A Bird Watcher’ s Primer
A Bird Watcher’ s Primer
Every year during the month of May, hundreds of birders flock to Mount Auburn from all over New England and various other parts of the world to witness the spring migration. If you are a novice birder, here is just a sampling of some of the species you may see on a spring visit to Mount Auburn.
Information taken in part from some of Friends Volunteer Bob Stymeist’ s writings and also extracted from the Cornell Lab of Orinthology’ s All About Birds site( www. allaboutbirds. org).
Eastern Bluebird( Sialia sialis): The Eastern Bluebird is a striking royal blue on the back and head, while its breast is a reddish-brown. Eastern Bluebirds prefer to live in vast, open spaces that are surrounded by trees, where they can perch on low branches – or even atop a flower – and survey the area for food, but they build their nests safely along the perimeter. Their song lasts only a few seconds and is lower in pitch, comprised of multiple phrases, and occasionally peppered with some abrasive notes.
Waxwing has a jaunty crest of feathers on its head. Perhaps the most striking feature of the bird is the black“ mask” outlined in white across its face. The tail of the Cedar Waxwing is usually yellow or orange, depending upon its diet. The Cedar Waxwing has a very high-pitched whistle that sounds like“ bzeee” or“ sreee.” In the spring months at Mount Auburn, the birds like to feed on running sap, and can actually be vulnerable to alcohol intoxication after feeding on fermenting fruit!
Cedar Waxwing( Bombycilla cedrorum): Grayish-brown on top and with a yellow belly, the Cedar
Below the noisy World drags by In the old way because it must, The bride with heartbreak in her eye, The mourner following hated dust: Thy duty winged flame of Spring, Is but to love and fly and sing.
Oh happy life to soar and sway Above the life by mortals led, Singing the merry months away. Master not slave of daily bread, And when the Autumn comes, to flee Wherever sunshine beckons thee!
— James Russell Lowell( Lot 323, Fountain Ave),“ The Nest”
Scarlet Tanager( Piranga olivacea): Aptly nicknamed the“ flame of spring,” the Scarlet Tanager is a vibrant black-winged red bird common in the northeast forests. Often unobserved because of its rather furtive nature and partiality to Mount Auburn’ s lush canopy, the male is vivid bright red bird with black wings and tail. The contrasting female has an olive green to yellow body with brownish olive wings and tail. The song of the male is similar to a robin’ s, a series of short syllables sounding like“ zureet, zeeyer, zero, zeery,” and his call is a concise“ chik-breee.”
American Goldfinch( Spinus tristis): When almost all other songbirds have become quiet and are busy tending young, the Goldfinch continues to sing and is very conspicuous all summer. This species is unique among the finch family because they undergo a complete molt both in the fall and again in the spring. One of the best places to see the Goldfinch up close in Mount Auburn is at the Butterfly Garden at Willow Pond and the Wildflower Meadow at Washington Tower.
Baltimore Oriole( Icterus galbula): One of the most colorful songbirds in our area, the Baltimore Oriole can be found at Mount Auburn from late April through
September. A preference for open spaces with tall trees makes the Cemetery the perfect destination for an Oriole and an ideal place for them to nest – as many as 12 pairs have been noted to reside here during breeding season. The male Baltimore Oriole is flame orange and black – the colors of Lord Baltimore’ s coat-of-arms from where the name is derived. The female is similar to the male, but more subdued in color and lacks the solid black head of the male. During the first week of May, orioles can be heard throughout the Cemetery – their song is loud, clear, and flute-like.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker( Sphyrapicus varius): Many people believe this species of woodpecker is a mythical bird because its name is often used in jest. But it is one bird that truly lives up to its name: both males and females have yellow bellies and tree sap is their favorite meal. Males have red crowns and throats, while females have red crowns but white throats. Sapsuckers are relatively shy, often moving around a trunk or limb to avoid being studied.
10 | Sweet Auburn
Bird photos by george mclean
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