Spring is possibly my favourite time of year for many reasons:
- My birthday falls in Spring (I turned 25 – and survived!);
- Classes wrap up in Spring (I defended my Master’s proposal
last week and am now officially an MSc candidate!);
- Temperatures and conditions shape up for GREAT climbing (Graham and I leave for Smith Rock in two days!!);
- Birds undertake their long migration journeys towards
breeding territories!!
I was out at Iona Bird Observatory with Wild Research this
morning (5:30am start – when I return in two weeks, it’ll be a 4:45am start!)
to volunteer for their six week bird migration banding program. As a first
timer I was mostly watching and learning
- there is so much to take in!
I got to see my FIRST Common Yellowthroat:
As well as an adorable Lincoln’s Sparrow and Hermit Thrush.
I learned a bit about aging birds based on plumage, as is
being done with this American Robin:
I also learned “Bander’s Grip”, the first and safest bird
handling technique, and got to hold an American Goldfinch:
...and a Spotted Towhee:
It’s incredible the detail you can see on birds this close.
Off to Oregon now – more awesome bird and climbing updates
to come!!
