Backyard Birdwatch: An Intro to My Chatter Tracking

Time: 6:35-6:55 a.m.

Weather Report: Partly Cloudy, 87°F, 63% Humidity, Winds: WSW @ 12 mph; feels like 94°F.

Location: The backyard of my home in the upstate New York City of Rochester. (See map at the bottom of the left column for spacial reference.)

Bird Species/Markings/Features:--American Song Sparrow (I think)

Sights/Sounds/Activities:Very quiet this morning, save the sound of the nearby expressway traffic trapped under the partly cloudy skies. There was a little bit of aviary chatter.

I figured that if I could focus in on a specific "song" or "sound" I could write down what it sounded like and compare it to some bird song recordings.

One particular song, eminating from a cluster of trees in my nieghbor's backyard (which is now conceptually part of our larger combined yard, since I recently removed the fence seperating the two), went something like this: "Twee-twee-twee..." (a repetitive chirp, in quick bursts).

Notes: After being unable to visually "find" any birds to watch, I remembered that Anne and I had recently purchased a copy of Birds of New York Audio CD Booklet by Stan Tekiela, which I had yet to open and listen, too. Today, I did just that.

According to Mr. Tekiela's audio commentary, the American Song Sparrow:

has a varied song... but the basic structure is same... a clear whistle of two to three intro notes followed by rapid jumble of note and shirlls.

I clearly heard the intro but faile to hear to rapid jumble following. I listened to a number of different songs from birds we have sighted in the yard (Robin, Purple Finch, House Sparrow, Raven) and the song for the Song Sparrow came closest.

Breath in, Breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!