CUC Bird Walk Report: Sun Apr 20

Bird Walk Results
Sunday Morning Apr 20

Report filed by:
Rev. LoraKim Joyner, DVM

Time of observations: 8:30am - noon EST
Site: Grounds of Community Unitarian Church, 468 Rosedale Ave (approx. 8 acres)

In honor of Easter, our theme for this morning’s walk was birds arising, which we celebrated with these
opening words by Sufi poet Hafiz.

I once asked a bird, “How it is that you fly through this darkness of gravity?”
She responded, "Love lifts me."

Many are uplifted during the spring and Eastertide, for we are reminded of this fecund earth and the chance that hope and love may arise again and again despite the dark winter of our lives. We sought for glimpses of this truth as our morning’s adoration followed that known by many cultures for hundreds of years, though we were late by about 3 hours to make it a sunrise service. Like many during sharp turn of lengthening days, we were out looking for signs of fertility in the form not of eggs, but of egg-hatched birds. Though our list of birds was not super, we did add a new species for the year, a hermit thrush. This bird heralds the shifting bird populations, for in the last weeks we have said good bye to the dark-eyed juncos and hello to diminishing flock sizes as birds pair up for breeding season.

With relief we were finally able to do a bird walk where we could actually traverse off the pavement. With the undergrowth at a minimum we could walk with ease, well mostly, as we negotiated over stones, fallen trees, and creeks. Along the way we saw many budding bushes, trees, and the spring flowers arising along with the birds. We also paused in silence at the memorial garden, walked the maze, and idled at the pond.

There is so much to see and to share, and we are grateful that birds brought us together.

Do join us for our next walk – Sun May 11 at 8:30am at the Parsonage. Until then, happy birding.
- LoraKim

Today’s sightings:

2 Common Grackles
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Titmouse
2 Carolina Wren
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Mourning Doves
2 Robins
2 White-throated Sparrows
2 House Sparrow
2 House Finches
1 American Crow
2 Northern Cardinals
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
3 Goldfinches
1 Hermit Thrush

Previous Bird Walk Reports (click on date)
Sun Mar 2
Sun Feb 9
Sun Jan 5