[Tweeters] After a Frantic Year, It’s Time for ‘Slow Birding’

[Jerry Tangren]

The Merlin sound app can be great fun. You’re right it can be rewarding to just sit out in the yard and let the app run. It’s amazing the number of species by which we’re surrounded. Specifically, the app will often pick up Cedar Waxwings that I’ve overlooked.

Last summer, we were looking for Henslow’s Sparrows in a southwest Chicago prairie. I’d missed them on a variety of previous occasions, and Henslow had become a nemesis bird. While we were surrounded by a cacophony of early morning songs, the app pulled the sparrows out of the mix and let us know we were essentially standing in the midst of a colony. The Henslow was my #700 life bird for the ABA area! Don’t know if we would have otherwise overlooked them again.

—Jerry Tangren
East Wenatchee, WA

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________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> on behalf of Debbie Mcleod <skepsou at icloud.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2022 10:36:52 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] After a Frantic Year, It’s Time for ‘Slow Birding’

When this past year began, I had just moved to an apartment complex that does not allow bird feeders.
I had to adjust to the fact I could no longer lure birds to me (I was really spoiled at my previous location, being able to see all the action at my feeders even while indoors.)
But I am lucky to have a small patio with some lovely trees between me and a river trail. Now I am enjoying the challenge of locating and identifying the birds as I sit on my patio and they move through my patch. Slowly discovering the diversity of birds living their everyday lives all around me has been so rewarding.
And the Merlin sound ID has been really helpful.
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