Birds of the Day / May 23

We spent much of today outside, planting, pruning, moving, weeding and seeding.  Good thing many of the birds don't seem overly intimidated.  The weather today has been more humid, partly overcast, with short periods of rain. 

Common birds seen today: sparrows, grackle, robin, mourning doves, cardinals (pair), house finch, starling, downy woodpecker

Spring visitors seen today: red-wing blackbird, chipping sparrow, cowbird (female)

Heard: blue jay

Seen overhead: gull (I am unfamiliar with what types we get here), two red-tailed hawks

International Day of Biogological Diversity

It's only a coincidence that I start this blog on the International Day of Biodiversity.  This is something I've been thinking about for a while.  My suburban garden either contains or is surrounded by a mixture of trees - spruce, crab apple, maple, cedar, apple, cherry, to name a few.  It also has two bird feeders, seed in one and fat blocks in the other.  Combined with the plants, both intentional and incidental, it seems to attract a fair bit of life - butterflies, rabbits, raccoons, a possum or two, and lots of birds.  I'm a bit obsessed with butterflies, so I'm sure I'll mention them on occasion, but it's the variety of birds, and when in the year I see them, that I want to explore here.  My goal is to keep track, daily if possible, for a year, of the birds I see, even if I only post the lists weekly.  Just to clarify, I won't be spending half the day every day staring out the window, usually just a few minutes, longer only if there's something really exciting.  My sightings will be mostly in my own yard, and some from the bits of my neighbours' yards I can see from my own window or garden.  If I find myself away from home, I'll try to note what I see wherever I am. You should also note that I am not an experienced birder, just a curious girl with a pair of binoculars and a guide to birds book.