When we bought our house last
fall I found myself with a greater interest in wildlife in our area, on the
trails we hike, and more specifically, in our back yard. My grandfather always seemed to have that type of knowledge. “That’s
Bermuda grass.” “That’s a Silver Maple.” It was something I assumed just came
with his life experience. And then he would throw in things like “That’s a
saber-tooth crotch cricket.”
I have casually looked for
books that cover bird species found in North Carolina, but found myself
looking for lists more specific to the area. Naturally, there will be coastal
species that won’t find their way to Durham. Likewise, birds in the Blue Ridge
Mountains may not make their way east. With my own self-imposed specificity I
decided to begin compiling my own list of backyard birds.
I have been placing bird feed
outside our windows, on the patio, in the feeder, and on the fence. By the time
I get back inside there seems to be several birds eyeing the fresh spread. Like
an indoor pet I’ve become interested in everything going on outside. Part of it
even though only looking out from a window. Excited every time something
different is seen. Frustrated when a squirrel, or three, can’t be bothered by
attempts to scare it away.
While I’m not sure if this
quirkiness comes with age, homeownership, or excessive available time, I have
decided to give it a purpose. A personal project of sorts. In addition to
identifying the species I see in our yard, I’ve entertained sketching each type. The goal wouldn’t be to get all Audubon on it, but rather to compile
a collection of simple sketches for reference. As I accumulate sketches of
several species perhaps I will share a few.
