Identifying a particular species of bird, especially those that are less than "unique looking," is quite an exercise in attention to detail. But I'm honing my own skills, in hopes that our daughter's curiosity, enjoyment, and knowledge will continue to blossom. We both keep nature journals, in a variety of forms, and I plan to add our backyard friends into our pages as well. Two of the many resources that we'll be using is the North American Birds Notebooking Pages set (Be sure to view their sample of the table of contents! ) and the free download for a coloring book of birds from Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology.
So with the Reader's Digest North American Wildlife, a pair of binoculars in hand, and a short cut to the ENature website handy we've been able to identify the following birds visiting our yard. Those that are wondering, we live in Lake County, Illinois, and have a very bare yard as far as vegetation goes. the Lake County Forest Preserves offer a nice printable (free download) for a county-wide birding checklist. The IDNR has a whole webpage on birding in Illinois (geared for 4th -6th graders) right here. If making various bird houses is your desire you can view information and plans for some (and other homes) at this link.
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Nature Journaling Ideas
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**Click checkmarks below to see our nature study pages**
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Anyway, I'll add more as we see new ones so check back! (All images from enature.com unless otherwise specified.)
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Added to Life List: 3/16/07
Life List notes: saw just a sole one, in our back yard, feeding from the ground
Listen to Sound: American Robin
Watch video: nesting, cornell video, in birdbath, juvenile robin, blacksnake invades nest *warning: might be disturbing to some*
More Info: American Robin info, Nesting lessons, hatchlings' photos (precious!)
Poem suggestion: Emily Dickinson - The Robin is a Gabriel
N. Amer. Birds NB pgs. 6-12, coloring page, Cornell book p. 26
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Added to Life List: 03/02/07
Life List Notes: scavenger under and around the hanging feeder
Listen to Sound: Mourning Dove
Watch video: On ground , perched
More Info: Mourning Dove info
A simple line drawing is here, Cornell book p. 6
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Added to Life List: 03/18/07
Life List Notes: DH saw a male of these first. I saw females for a while and finally, between the two of us, we realized these were House Finches. They've started to become numerous at the feeder (recently stocked with sunflower seed.) I've even seen pairs 'arguing' at the feeder for "rights" to feed.
Listen to sound: House Finch
Watch video: Finch Nest with babies
More Info: House Finch info
male
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Added to Life List: 03/23/07
Life List Notes: Spotted a pair at the feeder. Haven't seen them here before.
Listen to sound: Male territorial song "Okalee song", male/female general/defense "chip call", similar "chap call", female defense "sputter call", male/female courtship & female dominance "twitter call", male alert "whistle call"
More Info: Red-winged Blackbird info
Cornell book p. 41, page 6 of this coloring book, N. Amer. Birds NB pages 137-140, and coloring page here.
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Added to Life List: 03/24/07
Life List Notes: spotted 3/23, took some time to identify. Feeder bird and lots of time on ground under feeder. Haven't spotted a female yet.
More Info: Dark-eyed Junco info
Listen to sound: Dark-eyed Junco, and here, and here
Watch video: Junco movie
Cornell book p. 39, page 6 of this coloring book, N. Amer. Birds NB pages 57-60.
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Added to Life List: 03/27/07
Life List Notes: Spotted 4 feeding on the ground below the feeder this morning. Pointed it out in a field guide to [DD] and she said "I've already seen those" so apparently it was here earlier, I just never saw them..
More Info: Brown-headed Cowbird info
Listen to sound: wave file, and here, here, and here
Watch video: Male on ground, male pushing Indigo Bunting nestling out of nest **warning might be disturbing**
Cornell book p. 68, color page here, N. Amer. Birds NB pages 29-32.
male
female
(finches on feeder sock -- photo taken at Peakmore Academy)
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis (Though this was once classified as the Spinus tristis.)
Added to Life List: 04/30/07
Life List Notes: I spotted them from the schoolroom window! The male was on the finch sock and the female was on top the feeders pole. They both fed for a number of minutes. Funniest thing was watching the male clinging to the finch sock while he spun and spun around in the air! Tried to capture a photo of them but by the time I was downstairs with camera in hand and proper lens attached they were gone. I'm ready for them now though! Hope to see them again and again! Would love for DD and DH to see them!
More Info: American Goldfinch info
Listen to sound: mp3 file, another call audio in various formats, a short wave file, another MP3 file, Cornell audio
Watch video: female at birdbath, male singing, female gathering cotton
N. Amer. Birds NB pages 77-80, a color page here, Enchanted learning page, basic coloring page, and another
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Added to Life List: 04/28/07
Life List Notes: spotted around 4/28, ground feeders-- they like to hangout in grass, on patio, & in garden. We looked it up to identify it. The striped head is very striking.
More Info: White-crowned Sparrow info
Listen to sound: some calls, another
Watch video: alert & drowsy movie, singing, drinking,
Cornell book p. 63, N. Amer. Birds NB pages 161-164.
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