Backyard birdwatching

I don’t know much about birds, but I’ve always known our backyard is filled with them.

I can tell we share our backyard with a multitude of birds because I am awoken by the sound of them chirping and singing every morning, and their songs accompany me throughout the day—even in the winter, though it is much less melodious in the colder months.

Our friend Debbie came to visit this past weekend. Debbie is an avid birdwatcher, and is able to identify birds based on sight and sound. She snaps photos of birds from around the world on her travels.

This weekend, I asked her many questions as she took bird portraits in our backyard, and learned so much about the creatures that share our home with us.

Here is a short list of the birds she was able to photograph, all from in and around our backyard, in the span of less than an hour this past weekend:

• American Goldfinch
• Morning Dove
• Blue Jay
• American Robin
• Northern Cardinal
• Black-Capped Chickadee
• Black Vulture
• Turkey Vulture
• Bald Eagle
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Red-Tailed Hawk

There’s a delight in knowing that the place that we call home is also home to so many other creatures, birds and otherwise. I remain ever thankful to be here, surrounded by this majesty and beauty.