This spring of lockdowns and quarantine I am drawn more than ever to the serenity found beside my garden pond. From a perch in a pond-side chair I have observed, for me, one of the most wonderful spring migrations and mostly without “warbler neck”! With a camera at the ready and binoculars to hand I have observed many avian visitors dropping down to the pond for flies and a sip. A common yellowthroat probes muck in a plant pot. A black-throated green warbler takes a bath. A bay breasted warbler hops across surrounding rocks. I have also observed northern parulas, American redstarts, black-and-whites, black-throated blue warblers and a scarlet tanager make fleeting visits.
Bay-breasted Warbler
A wood thrush came down for a visit one late afternoon. I have heard its beautiful song many times these past few days. Sometimes I think it sounds mournful, perhaps from a lovesick bird calling for a mate. I live in a small patch of woodland and I would like to think that the area could accommodate a nesting pair. Wood thrushes are protected under the US Migratory Bird Act as populations have been declining over the past several decades. Successful breeding is more likely in large tracts of forest. But, my yard does provide habitat, as these birds like to be near running water, they nest in dense understory and feed on the ground by sifting through leaf litter for invertebrates.
Wood Thrush
The fluty, complex song of the thrush brings me hope for springs to come. Watching the pond makes me realize that life goes on, no matter the misgivings about the state of the world.