Birdathon

For lovers of life, spring is the time for grabbing the binoculars and heading out to a local park or reserve to marvel at what is going on out there. My own Mother, who now lives indoors in a safe and sound retirement community, was amazed on her Mother’s Day family outing at how full of the trees had become.

And they’re all not just full of leaves, either. Spring is the best time to look for the feathered Nature’s people who share our space. Some are here all year round, like cardinals and chickadees. Some actually winter here and head back up north by now, like juncos and white-throated sparrows. Others just pass through, like most species of warbler. Others -- hummingbirds, chimney swifts, night hawks -- come to spend the summer with us.

So what better time of year than now to raise money for charity using the flying brethren? Well, that’s what Birdathon is. I’m not sure who came up with the idea, but Audubon has certainly adopted it. Lots of chapters, centers, and state offices have run Birdathons for years now.

The object of Birdathon is to a have folks pledge so much per species identified, though there are lots of variations on management. Some get pledges, then bird. Others sit on their deck for breakfast and count the first bird only. I prefer getting out there to bird with my grandsons, then asking friends and family to chip in to help Dayton Audubon Society causes.

Yesterday was the Wroving Wren’s day! That’s our team, the Wroving Wrens: made up of yours truly (affectionately known as Grandpa Tom is this circle), along with grandsons Alex and Noah. Alex had to drop out at the last minute this time because of too much homework, but Noah and I headed out Sunday morning about 8. First it was a stop at Waffle House, then off to Englewood MetroPark.

Technically Birdathon is supposed to held over a 24 hour period. We like that idea, but The Wroving Wrens get a little more creative. Basically, if we hear or see a bird over this two or three day period, we count ‘em. I know the birds don’t mind, and I really don’t think Wroving Wren donors do either.

One birder we caught up with yesterday observed, seeing Noah looking through his binocs, that getting kids birding is the best time to get started. I sure hope so. I’d love to learn that my grandkids, when they’re older and know themselves better, still find bird watching entertaining and lifegiving.

Birding sure works for me. Seeing all that grace and beauty flitting from tree to tree, or gleaning bugs flying just inches over the water, or soaring on air thermals, is enough to make a guy feel better in a world where things seem pretty broken and oily sometimes. And it’s a great time with the kids, too.

2010 Wroving Wren’s Birdathon (46 species identified)

House sparrow, Carolina wren, American robin, Canada goose, mallard, barred owl, Swainson’s thrush, American crow, ruby throated hummingbird, norther cardinal, Carolina chickadee, mourning dove, American goldfinch, turkey vulture, starling, blue heron, tree swallow, Baltimore oriole, blue jay, magnolia warbler, red bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, black throated green warbler, white breasted nuthatch, black & white warbler, yellow rumped warbler, yellow breasted warbler, Cooper’s hawk, mute swan, brown headed cowbird, grackle, pileated woodpecker, tufted titmouse, blue gray gnatcatcher, indigo bunting, lesser yellowlegs, chimney swift, barn swallow, sem-palmated sandpiper, red tailed hawk, rough winged swallow, red winged blackbird, ring billed gull, killdeer, chipping sparrow, and -- get ready -- a bald eagle. Couldn’t find a pigeon (rock dove) anywhere!

Today’s elder idea: Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

Frank Lloyd Wright