MICROSEASON — MAR 10 - MAR 23

SPARK BIRDS, WOODCOCKS, NEW BUDDIES

The term “spark bird”—what birders call the bird that first got them hooked—has, if not inhabited, perched right next to the zeitgeist. There’s the This American Life episode. There’s the homie Joe Trezza’s Times article about its shadow side. There’s the penultimate section of our own bananas essay.

Add to that list the Spark Bird Project. Created by psychology professor Jenn Lodi-Smith, the project collects birders’ stories about how they met their first bird love.

At first glance, the Spark Bird Project seems like a generous therapeutic outlet—after all, every birder is dying to excitedly shout their spark bird story at you. But it’s also real deal science. The lovingly rendered stories get lovingly pulverized into data that researchers analyze, then use to help spark more birders.

If you’re already sparked, head to their website, click a few buttons, and share your story. Still living in the pre-spark bird void? Don’t give up—keep birding, keep noticing. Your bird is out there.

UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome back, buddies. We’re very glad to see you.

If you’re in New York City, GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK AT A TREE RIGHT NOW!!! It’s happening.

MICRO-SEASON: MAR 10 - MAR 23

‘Round these parts, we don’t bow to cursed quarters of corporate time. (Q2, fuck you.) We honor micro-seasons. Tiny, visual proofs that the great celestial dance between Earth — our breathing, blooming home, our Great Mother (née Pachamama, Bhumi, Gaia, Demeter, Danu…) — and the sun, her eternal muse, slowly cycles on.

This micro-season, in McGolrick Park, our proxy for NYC and perhaps even larger swathes of the eastern U.S., one noticed:

Trees buds swell · American Woodcocks · Northern Cardinals sing · Great Egrets return · House Sparrows and European Starlings collect nesting materials

Cheetah print potato hiding in plain sight alert! Photo of an American Woodcock in McGolrick Park taken by Sarah Roberts

And here’s a full list of McGolrick birds:

American Woodcock · Merlin · Peregrine Falcon · American Kestrel · Dark-eyed Junco · White-throated Sparrow · Song Sparrow · Tufted Titmouse · Black-capped Chickadee · White-breasted Nuthatch · Red-tailed Hawk · Cooper’s Hawk · Common Grackle · Downy Woodpecker · Red-bellied Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Yellow-bellied Sapsucker · Northern Cardinal · Blue Jay · Fish Crow · American Crow · Common Raven · Turkey Vulture (flyover) · Great Egret (flyover) · Double-crested Cormorant (flyover) · Canada Goose · Plus the virtually always present in urban parks: Rock Pigeon, European Starling, American Robin, House Sparrow and Mourning Dove

Nota bene: The above list of birds is from the entire micro-season, not just our Saturday outings!

Yes, it’s true: American Woodcocks (three of them!) were noticed in McGolrick Park. Hiding in plain sight, beneath the Angel statue, no less; these cheetah print potatoes are wonderfully easy to miss

If you encounter a woodcock looking unhappy on human turf, such as a sidewalk, bad news: it bumped into a building while migrating. Good news: you’re now the proud parent of a magical creature. (Congratulations!) Now, do this: - Usher your stunned baby into a cardboard box, somewhere they can rest safely - Transport your baby to the Wild Bird Fund - Write @nyccouncil about passing legislation that makes New York City safer for birds - Support bird advocacy alongside groups like @lightsoutnys

Everyone east of the Rockies (and in AZ) should know what Northern Cardinals sound like. We hear laser guns. If that mnemonic doesn’t work for you, make up your own! Listen out for their rhythmic syllables while traversing your hood, or just from your apartment—cardinals are comfy in backyards

Great Egrets are returning to New York City. We’ll do an egret vs. heron vs. crane lesson soon. In the meantime, keep an eye out for BIG white birds flying overheard or standing/hunting near lakes and ponds

Current Japanese micro-season: First peach blossoms & Caterpillars become butterflies & Sparrows start to nest