“Titmouse on Ice”
approx. 8″x10″ pen and colored pencil on bristol paper

That’s not to say New Yorkers don’t do this.  Susan listens to a cd of bird calls in her spare time, and she can identify the birds she hears, even when we’re walking together on a busy Lower East Side street.  I could not understand it.

I know a few other people online, like Amy, who have been watching birds in San Francisco, and taking photos, and then using it as a starting point for a variety of other art projects, like art cards and quilts.  I didn’t know how it was possible.

All of it alluded me, til we moved to the country, and got our own backyard.  Now, I’m becoming very aware of the visitors to our yard, and I’ve begun to take note and keep track, and learn about them.  I’m just beginning, but with my small knowledge, I’ve been able to spot sparrows, blue jays, a crow, and more recently, a warbler.  A black and white warbler, if I observed correctly.  As a matter of fact, a few days ago, I actually stood there, and watched him feed on a suet cake we put in a feeder, under our giant maple tree.  And today, I got to see 2 of the black and white warblers, flying about, in and within our tree.  They were eating again, and this time I got my camera, and captured one of them.

What a thrilling experience.  I was the only one in the backyard, and as I was quiet, I was able to enjoy some of nature’s visitors.  It was very cool!  And now, I gotta figure out how to get even better pictures of these little guys.  You can click on the photo and see a bigger view of it.  And if you have any bird-watching advice, send it my way.