[mou] New arrivals to water

[Thomas Maiello]

Spring Lake Park is a hopping up in the Nordland just south of Blaine  
USA.  I did a quick calculation and I have a 20% increase so far this  
year in the variety of birds in my yard - since the installation of  
the water feature - and its only the beginning of May!!

Now it would be great to just leave it at the general level of  
"birds" but these weren't just birds to me - they were breath-taking  
First-Of-Yard birds.  Check out this list.

-Magnolia Warbler
-Nashville Warblers still hanging out
-Indigo Bunting - just today about 3 feet from my face outside my  
window and it ended up foraging around the ponds
-Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker still dropping by occasionally
-Lincoln's Sparrow
-Of course the Western Tanager!
-Song Sparrow
-Yelllow-rumped Warbler (it was a warbler - give me a break)
-Rusty Blackbird

Add these to my current batch of returnees:

-Multiple Tennessee Warblers (formerly just one) interacting with the  
Nashvilles to see who gets to shower first
-Baltimore Orioles moved in today
-Swainson's Thrush hanging out the longest it ever has
-Multiple and longer staying White-crowned Sparrows
-Longer staying and seems like a lot more White-throated Sparrows
-Flocks of Cedar Waxwings as compared to only one last year
-A seeming increase in the number of Downy Woodpeckers (visually  
different birds)
-Three Catbirds this year compared with two last year
-My normal Brown Thrasher pair are finding the increase in visitors  
challenging
-Ruby-crowned Kinglets are still present in multiple numbers
-The House Wren came back two days ago
-My Harris Sparrows are back now
-There seems to be fewer Grackles and Goldfinches (but that is  
conjecture)
-My steady supply of Chipping Sparrows
-One regular Fox Sparrow
-Regular Blue Jays
-Noted fewer Starlings
-Regular crowd of Mourning Doves
-Fewer House Sparrows
-Fewer Chickadees
-Only two Cardinals - down from 4
-Fewer Red Wing Blackbirds
-Same number of Brown-headed Cowbirds
-Same bath of Robins

And most unusual is that all of these guys are present at the same  
time - hanging out in my yard!!!!  I feel like I am living in an  
aviary!  I normally have some 46 bird varieties throughout the year  
and it just feels like it is growing and it is somehow related to the  
water.  The birds and I all relate to it somehow as a centerpiece - a  
community center.  No matter what I feed the birds - they all need  
water - and the fountain and falls sees to be calling out to all of  
us.  I don't know if I can credit the water for this year's turn out  
so far but that is my story and I am sticking with it.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.  I am sourcing a wide  
variety of new warblers and more stand out birds like the Bunting,  
the Tanager and the Sap Suckers.  It makes me look forward to waking  
up in the morning.  The little boy inside of me who writes these will  
keep you apprised.  Until then - Yeeeee Haaaaaaaw!!

Thomas Maiello
Spring Lake Park