This article first appeared in the November 2024 edition of The Commuter.
I am sure you have heard different calls all around campus from our plumaged peers. Maybe movement in the bushes has caught your eye, but you can never pinpoint where it was. Well, if you are patient and quiet, you might be lucky enough to see a feathered friend in action.
Classwork can feel crushing this time of year, but birdwatching between study sessions helps me calm down. Does this make me a 21-year-old grandpa? Yes, and it sets me up for success. Looking out the bus window and seeing a northern harrier hovering over an unseen mouse, blue herons in the fields, or, luck allowing, a cackling goose blending in with his much larger counterparts – for me, this is a soothing and fun part of the day.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll start with a bird that is unmistakable: the northern flicker.
Northern flickers are a common woodpecker here in Albany. If you try, these birds are not too hard to find. Spotting birds in trees is difficult; fortunately, these medium-sized birds are often on the ground. You can find them foraging under trees. Their most suitable habitat is the small wooded areas at the edge of campus or out near the gardens. The flicker’s call is a constant high-pitch trill, not to be confused with the pileated woodpecker’s lower-pitched trill. Try to listen for drumming, the sound they make when they hit their beak against wood. Flickers’ flamboyant feathers seem easy to spot, but they camouflage better than most would think. But, as long as you look and listen intently, flickers are a fantastic beginner bird.
Our next bird likes to dawdle in the parking lot.
Trees between the parking lots and Takena Hall have plenty of flapping visitors. I like to listen to squeaky hummingbird calls and the nonstop yapping of house finches. The bushtit is equally as chatty. Bushtits are small, grayish-brown birds a tad smaller than a ping-pong ball. These gregarious birds are never alone, flocking in groups of 10 or more. You can hear their high-pitched calls as they flutter from tree to tree, foraging for bugs to snack on. Despite their muted color, their personalities are electric. Seeing these cute, chatty fellas flurry from tree to tree will make even the most stressed student grin.
Who is that on the ground? If you have seen little birds with black heads and tan sides, you are probably meeting the daring dark-eyed junco. In the Pacific Northwest, we have a subspecies called the Oregon junco. The Oregon junco has a bolder appearance than many of its country-wide counterparts. What they lack in size, they make up for with attitude. Tiny yet mighty, juncos in more populated areas are not typically too frightened by people. Willing to be close at hand without shying away, juncos are full of courage. These birds are prevalent and easy to identify. Now that you know what they look like, you are bound to see them all over.
Black-capped chickadees are around campus. Listen closely and you will hear their distinctive call from the trees: chickadee-dee-dee-dee. Like the junco, they have a black head and tan sides. Distinctly, chickadees have white markings on their faces, similar to a mask. Look for a large-headed, round silhouette. They like to be high up in the trees, so try going to the second floor to look for them. Looking out second-story windows, you will see plenty of different species; the chickadee will be easy to pick out among the crowd. Once you learn to identify their call, the world feels more musical.
Birdwatching is exciting, but before you go out, remember to be respectful. Just like other hobbies and activities, birdwatching has etiquette. Above all, respect the birds’ space and autonomy, especially around nests. Be quiet when you can and never purposely lure the bird closer to you or block them in any way. For your safety, follow trail signs and avoid trespassing. Keep pets on a leash if you need to bring them along. Be kind to others and leave no trace. Lastly, do not share your food with birds, especially bread. Bread is destructive to avian health. If you decide to feed birds, make sure to do your research on feeder use. Be a responsible steward of birds and their habitats. Now get on out there and find some birds!
Studying is stressful, take a bird break.
