7-11-22  Bird Nerd Moment - South Dennis

This week marks a career anniversary for me.  I will have been a certified early education teacher for a year now.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to find this particular path.  Perhaps it was exactly the right time though.  I am certain that I found just the right spot to land, sprout roots and grow.  I was welcomed from the moment I walked into Scargo School.  It has been a great fit for me ever since and I am a proud member of the teaching team there.  As a bird nerd, I enjoy working with people of all ages.  One of the things I enjoy the most about working with youngsters is learning what they know and what they are willing to share.  I get to learn with them and I get to show them things and they observe from where they are.  Sometimes I am greeted in the morning with, "Miss Gretchen!  I saw a bird!".  This opens a new discussion about that particular bird/birds and the learning continues.  Birds are amazing.  That people notice them and are interested in them and care about them is an important fascination to pass along.  Check out what this young guy had to say about something discovered during our time together at day camp.  I am so proud of him!  

What is that on the ground?

I strongly recommend looking around when you're outside, no matter what season.  It would be a bummer to miss such things to admire.

Happy Birding!

 6-26-2022  Bird Nerd Memory Moment                                                                                  South Yarmouth

I filmed this video ten years ago this week.  I thought it was fitting to re-share it as I have just launched my new website that I am very excited about.  Ten years ago I stalked this flicker family for two weeks in order to get this shaky sequence.  Equally important, I felt it was a good space to correct myself.  In my original posting of this video I took in my own back yard, I called the adult Northern Flicker as "momma".  The adult bird feeding the screaming, hungry, demanding younsters in this video is actually "dada".  I point this out because I love learning about birds and I want to get it right.  I make mistakes too.  That's OK.  Humans do!  VERY OK!  I find it is often the very best way to learn.  I hope you enjoy the video and I recommend, SOUND ON!

                                                          Northern Flicker family lunch

Happy Birding!

6-21-22  Bird Nerd Moment                                                                     Yarmouth, MA

I'm very excited to share this!!!  Today is the day I decided to introduce capecodbirdnerd.com!  

Summer is my favorite season and right now on Cape Cod, the juvenile song birds are in every direction - NEW SEASON! NEW LIFE!  NEW WEBSITE!  NEW BIRD NERDS!!!  

I have been working with a very talented artist/graphic designer for some time now.  Miriam Voros, of MVArtistri, crafted my new logo with my detailed specifications.  We worked so well together I asked her if she would also design my website.  I am so grateful for her patience with me and my ideas and her ability to gather them all to create this next phase of my business.  We are artistic collaborators and I cannot say enough about her artwork. 

STICKERS FOR PURCHASE

Featured above, is my new cape cod bird nerd logo, in sticker form!  They are for purchase, click here for info on stickers.  I hope you enjoy the website and the new logo and there will be more merch coming.  I wanted to share and I am grateful that you are here too, and so are the birds.

Thank you💚

                              Gretchen, AKA the Cape Cod Bird Nerd

4.27.20  Another drizzly walk - My neighborhood
Yarmouth, MA

It is not easy living without being able to visit with, celebrate with or work with friends and family these days.  I know I've mentioned it before, but heading out on a walk, by yourself or with your family and/or roommates, is a healthy way to spend some time.  If you're on Cape Cod, you'll definitely want to bundle up these days.  It will be so nice to have a stretch of warmer days... C'mon MAY!

I hope you are staying safe and getting some time in nature for yourself.  To me, the air is cleaner these days and I do believe wildlife is taking advantage of the pause we humans have been forced to take.  This was from a walk earlier this morning and there is a particular area in my neighborhood where about two weeks ago, I heard my first Eastern Towhee of 2020.  I didn't see him that day... it took another couple of days.  Today I heard SEVERAL Towhees!  Spring is here... even though it doesn't feel much like it.  The blooms are budding though, no matter how grey the sky is and windy the weather has been.  Hope you can hear the Eastern Towhee in the video.  I've posted one of my photos of an Eastern Towhee seen about a year ago so you can also see what they look like!

Eastern Towhee - male

Eastern Towhee - female

Happy Birding!

4.26.20  Bird Walk - Trail in my neighborhood
Yarmouth, MA

Considering most humans are staying at home and obeying the safety guidelines so as not to spread our germs ... going for a walk is a healthy activity!  The air is fresh even when it's drizzly.  Remember to always do a tick check after a walk in the woods or fields or marshes.
Let me know what you are seeing and hearing on your walk!  I love including photos too, but I'm bringing my phone only on rainy walks, I can't bring my camera.  In the video below, I mention some bird calls and songs - one I incorrectly identify because I have two hoods and a warm hat on obstructing my ears a bit.  Also worth mentioning... when you are welcoming migrants back to your neighborhood, sometimes it takes a few minutes to access that sound file in your brain to remember which bird you're hearing, no matter how much of a bird nerd you may be! 

If you are new to bird song and learning who is who, my best advice is this.  Sit in your yard, mornings are best, and listen for a close by bird.  Try to slowly get closer to that bird, or use your binoculars if you have them.  Watch and listen.  That information WILL get stored, it does take repetition though.  Now is NOT the time of year to use bird calls on your phone to "attract" birds.  This is mating season and it can be very stressful for songbirds to hear random and unexpected bird calls out of nowhere.  Remember - their language is not really something humans can translate, meaning, who KNOWS what those pre-recorded bird calls are actually meaning to the birds that hear it.  Get outside and enjoy the birds!

Happy Birding!

4.22.20  Happy Earth Day - My yard
Yarmouth, MA

I feel as though I'm behind schedule... but right now, this Earth Day, I believe we all are a bit behind schedule.  Many of us are not on any type of schedule at ALL!  The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives dramatically.  I am hoping you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.  

I have missed my blog and missed the writing and missed the birdwatching!  Earth Day comes as an inspiration for me to hop back in, so here I am with a nature scavenger hunt.  You may notice the tone of it is geared toward preschoolers.  That is quite intentional as I have added a new love in my life - preschool assistant!  I can't wait to get back to school with the kiddos.  This will have to do for now.  May this offer a bit of inspiration to get out in your own yard to find amazing things!  I hope you enjoy...

Happy Earth Day and Happy Birding!

11.27.19  Bird Nerd Moment - My yard
Yarmouth, MA

This year continues to be a transitional one for me.  Today I was so inspired by the bird activity in my yard... I just had to grab my camera and get out there.  I have missed it over the past several months.  The temperatures are mild here today on Cape Cod as we await some lousy weather with unfortunate timing for those traveling today for Thanksgiving.  I imagine that is why there was so much going on outside.  The birds know when they need to stock up on body-warming energy in the form of food to keep themselves safe and warm when a storm is on the way.  The photos were all taken in about 10 minutes in my yard, as it seemed everywhere I turned there was another species doing some fun-to-watch, birdy thing.  

It was foggy and wind-less so it made for decent photos, though some of them merely silhouettes.  When the camera is on autofocus it often decides to focus on bird surroundings rather than the bird. No. I've never had a photo class, though I aspire to, so I suppose photographers may find my photos frustrating.  Somehow I see the surroundings as an equally inspiring subject, so I occasionally leave the blurry shots.  Why not?  I hope you enjoy them as well.  There was also a surprise guest - two really!  See my list below.  These two little species are so quick in their movements, they make it a challenge to photograph.  Every once in a while, luck is on my side, and the bird is facing JUST the right way.  I never truly know until I upload them and get ready to crop the photos though.  Sometimes... VOILA!  There it is... You'll see!  

I am thankful for the inspiration the birds provide just by being wherever you find them.  
I intend to add a new activity to Cape Cod Bird Nerd services in 2020: 
Your Yard Birds - I visit your yard for an hour, identify the species for you and photograph, list and label them here for you on the blog.  Let me know what you think! 
(double click photos to enlarge)

My list:
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Blue Jay
American Robin
Downy Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Carolina Wren (!!!)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (!!!)

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Carolina Wren
Inspecting our Christmas light wiring

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren
Note the downward curve of her/his bill, a great
field mark to focus on, as well as the pale eye stripe
above the eye

Carolina Wren

Downy Woodpecker
Pointing out the damage critters have done to our shed

American Robin silhouette behind the branches

Black-capped Chickadee

Carolina Wren
Inspecting the Old Man's Beard Lichen on an oak branch

 

American Robin

American Robins
Silhouetted with the fruity branches

American Robin

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

American Robin

Downy Woodpecker - female
Contemplating creating more damage to our roofline

Downy Woodpecker - female

Downy Woodpecker

Song Sparrow

Downy Woodpecker Silhouette

Northern Flicker
Being camera shy and distant

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee

Downy Woodpecker
Demonstrating how strong their foot grip is

Golden-crowned Kinglet!!! - male

Golden-crowned Kinglet - male

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Downy Woodpecker - female

Carolina Wren
Bidding adieu!

Downy Woodpecker - male

Downy Woodpecker - male

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birding!