A Lensography of Songbirds
As we go through life, some sights and events have a profound impact on our lives, while others flutter past unnoticed. Some passions can be traced back to that single pivotal point while others grow seemingly unnoticed for years. I am a morning person, always have been and always will be. As a small child I would sit in the sun on the porch as my mother fixed breakfast. More asleep than awake, I would bask in the warmth and listen to the birds welcome the new day. I didn't know what birds were singing and didn't care, but I remember the peace and the contentment they offered.
I still like to listen to the birds in the early morning light. I often leave for work before the sun rises, but when I am home the first few minutes of the new day are spent in the backyard with the birds.
Listen to the Songbirds in the Early Morning Light
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. Chinese Proverb
Songbirds
Songbirds are capable of producing a variety of sounds. Strung together they are referred to as bird song. Some has songs unique to their species, while others like the Northern Mockingbird are mimics. It's usually the males that sing and the more songs they can sing, the better their odds in attracting a mate.
Some of My Favorite Songbirds
-
The American Goldfinch
-
Offer thistle seed in your birdfeeder and the American Goldfinch just might stop by for a visit. It is beautiful songbird dressed in bright yellow feathers. Even a novice backyard birder can identify it. The finch is a song bird, and American Goldfin...
-
The Northern Cardinal
-
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most popular birds in the United States. It is one of the first birds a child learns to recognize and most adults, birders and non-birders alike recognize it on sight. Its bright red coloring is distinctive. The Car...
-
The Northern Mockingbird
-
The Northern Mockingbird is an incredible songbird, but it's nearly impossible to identify by its song. It is a mimic. It will mimic the songs and medleys of other birds as well as other sounds that it hears. It will sing the sweet song of the cardin...
Shall I Sing For You?
More Songbirds
Use those talents you have. Take this tip from nature: The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except those who sang best. Bernard Meltzer
More Voices to Add to the Chorus
-
Tufted Titmouse
-
The Tufted Titmouse is a noisy bird and can usually be heard before it's seen. It is a social bird and will frequently join with Chickadees and Nuthatches to form small flocks. It is quick to scold predator and will join other birds.
-
The Baltimore Oriole
-
The Baltimore Oriole is a cheerful bird. It can be spotted in wooded lots and whistling along city streets. The mainstay of their diet is beetles, bugs, and caterpillars, but they can be drawn to your yard with offerings of fruit (especially orange s...
-
The Purple Martin
-
If there was a ten most wanted list for birds, Purple Martins would be on it. Over a million people in North America put up Martin houses in hopes of attracting a colony. If only it were so easy. Purple Martins are picky house hunters. If the house...
The Blue Jay is a Very Vocal Bird
Attracting the Birds to Your Yard
There are several things that can be done to attract songbirds to your backyard. First and foremost, plant a garden. It doesn't matter if it's a flower garden or vegetable garden. A garden represents a natural source of substance. A birdfeeder will get their attention but it is not a reliable source. Squirrels can empty them in a matter of hours. Water is another major component. Get a birdbath and keep it filled.
A Gazebo for the Birds
Gazebo Bird Feeder w/ Cedar Roof
You and the birds will love this beautiful gazebo bird feeder with decorative moulding, routed arches, and a cedar roof. It's perfect for small songbirds.
Gazebo Bird Feeder w/ Tile Roof
This is a beautiful bird feeder with decorative moulding, routed arches, and a distinctive tile roof. It is excellent for small songbirds.
Add Water
Attracting Songbirds
-
Selecting a Birdbath
-
Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world. It provides a relaxing and educational diversion from the stresses of life and work. While some people enjoy birding excursions and trekking through the wilds in search of a...
-
Attracting Birds to Your Yard
-
Next to gardening, bird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies around. It doesn't require a trip around the world or thousands of dollars worth of specialized equipment. All you need to do is step out your back door and wait. It's c...
-
Create a Backyard Bird Sanctuary
-
Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world. It provides a relaxing and educational diversion from the stresses of life and work. It can be a meditative, solitary experience or a social activity. There are bird watchin...
Don't Forget the Flowers
Share the Morning
It has been years since I sat on my parents porch and listened to the early morning chorus, but when I step out my back door and spot a Cardinal fluttering around my bird feeder or a Blue Jay pitching a fit, the memories envelop me. No matter how hectic my life becomes, as long as I can step out my back door and join the birds as they welcome in the new day, I am at peace.
Common Birds and Their Songs
by Lang Elliott
Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)
This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.
Do you have a favorite songbird?
ANDRI wrote...
very nice bird lens i have cared so many bird unfortunately avian flu attack my country so it is forbidden to care any bird in my town
Posted June 06, 2009
mulberry wrote...
I don't know that I've ever seen a Purple Finch...I think that little guy may now be my favorite too!
Posted April 01, 2009
awelldressedbullet wrote...
I love watching pretty much any of our feathered friends, but must admit, I am most fasinated by our black capped chickadee's, I love how they grab just one seed at a time, and then fly off to eat it. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth LOL Plus they are so darn cute! - Kathy
Posted January 02, 2009
Margo_Arrowsmith wrote...
Excellent Birdography!!!! Definately 5 ***** for the way you put this together, not to mention all those great bird lenses of yours. I started doing bird feeders about 10 years ago. Wonderful!
Posted December 10, 2008
About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen, aka Lizzy Jean, has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,903 lenses, favorited 446, and has created 193 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "California Condor". See all my lenses
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 11/11/2009)
If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the United States.
Love This Lens?
- Rate this lens:
- Email it
- Favorite it
- Lensroll it
by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
(more) Explore related pages
My Favorite Songbirds- Life can be stressful. When I need a break, need to unwind, I slip outside and s...
Identifying Birds- Spotting a bird is one thing, identifying it is another story. With over 10,000...
Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars- When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I r...
The Great Blue Heron- The Great Blue Heron is the largest of the North American herons, dwarfing other...
The European Starling- The European Starling is a beautiful songbird and is a fairly common sight in No...
South Carolina Song Birds- There are over 4,000 species of birds that are considered song birds. They are c...
