Spring is arriving late to Wisconsin this year. March is
feeling like February and new snow is falling on old snow.
A migrating bird would struggle to find food here. Besides the snow, the lingering cold
has kept the tree buds from swelling.
Tree buds are a food source for the early-arriving males. Males come early
to establish territories and the emerging tree buds are important to their survival.
While I wait for Wisconsin temperatures to rise and the
spring migration to peak, here is a Lincoln’s Sparrow from a warmer time and
place.
It’s been noted that the Lincoln’s Sparrow is shy, elusive
and a difficult bird to approach.
That may be true, but I found this one to be remarkably accommodating. Wary,
but unafraid, he watched me…one eye at a time. Swiveling his head from left to right and back again, he was
alert to all threats. Approaching him
slowly, a few feet at a time, we shared the warm sunshine of San Pedro Riparian
National Conservation Area in Southeastern Arizona.
Widespread and common, it’s likely you’ve already seen a
Lincoln’s Sparrow.
Recognizing a
Lincoln’s Sparrow from all the other sparrows is more difficult though. They’re
ground feeders. The Lincoln’s Sparrow
prefers to forage alone, so he’s seldom seen in flocks, but that is hardly a helpful
clue to identifying one.
To identify sparrows you have to pay close attention to
feather detail. Sparrows are confusingly similar…you learn by trial and error. It’s
not easy!
When you get it…you’ve learned something new…something worth
knowing…a reward for paying attention.
Allan
No comments:
Post a Comment