Robins are back at UW and these gregarious migratory birds are one of the first signs of spring in northern latitudes while many other birds have started practicing their songs to attract mates and some have only barely reappeared such as rosy finches.
“I was amazed to see rosy finches already strutting their stuff for the lady birds,” UW neighbor and amateur bird watcher, Mike Birkel said. “I had heard a couple robins barking which I almost expected this week but the finches are a surprise.”
Some of the birds we grow most familiar with stay throughout the year like crows and sparrows but even their routines change during the first weeks of spring. Crows previously interested only in flocking and feeding are now building a nest in the top of the spruce trees on campus at 9th and Ivinson. Sparrows are joined by chickadees gathering old cottonwood fluff and other nesting material.
The return of robins is always noticeable especially on the south side of UW’s Merica Hall where crab apple and berry trees provide the fruits and nuts that sustain them until worms wriggle to the surface. A dedicated route by Merica Hall’s south face might also bestow a glimpse of another berry loving and curiosity stricken group of birds, cedar waxwings.
“If anyone else said they’d seen that bird here in Laramie I don’t know if I’d believe them but I enjoy the outdoors so I’ve definitely seen some birds that seemed out of place or a little rare,” UW freshman, Zack Francis said.
Male cedar waxwings are about the size of a robin and a sight with their yellow to grey chests cardinal-like mohawk with bright red drips on their blue to brown wingtips. These guys are probably passing through and don’t spend too much time in Laramie.
Smaller birds are generally more timid and may require a routine viewing schedule, marked patience and some stealth to provide the ideal bird watching experience.
Some birds are easy to hear and identity as being present but hard to spot due to foliage and camouflage. Flickers are a larger kind of woodpecker identifiable by their bright orange underwing and can also be found around campus. These birds are notorious squatters, commonly opening a hole under the eaves of homes in which to nest. Hairy woodpeckers are also fairly easy to locate when they’re rapping away at local utility poles trying to keep that hardcore 140 bpm drum and bass tempo.
A fearsome conversational favorite amongst all true Laramigo’s has always been and will probably always be the vultures of Old Main. When the fleshy, bald-headed, harbingers of decay finally appear in the trees around UW’s main administrative offices you know “Sprinter” has ended and the icy grip has gone. Of course this means replace the icy chill with the smell of ammonia and the rattle of uneasy wings above. They’re horrific and majestic all at the same time.
“I love them because they’re just so [freakin’] creepy,” is what a surprisingly large sample of the student population had to say.
For many, the most awesome displays of avian beauty are the embodiment of power and grace shown by our local hawk and owl populations. Get a little ways outside town and add eagles or ospreys to the list. If you hear a large outburst of avian alerts in the morning or afternoon there’s a good chance a raptor is near by (not the Jurassic Park kind). Around campus this means a hawk or maybe even an owl.
The National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Birds (Western Region) is a perfect beginner guide to identifying and locating birds by sight AND sound. Twenty dollars gets you a hand-sized lifetime of learning and enjoyment at any book retailer. Laramie Audubon’s website directs users to specific areas to find different birds in the area by using an interactive map at laramieaudubon.blogspot.com.
Seriously! Go outside and see what all those crows are losing their minds over the next time they flip out. Chances are there’s a hungry hawk checking the menu from a branch above. Seeing a wide variety of birds, let alone any some days in such an extreme climate, such as Laramie’s, is a challenge.
But, like birds that weather here year-round or migrate massive distances with the seasons, some great challenges bring about great rewards. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears trained. The sights and sounds of nature have a great story to tell those who pay close attention.
