Sparrow's Home
This evening I went to visit a sparrow's home. As I write, the sun is well below the horizon and somewhere in the field the sparrow sleeps...I like thinking about that now. As I walked the trail, a few sentinel sparrows perched atop goldenrod and other browned prairie plants. All around their sweet calls sounded off. The fields are full of things to appreciate, absorb and photograph, but for the sparrows it's their shelter, sustenance and security.
The fields seem to belong to Common Yellowthroats during the summer breeding season. From now until early April, American Tree Sparrows will rely on them for survival. Every second of every minute, minutes and hours, for these next several months, these fields outside is where they'll be. When arctic air sends the mercury into minus digits, they will endure. The tree sparrows will be hunted by accipiters, shrikes and other predators – the injured or those suffering from failing health will be quickly taken.
Most of the other kinds of sparrows have left Pheasant Branch. There are still a few White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, but their numbers are rapidly decreasing as they head for fields of their own to the south. But behold the brave and hearty little sparrows that persist through the worst of what Wisconsin's winters can deliver. They might only be American Tree Sparrows, but they're among my favorite of all birds. I'm sure I'll be visiting again over December, January and February to check in on them.
Every so often I take a prairie souvenir home. They make great photographic subjects to adorn my blog posts with. Afterwards, I place them on my desk as to serve as a reminder and for inspiration. As it gets colder, my trips to Pheasant Branch will decrease. The outings are contemplative meditations of a sort and something I've found I really need. I'm amazed by how much I rely on the outdoors to sustain my overall sense of wellness. Last winter was tough, but I have reasons to hopeful this will be an easier one to endure.
I also wanted to extend a 'thank you' to those of you who have recently emailed me. I read every email I receive and appreciate the words, notes and feedback. Unfortunately, I don't always have time to respond and when I do I'm often a bit brief, or possibly even terse. I hope you understand. I'll keep the blog going as often as I can, and that's been my best way of communicating and sharing. The birds give to me, and I give them back to you.
All images © 2007 Mike McDowell
posted by Mike McDowell @ 6:18 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I, too, like the thought of the birds asleep in the fields. As always, your writing is as beautiful as the pictures.
Mike, your photos have been amazing. And this blog is enlightening, refreshing, and hits home! ;)
Just want you to know that I really appreciate your fine nature photography. Please keep sharing your mid-western perspective on nature with us. I am an Easterner and look daily at your blog. Thanks.
What a nice post, Mike, and your photos are beautiful as usual. Thanks for sharing the sparrows!
Just a note to reinforce that your blog contributions are important. Thank you for continuously doing such a great job!
Living 4 hours north of your beloved Pheasant Branch Conservancy, it is great to read your posts and know that 'our' birds are down there, have been there, or are on their way back.
The variety of bird species are becoming very sparse in preparation for winter up here, and soon we will be down to our typical Christmas Bird Count list of 22-24 species.
In the spring, as your observations and reports begin to pick up, us northerners are grateful to know that the birds are on their way back. Thus, I anticipate your first reports of returning thrushes, warblers, and other neotropical species. In some way, that shortens our winter just a little.
Thanks again for all of your effort to provide such a wonderful blog site.
LDF Birder
A nice reminder/recognition of 'little brown jobs.' Like a lot of birders I suspect, I'm naturally drawn to large birds like raptors and colorful birds like warblers, and have difficulty sustaining much interest in sparrows -- but that is more a bad reflection on me and not them. They are among the first and most frequent birds most of us experience, and their lives and behaviors ought be no less interesting than that of their bigger, flashier counterparts.
Man, how much of a better world would we live in if more people thought like this, instead of NASCAR, 4wheelers and lets make a subdivision. The world is getting smaller and smaller...something must be done to stabilize human population or this world is going to die.
Anon,
Call me weird, but I find some solace in the fact that after ever major extinction the world replenished biodiversity in a mere 5 to 10 million years. Sometimes it seems we are determined not to be a part of that future.
Mike M.
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