Bird Nerd Words

This is not just a blackbird. This is a great-tailed grackle , which sounds like a name Dr. Seuss would have invented (Find the great tailed grackle where the grickle grass grows...). Actually, we spotted these birds at Lake Cunningham in San Jose during my birthday bird hunt last weekend! The females have dark brown wings with pale brown bellies, and the males are jet black with an iridescent sheen. We thought they were separate species at first, but the Merlin app informed us otherwise! It's important to me to learn the actual names of the birds I see and hear, and I'm not sure why. I suppose it's almost like meeting a new person. You learn their name assuming that there is an interesting history and personality attached to them that you will come to know over time. Thereafter, whenever the name is mentioned, you instantly think of the person's face, their mannerisms, your shared experiences with them, etc. Maybe that's what it is--if you're curious about a bi...

I have always loved birds. When I was a kid, I'd get up super early and sit in the backyard with a boombox to record birds. My intent was to study their songs and behavior so I could interpret their language. I didn't get very far with that. Still, I loved listening to the recordings over and over again.  Our family owned zebra finches for a while. We raised at least 4 to 5 generations, until they died when we went on a long vacation. Our appointed bird sitter forgot to feed them. Sad story, I know! We never got birds again. The experience made it clear to us that birds need to be free.  To me, glimpsing a swooping swallow or overhearing a family of bickering chickadees is like being let in on a delightful little secret. Tiny treasures, hidden in plain sight. It's truly a thrill!  Thanks to the Merlin phone app, my fascination has become a full on obsession. Not just for me, but for Jeff, too. A couple of weekends ago during an outing with the kids in Golden Gate park, we...