as possible. Started arbitrarily but a reminder of the wonder of wonders that awaits us, if we take the time..
thursday, 16 june 2022
tuesday, 10 may 2022
wednesday, 01 december 2021
- Cooper’s Hawk (juvenile)
thursday, 07 january 2021
- Turkey Vulture (feeding in field)
tuesday, 05 january 2021
- Peregrine Falcon (backyard perch)
monday, 24 august 2020
thursday, 23 july 2020
thursday, 20 june 2019
saturday, 25 may 2019
- Wilson’s Warbler (migration)
friday, 26 april 2019
wednesday, 3 october 2018
wednesday, 21 june 2017
tuesday, 11 october 2016
saturday, 1 october 2016
- White-throated Sparrow (migration)
sunday, 17 april 2016
- Fox Sparrow (migration)
thursday, 7 april 2016
- Common Redpoll (migration)
sunday, 30 august 2015
thursday, 4 june 2015
friday, 8 may 2015
wednesday, 6 may 2015
- White-crowned Sparrow (migration)
wednesday, 15 april 2015
- Broad-winged Hawk (juvenile)
thursday, 19 march 2015
monday, 8 december 2014
wednesday, 22 october 2014
monday, 20 october 2014
tuesday, 14 october 2014
tuesday, 7 october 2014
friday, 3 october 2014
thursday, 2 october 2014
sunday, 28 september 2014
friday, 26 september 2014
thursday, 25 september 2014
wednesday, 24 september 2014
thursday, 11 september 2014
wednesday, 10 september 2014
tuesday, 9 september 2014
monday, 8 september 2014
- Blue Jay (calling)
sunday, 7 september 2014
saturday, 30 august 2014
- Turkey Vulture (feeding on road kill)
sunday, 17 august 2014
saturday, 9 august 2014
friday, 8 august 2014
tuesday, 5 august 2014
monday, 4 august 2014
saturday, 2 august 2014
- Canada Goose (classic V flight formation)
wednesday, 30 july 2014
- Common Raven (calling)
friday, 25 july 2014
- Barred Owl (calling)
wednesday, 23 july 2014
thursday, 17 july 2014
monday, 14 july 2014
friday, 11 july 2014
sunday, 6 july 2014
thursday, 3 july 2014
- Rock Dove
- Red-winged Blackbird (singing)
monday, 30 june 2014
sunday, 29 june 2014
saturday, 28 june 2014
friday, 27 june 2014
- Black-capped Chickadee
- House Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow (singing)
- European Starling
- Northern Cardinal (singing)
thursday, 26 june 2014
- Northern Cardinal (juvenile)
- American Goldfinch
- Downy Woodpecker
wednesday, 25 june 2014
- House Finch
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Great Blue Heron (in flight)
- American Robin (juvenile)
monday, 23 june 2014
sunday, 22 june 2014
- Red-tailed Hawk (soaring)
saturday, 21 june 2014
- Northern Cardinal
- American Kestrel (feeding on perch)
- Song Sparrow