Field Trip: Jarvis Bird Sanctuary

words by Kris Hansen

Fourteen people gathered on August 26 at the Jarvis Bird Sanctuary, happy to be doing some birding before the thermometer reached 90 degrees at noon. The birds seemed to agree that they should start their day early—they were darting in all directions as we arrived at 7 a.m.

American Goldfinch. Photo by Matthew John Rice.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds put on a constant show, circling a particularly delicious Jewelweed Plant. Half a dozen House Finches flitted above the pond and the willow, causing warbler-hungry birders to swing their binoculars in that direction. American Goldfinches hungrily plucked seeds from flower heads, and scores of Cedar Waxwings flew overhead.

Baltimore Oriole. Photo by Matthew John Rice.

Three Northern Flickers gave us good looks from the pair of half-dead trees. Breasts shining in the sunlight, several American Robins briefly masqueraded as Baltimore Orioles before the real orioles arrived.

We spotted some big “furry birds”—an adult raccoon draped over a branch right in front of us and a youngster venturing in and out of a hole nearby. In addition to attracting chuckles of appreciation, they soon became directional markers: “I’ve got a warbler at 10 o’clock from the big raccoon.”

The raccoons served as directional markers. Photo by Nick Paarlberg.

Our hoped-for fall migrants soon appeared: Black-and-White, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Nashville, Tennessee, Magnolia, American Redstart, and a female Bay-Breasted that briefly stumped us until we could examine photos closely.

We needed photos to identify this female Bay-Breasted Warbler. Photo by Nick Paarlberg.

Friendly Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, and White-breasted Nuthatches made sure they were on our list, which ultimately numbered 34 species.