Birds
Clark’s Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii transitionalis
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Lone grebe swimming in the channel. It took several minutes to verify the markings on the head for ID as Clark’s. Handsome bird.
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
- ☆April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN☆. Saw and heard several in the marsh to the west of the large meadowy hills.
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
- April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN. Came into close contact with several very bold Mallards. I think they were hoping for a hand-out.
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I have seen pairs or small flocks of these birds flying over our property on several occasions.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Antrostomus vociferus
- ☆June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. From time to time over the years, I have heard a lone whip-poor-will singing in the fields off Beech Road. I always enjoy hearing this cheerful song on a summer night.
California Scrub Jay
Aphelocoma californica obscura
- July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA. First documented sighting since I’ve begun keeping track of birding records.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
- ☆June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. These adorable, tiny birds are regular visitors to our yard whenever I put out the hummingbird feeder. They are so amazing – their rapid wingbeats, their grace, their size. In some Native American traditions, hummingbirds represent joy and it is easy to see why!
Great Egret
Ardea alba egretta
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Formerly Casmerodius albus. What a gorgeous bird! Also have seen on ponds along the Toll Road while driving to Chicago.
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias herodias
- ☆May 15: Sarett Nature Center, Berrien County, MI☆. Viewed from a platform over the marsh at Sarett Nature Center. The bird stood in the marsh for a few minutes before taking flight. Magnificent! Now, I often see them in flight while driving around the outskirts of town.
- June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. Spotted one of these big beauties flying over my yard while I was out doing some gardening. They never cease to impress me with their size and their grandeur.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
- July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA. Saw at least two dozen of these wonderful birds in the wetlands, and a couple along the creek.
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
- ☆July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw two at very close range in amongst a flock of seagulls. A very attractive, striking bird.
- July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA
- September 18: Tiscornia Park, Berrien County, MI. Saw two on Tiscornia Beach in winter plumage during a Midwest Birding Symposium field trip.
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus affabilis
- ☆July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA☆ Saw several of these along the Dry Creek trail. Cute birds who allowed us to come close. Call was confusing at first, however – sounds like a Chickadee!
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis maxima
- May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN. Seen near the lake at Notre Dame.
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
- May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN/ We glimpsed this large bird as it was being mobbed by crows and chased through the forest.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus lineatus
- ☆May 15: Warren Dunes State Park, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw a female on her nest just off the road near Warren Woods in southern Michigan. She was very aware of us, but continued brooding. Bright, clear eyes – I remember her gaze as she watched us watching her. It was a busy spot, as pretty much every B-a-T team had stopped to view (and count) her. A beautiful bird!
Green Heron
Butorides virescens virescens
- ☆May 15: Sarett Nature Center, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw a lone bird moving around in the trees across a small stream in Sarett Nature Center. A perfect view of this beautiful bird. One of my favorite sightings!
Butorides virescens anthonyi
- ☆July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw at least four of these along the creek and in the wetlands.
Sanderling
Calidris alba rubida
- ☆September 18: Tiscornia Beach, Berrien County, MI☆. During a Midwest Birding Symposium field trip, I saw several of these in winter plumage. They were very bold – came up on the boardwalk within a few feet of me.
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura septentrionalis
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. Have seen many times soaring over the yard, and the rest of our neighborhood.
Veery
Catharus fuscescens fuscescens
- ☆May 29: South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Sanctuary, IN☆. Heard this bird’s haunting, marvelous song for the first time.
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
- ☆April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN☆. This is the first time I’ve seen this adorable, somewhat cryptic bird.
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
- ☆April 16: Goshen, Elkhart County, IN☆. I saw several of these flying over a barn while walking through a farm neighborhood in Goshen. Very cute. I’ve since seen them all over the place, especially in the middle of cities, where I don’t expect much in the way of bird life!
- June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. On a couple of occasions I have seen and heard these little birds flitting about over our property.
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus vociferus
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Spotted this bird in the parking lot at St. Patrick’s park.
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. At least one pair of these darling birds moved in next to the small lakes in our subdivision. They have been here every year, and I often hear their plaintive call, and then spot them circling about.
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus collaris
- July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA☆. I saw this bird high in a tree near the river. I was excited to see the Red-shafted race of this favorite bird. Mom was pleased to see a woodpecker.
Colaptes auratus luteus
- April 16: Goshen, Elkhart County, IN☆. I spotted this bird on the ground beneath a large tree in the yard. After searching through the book to ID it, I was surprised to discover that I was looking at a woodpecker! I didn’t know they would forage on the ground like that. These are beautiful, one of my favorites.
- Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) Colaptes auratus luteus April 22, 1993 Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN Just after getting out of bed in the morning, I looked out the window and saw a largish bird wandering around the grass in the backyard. By the time I got downstairs and got my binoculars, it was leaving, but I caught a glimpse of that lovely white rump patch. I have also seen several of these birds perched on some of the larger trees in the woods near Pleasant Valley.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Rock Dove
Columba livia
- July 16: Plummer Park, Los Angeles, CA. Seen in the park.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens
- ☆June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. While on a walk in the woods to the west of Beech Road, I heard this distinctive song, but never actually spotted the bird.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
- May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN. These birds were seen in the Notre Dame woods, mobbing a Great Horned Owl.
Northern Raven
Corvus corax clarionensis
- ☆July 22: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. On my final visit to the lagoon one flew overhead, croaking, and landed on a nearby apartment building. I could see the ruffled feathers on the neck (as if the voice wasn’t diagnostic enough). Cool bird!
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
- May 16: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. A pair nested in our neighborhood this spring, and I was able to witness some courtship behavior as well as seeing juvenile birds late in the summer.
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. This was my first time seeing one of these charming birds.
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula brewsteri
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Late in the afternoon, I found three breeding-plumage egrets feeding in the drained Playa Lagoon. Later, I saw others feeding at the rocks along the creek.
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Identified by others on the field trip.
Brewer’s Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
- July 16: Plummer Park, Los Angeles, CA. On the way out of the park, I saw several Brewer’s Blackbirds. Although I remember seeing LOTS of these growing up, these are the first ones I saw as a birder.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus anatum
- ☆June 26: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. I spent most of one day monitoring a number of released birds as part of a Peregrine Release Program. It was marvelous! I watched a total of 5 or 6 birds on and off all morning and early afternoon. Not only was it wonderful being able to see these birds, but it was also good to know I was part of a human effort to conserve and promote the welfare of this species.
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius sparverius
- ☆June 26: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. I have relatively frequent sightings of these adorable small falcons. My first were seen while I was participating in the Peregrine Release in downtown South Bend. This pair appeared to be nesting in the school across the street from the release site. They seemed less than thrilled about their larger new neighbors, as they made quite a racket for part of the morning. In most of the places I’ve lived, they are commonly seen perched on wires near fields or farmland. I am assuming that all of my sightings have been the nominate subspecies.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN. Have seen many of these while driving through Indiana and Michigan. They are commonly seen perched on wires near fields or farmland.
American Coot
Fulica americana americana
- ☆July 22: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. One of the last birds seen on this trip, at the Lagoon. A funny bird – those feet are enormous.
Wilson’s Snipe
Gallinago delicata
- ☆September 19: Benton Harbor Mudflats, Berrien County, MI☆. During a Midwest Birding Symposium field trip to Benton Harbor, I saw a lone Wilson’s Snipe in a mudflat by the roadside, sitting posed between two clumps of pink flowers. A perfect look!
Common Loon
Gavia immer
- May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw a lone bird out in the middle of the lake a Lake Michigan College, first thing in the morning.
- May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI. Saw my second loon of the day on Lake Michigan, St. Joseph, in a huge flock of gulls and terns.
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
- July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw my first of these bright, cheerful little birds.
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
- June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. This is a beautiful little bird which I have seen in the yard on a number of occasions. I always enjoy seeing swallows!
Caspian Tern
Hydroprogne caspia
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Spotted a few on the beach at Lake Michigan with gulls and Common Terns. Impressive, striking bird!
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw several pairs near the graveyard at Notre Dame. Really striking and beautifully colored.
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. This beautiful bird was a welcome surprise!
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius spurius
- ☆May 15: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI☆. Saw a single bird at Fernwood.
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw a lone bird along the creek fence, and later spotted him in the wetlands.
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw on the beach at Lake Michigan in a flock of terns and Herring Gulls.
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus graellsii
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Watched this bird sit in a flock of Ring-billed gulls on the Lake Michigan beach for a good long while. Winter plumage. I would not have been able to ID him on my own, but field trip guide Ken Brock (very reliable) was certain about the ID.
Heermann’s Gull
Larus heermanni
- ☆July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Fed a flock of these birds at Playa del Rey Beach.
- July 18: Los Angeles Harbor, Los Angeles, CA. First documented sighting. I saw several of these pretty gulls in 1st year, 2nd year and adult plumage during our trip through Long Beach Harbor. They are common in small numbers along the coat. These are probably the easiest of the gulls to identify, which I appreciate (given the general difficulty with gull identification haha).
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw on beach at Lake Michigan in a flock of terns and Ring-billed Gulls.
- July 18: Los Angeles Harbor, Los Angeles, CA. Saw several of these in Long Beach Harbor.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Gadwall
Mareca strepera strepera
- ☆May 15: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI☆
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
- ☆June 20: South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Sanctuary, IN☆. Spotted a pair by the pond at the Sanctuary. They flew around and called quite a bit for me to witness.
- July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Eastern Screech-Owl
Megascops asio
- ☆February 26: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI☆. My first owling experience. Went with a group of about 10 people, led by Rob Venner. He called the screech owls vocally (using his own voice, not a tape). He did get one to call back, but the bird didn’t show itself.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- ☆May 5: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. While coming back from a job interview with a bird rehabilitator at the park, I glimpsed one of these in a tree by the roadside as I was driving. I saw the bird only long enough to identify (not difficult, considering this bird’s striking appearance). I can’t wait to see another one!
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
- ☆April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN☆. With the help of fellow Auduboner Marge V., I was soon able to identify this bird by its cheerful and distinctive song!
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I saw and heard these little birds in our yard before so many new houses were constructed, destroying the fields nearby.
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens
- ☆July 22: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. On the last day of my vacation, I saw three of these pretty little birds as I walked through the wetlands. I was able to view them for several minutes from different locations as I moved through the area.
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum auritum
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Watched a small flock fish in Lake Michigan.
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. The first shorebird I identified on this trip. I saw one one on the rocks along the creek. I saw a few more later, but they were not nearly as abundant as the Willets.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli
- ☆July 18: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw at least two along the creek. Flushed them from roost, or possibly from a nest.
- July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA. Saw several adults and at least five juveniles in the wetlands.
Western Osprey
Pandion haliaetus carolinensis
- ☆July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA☆. I watched this bird fly to perch over Lagoon, and viewed it for approximately half an hour – diving for prey, stretching wings. Its arrival stirred up most of the several hundred birds on the Lagoon. One of my favorites of the California trip!
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
- ☆April 22: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. These birds appeared as very unwelcome guests in our yard – about two days after the baby bluebirds in our nest box had hatched, a pair of sparrows came and killed the chicks, as well as the adult male in order to take over the nest box. I did try shooting at them with the beebee gun, but my aim wasn’t good enough to hit any of the adult birds. I ended up leaving the box up, even though I hated having the birds in my yard, but I didn’t want them to end up going after another bluebird family. I’m not sure I’ve ever gotten over my distain for this species, even though it’s not their fault they’re here. Still, I hated this a lot. For several years after this, these sparrows (or others of the same species) continued to use the nest box. Very unpleasant.
Red Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca iliaca
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Saw these along a fence at the Migrant Trap. I couldn’t have identified them myself, but I was with experienced birders from the Audubon Society.
California Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
- ☆July 18: Los Angeles Harbor, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw several hundred, often in large flocks, up and down the California Coast. These are the first documented sightings, although I often saw these birds as a child and enjoy them very much.
- July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA. These birds were flocking on the beach with some gulls (although I didn’t keep track of the gull species).
American Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- ☆July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA☆. After looking for them all morning, I finally spotted a few flying over the Lagoon. Distinctive markings and shape of tail distinguish them from the more familiar Barn Swallow.
Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
- ☆May 15: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI☆. One of the last birds of the day. Viewed along the road at Fernwood. The male is a striking bird!
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. One of my most memorable sightings of all time, I spotted a bird early in the morning, after having spent the night on the couch so the birdsong would wake me in the morning. A medium-sized bird with a white belly, and a blood-red stain at the top of the breast, my first reaction was that this bird was wounded and bleeding. It was a pleasant surprise to look in my Peterson’s and discover that male Rose-breasted Grosbeak are supposed to look this way. Gorgeous! I always enjoy seeing this beautiful bird, although it took me a while to learn to recognize the female as a grosbeak, instead of searching the book for really large sparrows!
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
- ☆June 20: South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Sanctuary, IN☆. Rufous-sided Towhee. Finally saw and heard this lovely bird while hiking the wooded trails.
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
- ☆July 20: Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles, CA☆. Alerted to his presence by a great commotion of scratching in the dirt and leaves under some bushes. I was rewarded by being able to see this close relative to my local Towhee, and also to notice the differences between the two.
- July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. While watching the backyard from the family room couch I spotted this incredible bird in one of the trees towards the back of my yard. I wouldn’t have believed a bird could be such a BRIGHT color! Beautiful!
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra rubra
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. We spotted this bird fairly low in the trees while we were walking one of the paths through the woods at Notre Dame. I distinctly remember its yellow/orange color against the green of the trees. The ID was not readily apparently, even to our experienced leader, and it took a while to figure this bird out. It turned out to be a molting bird somewhat north of its normal range. An unusual sighting – fortunately, the bird was cooperative!
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
- ☆July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA☆. Originally listed as “Grey Plover.” Saw at least a dozen on a sand bar in the center of the Lagoon. Attractively colored plover. At the time, I wasn’t completely certain of the ID, but in looking at iNaturalist, there wasn’t any other species that this was likely to be.
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps podiceps
- ☆October 23: Pigeon River Federal Wildlife Area, LaGrange County, IN☆. During a very COLD birding trip, we stopped and got out of the car to view this cute little bird swimming about in a swampy area next to the road. I like these little guys!
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
- ☆May 15: Sarett Nature Center, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw this bird at its nest along a trail at Sarett Nature Center. Had a really great, close-up look at this charming little bird.
Purple Martin
Progne subis subis
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw one briefly over the pond at St. Patrick’s Park.
- May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI. Saw several at a martin house in the front yard of a home in Michigan.
American Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
- ☆July 20: Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw a group of at least twelve hopping around in a bush four feet away from me. Too close to use the binoculars! Cute, friendly bird.
- July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. These arrive fairly early in spring, and stay around through the summer. I often have flocks of upwards of thirty birds all foraging in the grass at once. I think many people consider them pesky, but I think they are gorgeous with their iridescent blue heads. They have not nested in our yard to my knowledge, but I am aware of other places in the neighborhood where they have.
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
- ☆June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. Also called Bank Swallow. On an early morning walk through the neighborhood, I discovered several of these swooping over the small pond behind one of the new houses in Pleasant Valley. I have also seen them flying through my yard.
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger niger
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. A single bird flew past us, moving east along the channel. A few minutes later it flew back toward the ocean, giving a clear view of the lower mandible for ID.
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans semiater
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Charming bird! Saw my first one down in the wetlands.
- July 20: Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles, CA. Watched a friendly bird quite close up. Very cute!
- July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Perfect sighting! Spotted one perched near a stream by the bridge at Isaak Walton League reserve. Common in this area, I have heard the song often.
- June 13: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I spotted this bird in our yard only once.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
American Yellow Warbler
Setophaga petechia
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw several in the orchards on the west side of Notre Dame.
Myrtle Warbler
Setophaga coronata coronata
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw first one on Notre Dame campus. Seems to be the most common warbler in this area. Very striking in breeding plumage.
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. On a couple of occasions I have seen these Myrtle warblers flitting about in our trees. They don’t go to the feeders, but they spend time eating the insects which live near the tops of our trees. Very striking in breeding plumage.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN. Although I had tons of warblers noted on my checklist from this trip, since I don’t remember them, and couldn’t have ID’d them myself anyway (especially in the fall), I’m not going to count them. Because of its common status in this area, I am going to count this one species.
Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca
- ☆May 15: Sarett Nature Center, Berrien County, MI☆. Had a perfect sighting along a nature trail at Sarett. Close up! Beautiful bird!
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Seen on the wooded trail on the Notre Dame campus.
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis sialis
- ☆March 28: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. We put up a nest box in the backyard specifically to attract these beautiful birds, and to my great delight we were successful. My first sighting was of a male and female pair in my own backyard and they did move into the nest box.
- April 18: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN .When I monitored our Bluebird nestbox today, I discovered they had five eggs!
- April 22: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I continued to monitor the nest until the eggs hatched about two days later. Unfortunately, the chicks never had a chance to fledge. A pair of house sparrows, probably drawn by the sound of the chicks begging for food, attacked the nest, throwing all the chicks out onto the ground below, and trapping and killing the adult male in the nest box. Witnessing this, and being unable to do anything to help, was heartbreaking – one of the most difficult experiences of my life. (And it has taken me a long time to get past my resentment of house sparrows, who still use that nest box). From time to time I consider taking it down, but I am afraid that would cause the newly-evicted sparrows to throw another family of bluebirds or swallows out of their home). Although the bluebirds were unsuccessful in my own yard, I was encouraged later that summer to see an entire family of adult male and female, plus three fledgling bluebirds hunting for insects in my yard. Apparently, there were some natural cavities in the area, or someone else in our neighborhood also put up a nest box, and those birds were more fortunate.
- October 23: Pigeon River Federal Wildlife Area, LaGrange County, IN. It sure was cold, and I was surprised to see a number of bluebirds still hanging out near the lake. What gorgeous color!
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. We made a special trip by the home of an Audubon member to see this bird, which was nesting in a hole in a tree in the member’s backyard.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Saw a flock of 20 or so birds on Lake Michigan.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Saw several of these throughout the wooded area – close up, had good views.
Spotted Dove
Spilopelia chinensis chinensis
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. I almost failed to notice that this bird was NOT a Mourning Dove until I took a second look and saw the almost iridescent spotting on the neck.
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina passerina
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. This adorable bird was a regular visitor to our yard for the first couple of years we lived here. I love this adorable, delicate little sparrow which seems so joyful while going about his/her business.
Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
- ☆April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN☆. Heard a number of these little darlings singing in the meadows in the northern section of the park.
- May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I have heard and seen these birds in our yard on a few occasions – not as often since more houses went up nearby.
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
- ☆April 17: Bonneville Mill County Park, Elkhart, IN☆. Saw several over swampy area in south part of park. (Possibly ruficollis, as per Peterson’s Eastern Birds)?
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo hirundo
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. Saw several on the beach at Lake Michigan with a flock of gulls and Caspian terns.
Least Tern
Sternula antillarum browni
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. While at Fisherman’s Village with my mom and William, I saw a tern flying over the marina close to the boardwalk. Circled cooperatively to give a perfect view.
- July 21: Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles, CA. The size difference between this bird and the larger (probably Forster’s) terns nearby helped me to be certain about the ID.
Barred Owl
Strix varia
- ☆May 15: Warren Dunes State Park, Berrien County, MI☆. Heard a pair calling furiously to one another in Warren Woods, after being started off by a human imitator.
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella magna
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. Most years, several of these birds take up residence in and around our neighborhood. From my house and yard, I can often hear them singing, and occasionally I have seen one on Dunn Road or Beech Road.
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
- May 16: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. Have seen lots of these birds in the yard, in large flocks scouring the grass for grubs and insects. They have also been interested in our nest box, but are fortunately too big to fit through the hole.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
- ☆May 15: Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Berrien, MI☆. Saw this beautifully colored bird perched on a nest box near the road at Fernwood Botanical Garden.
Bewick’s Wren
Thryomanes bewickii charienturus
- ☆July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA☆
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
- ☆May 15: Niles, Berrien County, MI☆. From the road near Grand Mere. We heard this bird singing, but were unable to spot the bird.
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
- ☆May 16: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. I happened to look out the window one morning on my way to work when I spotted this largish bird in the one of the trees in the north-western part of our yard. A really impressive, striking bird.
- September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN
Willet
Tringa semipalmata inornata
- ☆July 19: Ballona Creek and Wetlands, Los Angeles, CA☆. Saw these birds on the rocks at the side of the creek and on the beach. Also watched flocks of several birds in flight.
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. For a number of years, one (or more likely, a pair) of these tiny birds set up shop in the neighbor’s yard across the street. I hear that bubbly song often. On a couple of occasions, he has ventured across the street into my backyard, and I have seen him singing in the tree closest to the sliding glass doors. While I have heard that they can be aggressive and destructive, they certainly are cute, and joyful to listen to.
- June 20: South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Sanctuary, IN. Saw and heard this noisy, active bird at a nest box near the Sanctuary picnic area.
Winter Wren
Troglodytes hiemalis hiemalis
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆. Just caught a very quick glimpse of this tiny bird.
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Turdus migratorius migratorius
- ☆May 23: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN☆. One of the first birds to arrive in the spring, there are lots of Robins in Indiana. Later, I saw flocks of hundreds in Florida. migratorius
Turdus migratorius propinquus
- ☆July 21: Solstice Canyon Park, Los Angeles, CA☆. First time seeing (or rather, noticing) one of these in California.
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw near one of the lakes at Notre Dame.
- May 16: Pleasant Valley, Osceola, IN. I was excited to spot one of these gorgeous birds in our yard, hunting from the tree nearest the garden. Beautiful! I also saw one of these birds on site at the Miles facility in Elkhart around this time.
Red-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. The song was pointed out by a fellow Auduboner (Marge R.) and we soon caught a peek at this little guy high in the trees above us in the Notre Dame woods.
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura marginella
- ☆July 16: Plummer Park, Los Angeles, CA☆ Seen in the park.
Zenaida macroura carolinensis
- ☆September 25: Indiana Dunes, Porter County, IN☆
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys
- ☆May 8: South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN☆. Saw several of these adorable little birds going about their business at the graveyard near the Notre Dame campus. Very cute!
Other Wildlife
Gray Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
- ☆July 18: Los Angeles Harbor, Los Angeles, CA☆. During the cruise we saw grey whales. I don’t remember how many, but I do have a clear memory of seeing a mother whale and her calf swimming together alongside the boat.
