Mindful Birding Summary for 20 May 2025
Observing a Dark-eyed Junco, singing
Bushtit nest

Dear Mindful Birders,
 
Six birders returned to John Edwards' beautiful property today. Intermittent rain showers fell, but did not deter us or the birds. A Pine Siskin foraged in a small tree, yellow wing bars visible. A rusty-capped Chipping Sparrow and a Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco sang very similar trills on opposite sides of the lawn. A male Anna's Hummingbird perched atop the same pine tree as on May 6. The two Bushtit nests we discovered 2 weeks ago were still active. One bird was carrying food. We waited for a short time to see if they'd go to the nest, but then moved on as they seemed nervous at our presence. We also observed American Robin, White-crowned Sparrow, and Turkey Vulture. Other birds heard or seen very briefly included Purple Finch, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and Swainson's Thrush. The showers lent a special ambience to the morning. Thank you for welcoming us, Jon!
 
 
CLICK ON EACH OF THE BOLD BLUE LINKS FOR "ALL ABOUT BIRDS" ACCOUNTS FOR EACH SPECIES.
 
Places to follow-up: field guides, Cornell's All About Birds website (this excellent site will answer many of your questions about birds, such as whether or not they migrate or stay here year-round, what they eat, how they nest and much more!), 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 walks will be on Tuesdays, June 3 & 10 (I'm off-island on the 3rd Tuesday). Walks are limited to 6 participants. 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.
 
Happy Birding,
Beth

Books about Birds
Birding to change the world : a memoir
by Trish O'Kane

A writer and educator specializing in environmental justice and climate change chronicles her bird-watching journey and shares what she has learned from each new bird she's observed about life, social change and protecting the environment.

ANN HIGHLY RECOMMENDS THIS BOOK. IT IS AVAILABLE IN PRINT AT THE LIBRARY, AS A LIBBY EBOOK, AND WITH NO WAITING ON HOOPLA AS AN EBOOK & AUDIOBOOK.
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