Twenty people in light jackets, including a youngster in a stroller, pose behind trip leader Em De Blas. with budding trees and open water in the background. — Twenty people, including a junior birder, joined trip leader Em De Blas for the McKinley Park Bilingual Bird Walk. *Veinte personas, incluido un observador de aves joven, se unieron al líder del viaje, Em De Blas, para la caminata bilingüe de aves en McKinley Park. Photo by Em DeBlas.*

words by Em De Blas

Vea la historia en español a continuación.

April 13, 2024

At 9 a.m. sharp, the group of 21 individuals gathered at McKinley Park just outside the field house to start our birding adventure. In the mix, several new birders, photographers, and children all united to spend some time in nature while being able to speak in their preferred language.

We set off to the lagoon, where we were immediately met by very friendly Canada Geese and Mallards. Over us were a multitude of Ring-billed Gulls. Soon enough we heard the sounds of spring in the voices of Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, and Northern Cardinals. Lining the lagoon were many blooming trees which were blessed by the presence of Hermit Thrushes, American Robins, and White-throated Sparrows. Soon into the walk, Alicia Diaz spotted the day's highlight, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! Continuing around the lagoon, Em spotted two incredibly fast Peregrine Falcons dashing through the sky.

A medium-sized black and white bird with a red cap, red throat, and a white stripe along its face extending to its bill grips the side of a tree. — Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. *Carpintero moteado. Photo by Em De Blas.*

As the group continued to walk around the lagoon, we stopped many times to enjoy the views of early migrants, such as Double-crested Cormorants and Tree Swallows. Towards the end of the trip, we witnessed a male and female Northern Cardinal pair, which demonstrated the concept of sexual dimorphism to new birders. It was a warm spring day where the team got to witness 20 gorgeous species of birds!

Red-winged Blackbird. *Tordo sargento.* Photo by Miguel Rojas.

A las 9 a.m. en punto, el grupo de 21 personas se reunió en McKinley Park justo afuera de la casa de campo para comenzar nuestra aventura de observación de aves. En el grupo, varios observadores de aves nuevos, fotógrafos, y jóvenes se unieron para pasar un tiempo en la naturaleza y a la vez hablar en su idioma preferido.

Nos dirigimos a la laguna, donde inmediatamente nos encontramos con gansos canadienses y patos norteños muy amigables. Volando sobre nosotros hubo una multitud de gaviotas de pico anillado y pronto se oyeron los sonidos de la primavera en las voces de los tordos sargentos, los gorriones cantores y los cardenales norteños. A lo largo de la laguna, hubo muchos árboles floreciendo que fueron bendecidos por la presencia de zorzales cola canela, mirlos primavera y gorriones de garganta blanca. Poco después de comenzar la caminata, Alicia Díaz vio lo más destacado del día ¡un carpintero moteado! Continuando alrededor de la laguna, Em vio dos halcones peregrinos increíblemente rápidos el cielo.

Mientras el grupo continuaba caminando alrededor de la laguna, nos detuvimos muchas veces para disfrutar de las vistas de los primeros migrantes, como los cormoranes orejones y las golondrinas bicolores. Hacia el final del viaje, fuimos testigos de una pareja de cardenales norteños, macho y hembra, que demostró el concepto de dimorfismo sexual a los nuevos observadores de aves. ¡Un día de primavera soleado donde el equipo pudo presenciar 20 hermosas especies de aves!

Field Trip Report: McKinley Park Bilingual Bird Walk