Gulls with Geese

Waterbird Mixer

"Birds of a feather flock together," except for when they flock with birds largely unlike themselves. Canada Geese and gulls share the lawn at Penitencia Creek Park located at the bottom of San Jose's eastern foothills. Remember, when you flock among birder friends and associates, do not spout the old "two birds with one stone" saw. Bird lovers frown upon it. Binoculars, cameras, sketchpads, and naked eyes, yes! Stones, BB guns and slingshots, no! While we are on the subject of bird inspired proverbs, two birds in the bush is very fine. Identify this bush, sneak up close to this bush and catch a glimpse of the birds. Yes, some people will stare at you. What colors do you see? What are the birds exclaiming from the bush? Birds of a size often flock together, but that just won't cut it as a popular saying. Little birds like chickadees and titmice all in brisk cheeping cliques defy our cute saying. Or else birds of a common habitat and habits flock together like these geese and gulls. Birds will be birds and don't bother themselves too much with our generalizations about them. What do they do? We can find out by stepping outside and watching them. We may observe something new or puzzling about their lives.

'Name-Tag' Birds

  

 Isn't it fantastic when you need not consult your field manual to reference a bird you've identified a number of times already? There are some birds who announce themselves by their call or by plumage details; such is the Yellow-rumped Warbler who gives itself away with a flash of bright yellow from its rump as it flits away with a decisive, or perhaps, it is a bothered, 'chit.' They go round in loose flocks, so you are likely to hear chit, chit, chit from various spots overhead as you stroll through your neighborhood on alert for visiting birds. Sibley's ear hears 'chwit,' but I am just starting to tune my ear to the dialectical distinctions of common urban birds. It's best to ask your own ears what sounds they hear as soon as you sight the bird. You can file it in your brain's audio input as you learn and store away the bird's name. Later, just by listening to songs and calls you may be able to name the birds all around you. It can also be fun to dispute your bird guide on pronunciation since, really, isn't it your own trusted ears against Sibley's or Peterson's or whoever may be your preferred Last Word on the Bird? When the Yellow-rumped Warblers come through in fall to rustle the Chinese Pistache trees, gleaning the sticky pinkish drupes for insects, their pretty swatches of yellow offer up a satisfying memory aid. I thrill with recognition, "I know that bird!" No--not a sparrow or a bushtit: too much yellow with sharper lines than a sparrow, a little long in the tail and wing-streaked for a bushtit. As soon as you spot its yellow rump flag, you can be certain it's a Yellow-rumped Warbler. It's as sure a marker as the cotton ball you espy on the hindquarters of the cottontail as she hops under a shrub. I like to think of these warblers as birds that 'ring a bell.'