Saturday, April 25, 2020

Earth Day – Birding Palmetto Bay – and the Audubon birdathon – the is still time to watch and tally local birds.

Look out your window or step out into your yard – what birds can you see? Mocking Birds, various finches, Owls, Grackles, Humming Birds, Minor Birds, Woodpeckers, Ibis, Egrets, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Hawks, Doves, Pigeons, Vultures, Herons, and some exotics like Red-Whiskered Bulbuls, Macaw Parrots and several varieties of Parakeets have been seen in our yard. We even enjoyed a ‘wild’ Turkey who showed up at our original home in Palmetto Bay, lost and hanging out with the ducks on the street (and protected by all who lived on our street). What have you seen? Listen and look. But you have to travel to a suburban strip mall to see one of my simple personal favorites – the sparrow. The Red Wing Blackbirds do not seem to be nearly as common from when I was a youth.
 
There are more varieties around the canals, at Deering, along our coastal areas. We’ve had nesting Bald Eagles, Egyptian Geese, Pelicans, Anhingas, white geese, and several varieties of ducks.

The Audubon birdathon started on Earth Day (April 22) and will run through April 29. Bird-watchers can upload their observations on an online form and Audubon will create a tally for the whole state. Young birders can win prizes for their entries. Again, this is a family-friendly activity.

Interesting in joining the count? Read the Miami Herald article - Birding in the time of COVID-19: It can be done from an apartment window, April 25, 2020, by Adriana Brasileiro

Also see prior blog articles relating to our local Palmetto Bay environment, including:





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