Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

Blackbirds might not be the most charismatic group of birds, but they are filled with plenty of characters. From the songster orioles to the clanging grackles and the bastard cowbirds, blackbirds or "icterids" as ornithologists call them are a diverse group. Baltimore Oriole This past weekend, Alison and I headed over to Three Rivers in Baldwinsville to check out the bird life. While it wasn't our first choice for birding (Beaver Lake was closed so that volunteers could set up a Halloween-related festival), we were determined to find some birds. The leaves had peaked and were drifting off the trees one by one. In the distance, gunshots rang out precipitously. Perhaps a flock of geese had mistaken an array of decoys for peaceful comrades while the hunters lay out of sight, waiting for the right moment. While listening to the calls of robins and cardinals in the trees before us, a bubbly whistling caught our attention. Just below the robins were some smallish black ...

This will be a short entry, but a necessary one. Just two days before I left for my job in Norwalk, CT as a Long-tailed Duck or Oldsquaw ( Clangula hyemalis ) hunter surveyor, I spotted my 300th species. The goal is complete, but I don't want to stop there. Before I mention the latest species addition, I'm going to try and get as many birds as possible before the year is out. I'm hoping for 310, but we'll have to wait and see. Even 301 would be wonderful at this point. Anyhow, back to the matter at hand. The 300th species I saw on October 28th, was a single Rusty Blackbird ( Euphagus carolinus ) flying over Wayland Community Garden in Wayland, MA. I feel fortunate to have seen such a vulnerable species, but at the same time, marveled at every other birder's perceived ability to scope them out. They're very similar to Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoenicus ) in flight and can only really be picked apart if they've landed and are pretty close by or by th...