Trash Birds

It's funny.  I was at High Island the past two weekends and the beginning of migration has taken a strong start. One of the first birds that came through were the Hooded Warblers.  Those are some of the most spectacular birds that there are.  I think they are a great find and would love to see them all year long.  The attitude at High Island is that you have huge expectations about the variety and number of birds that you will see.  Unfortunately, you get spoiled with all of the new birds that you haven't seen in a year or ever for that matter.  Here is an example of something that I heard out on the paths of Boy Scout Woods:

"Hey! There something over there.  I saw a flash of yellow."

"I see it!  Let me get a better look.  It's a warbler, but I can't see the front of it.

 There it is! Oh, it's a Hooded Warbler."

"Oh..."

There was talk that they should make a t-shirt that denotes that the Hooded Warbler is the trash bird of High Island!  Actually Boy Scout Woods, because the Northern Parula was the most populous bird of Smith Oaks.  The same responses were seen there.

At home, we take the Cardinal and Blue Jay for granted.  What amazing looking birds to be ignored!  As you can see, I like Cardinals (See the picture at the top of this webpage).  I also really like the strong look of Blue Jays.  People in Texas don't even give them a second look.

  Mockingbirds are everywhere here.  They can be one of the most interesting birds out there, but we still take them for granted.

It's just funny how people act when they are surrounded by something special to the point that they are not impressed anymore.  Kind of like living in a place that you vacation.  It wouldn't be as impressive after awhile.

10:44 AM - April 15, 2009 - post comment

Taken for granted....

Let's not forget the Carolina Chickadee, another most delightful, friendly & cheerful bird, that's very pleasant to be around.

Doug - 7:07 PM - April 16, 2009

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I'm glad you mentioned our "trash" birds. I think we birders/birdwatchers overlook how beautiful our common birds are in our excitement to see migrants etc. When people from the UK visit us, they are always bowled over by e.g., Blue Jays and N. Cardinals - and by Great-tailed Grackles and Turkey Vultures!

jeffmoh - 4:17 PM - April 17, 2009

first view of your blog... very nice!

Hello... just checked out your blog, the latest one, and I must say "Very nice!" Lots of pictures to go with what you have to say.

Up here in Toronto, people have a similar attitude towards the Blue Jays... just walk right by them. I find that with a lot of people and the birds. There could be a Cardinal, right there off the path, on a branch watching the people but nobody pays attention to him! How could one not? I don't get it. Ah well, it's their loss.

This site seems a bit more complex than what I am used to... will have to take some time to figure it out.

By the way, this is Rob from Birder's World, eh...

cheers!

Anonymous - 11:42 AM - April 21, 2009