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. Started arbitrarily but a reminder of the wonder of wonders that awaits us, if we take the time..

wednesday, 21 june 2017

• Killdeer

tuesday, 11 october 2016

• Chestnut-collared Longspur

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

• Merlin

thursday, 4 june 2015

• American Redstart

friday, 8 may 2015

• Tree Swallow

wednesday, 6 may 2015

• White-crowned Sparrow (migration)

wednesday, 15 april 2015

• Broad-winged Hawk (juvenile)

thursday, 19 march 2015

• Barred Owl

monday, 8 december 2014

• Pileated Woodpecker

wednesday, 22 october 2014

• Cooper’s Hawk

monday, 20 october 2014

• Field Sparrow

tuesday, 14 october 2014

• Hermit Thrush

tuesday, 7 october 2014

• Vesper Sparrow

friday, 3 october 2014

• Bay-breasted Warbler

thursday, 2 october 2014

• Gray Catbird

sunday, 28 september 2014

• Dark-eyed Junco

friday, 26 september 2014

• White-breasted Nuthatch

thursday, 25 september 2014

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

wednesday, 24 september 2014

• Northern Flicker

thursday, 11 september 2014

• Canada Warbler

wednesday, 10 september 2014

• Chestnut-sided Warbler

tuesday, 9 september 2014

• Magnolia Warbler
• Eastern Phoebe

monday, 8 september 2014

• Blue Jay (calling)

sunday, 7 september 2014

• Wilson’s Phalarope

saturday, 30 august 2014

• Turkey Vulture (feeding on road kill)

sunday, 17 august 2014

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird

saturday, 9 august 2014

• Eastern Wood-Pewee
• Palm Warbler

friday, 8 august 2014

• Mourning Dove

tuesday, 5 august 2014

• Mallard

monday, 4 august 2014

• Great Blue Heron

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

• Eastern Kingbird

thursday, 17 july 2014

• Common Grackle

monday, 14 july 2014

• Savannah Sparrow

friday, 11 july 2014

• Lark Bunting

sunday, 6 july 2014

• Cedar Waxwing

thursday, 3 july 2014

• Rock Dove
• Red-winged Blackbird (singing)

monday, 30 june 2014

• Eastern Kingbird
• Ring-billed Gull

sunday, 29 june 2014

• House Wren
• Yellow Warbler
• Common Raven
• Blue Jay
• American Crow

saturday, 28 june 2014

• Red-winged Blackbird
• Great Crested Flycatcher

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

• Baltimore Oriole
• American Robin

sunday, 22 june 2014

• Red-tailed Hawk (soaring)

saturday, 21 june 2014

• Northern Cardinal
• American Kestrel (feeding on perch)
• Song Sparrow