Mindful Birding Summary for 8 April 2025
Dear Mindful Birders,
 
It was a breezy morning, but the rain held off, so five of us walked from the library through the village to Weeks Wetland Preserve. Bald Eagles and Turkey Vultures (long primary "fingers", shallow "V" in wings, silver linings on undersides of wings) flew and soared high above, allowing comparison of flight behavior and ID characteristics. Chestnut-backed Chickadees called from the apple trees, but remained hidden. We admired the black head and rich red breast of a male American Robin. High in a willow, a female Purple Finch (note the distinct facial pattern) called. Finding a high perch on one of the condo roofs, a White-crowned Sparrow threw his head back to belt out his song over the wind. On the porch by the coffee shop and bakery, a male House Sparrow searched for crumbs. 
 
At Weeks Wetland, we enjoyed a short glimpse of a female Northern Harrier hunting over the meadow. Red-winged Blackbirds sang, as did Savannah Sparrows. Out in the mudflats, Green-winged Teal and Gadwall foraged and a lone Greater Yellowlegs probed with its long bill.
 
Other birds observed: Canada Goose, Mallard, Song Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, and American Crow.
 
(CLICK ON THE BOLD BLUE UNDERLINED BIRD NAMES TO GO TO PHOTOS & INFO AT CORNELL'S ALL ABOUT BIRDS WEBSITE.)
 
Places to follow-up: field guides, Cornell's All About Birds website, or the Merlin app for deeper knowledge. You might also wish to record your observations on the Community Science Platform, eBird.org or in a journal (see The Naturalist's Notebook, below).
 
The next walka will be on Tuesdays, May 6 & 20. Please sign up in the library, call (360-468-2265) or email Beth@LopezLibrary.org.
 
Have a bird question? You are welcome to email me at Beth@LopezLibrary.org or stop by the library.
 
Birdingly,
Beth

Recommended Resources
National Geographic field guide to the birds of Western North America
by Jon L. Dunn

An up-to-date birding handbook provides identification tips, 3,500 full-color illustrations, six hundred locator and range maps, information on behavior and nesting, new plumage and species classification data, and other valuable facts about 750 North American birds found west of the Rocky Mountains. 
Peterson field guide to birds of western North America / : Includes Birds of Hawaii
by Roger Tory Peterson

"A new edition of the best-selling field guide, with 25 all-new plates covering the birds of Hawaii"
Sibley's Birds of the Pacific Northwest Coast
by David Allen Sibley

53 waterbirds commonly found in the region; migratory birds and year-round residents; shorebirds, gulls and terns; wading birds; ducks. Waterproof, accordion-style.

 
Sibley's Backyard Birds of the Pacific Northwest
by David Allen Sibley

69 land birds commonly found in the region; migratory species and year-round residents; songbirds, hawks, woodpeckers and more. Waterproof, accordion-style.
 

Lopez Island Library
2225 Fisherman Bay Rd
Lopez Island, Washington 98261
360-468-2265
www.lopezlibrary.org