Joann Merritt's Essays

Spring Migration At The Merritts
June, 1998

We have enjoyed an outstanding migration while “in-sitting” here at home. Many days we had 6 warbler species, colorful buntings to delight the psyche of any birder, and one very hot day Rose Marie even found a Phainopepla. Sometimes one could scarcely walk without disturbing one of the many Hermit Thrushes that were present.

It’s a difficult task to list “good birds” but Tennessee Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Western and Summer Tanagers, immature Magnolia Warbler, Brown and Long-billed Thrashers, Broad-tailed Hummingbird and Bronzed Cowbird with his RED eyes and musical song come to mind. An amusing but beautiful sight was an extremely long-tailed Scissor-tailed Flycatcher trying to dip into Jesse’s Pond where the largest open water area is only about 2 1/2 feet in length. The Scissortail managed to hit the water a few times while perfectly displaying his salmon-pink sides and wing linings.

Jesse’s Pond in our backyard has attracted 68 species of birds this spring - I have them listed! The heat, along with lack of food or water in the surrounding area brought the birds to our yard. Don and I were homebound after his back surgery which was the reason that we were here to observe, enjoy and appreciate this years unusual migration. Perhaps the birds are here every year but we are not.

During the days Don spent in the hospital I had about an hour in the early mornings and sometimes late afternoons to check our yard for migrants. If Don hadn’t survived, the inscription on his tombstone would have read: “Died alone in hospital while wife was birding”. But survive he did, and on our Big Day Spring Count Don tallied 27 species while simply birding from the back door.

On Mother’s Day 46 species of birds appeared in our yard before noon. Most noteworthy was a male Rose-breasted as well as Black-headed and Blue Grosbeaks, Gray Catbird, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli, Indigo and Painted Buntings and a flock of Cedar Waxwings.

The mulberries on our tree were juicy ripe and I generously fed the birds sunflower seeds, mixed grain and syrup. However, the main attraction was the moving water in our little ten-inch deep, 3’x5’ pond that Grandson Jesse and Don made last August. I can highly recommend adding a water feature to your yard, it will greatly improve your chances to observe birds. You just need a grandson like Jesse to vigorously encourage and then help you build a pond. It was a fun family project last summer and it has continued to amaze and delight us.

The last of the spring migrants are now passing through. Today, June 6th, there’s only a female American Redstart showing off her yellow wing and tail spots, a Warbling Vireo (?) who didn’t, and a possible female Dickcissel. During the first rush and in the midst of spring bird migration the males vivid colors and field marks do wonders for ones bird identification ego. Alas, when the females and immatures arrive the ego deflates rather quickly as these individuals are not so easily recognized.

With migration ending I’ll have to be content with just the regular Cardinals, Bullock’s and Orchard Orioles, Painted Buntings, Bewick’s and Cactus Wrens, Verdin, Mockingbirds, Black-chinned Hummers and a pair of Barn Swallows that are nesting on our front porch. I think I can handle that.