REC’D
How to
Birdwatch From Central Park to Iowa City, birdwatching is for everyone. BY NORBERT SARSFIELD
Red-Winged Blackbird Loud, aggressive bird of fields and marshes. Males have distinct red and yellow patches on their wings, females are streaked brown and resemble a large sparrow.
Norbert Sarsfield
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020 has been a fraught and fractious year. It seems like every morning we wake to find ourselves beset by a new calamity demanding our full attention. While it is our duty as decent human beings and good citizens to be informed and to put our minds and bodies to the task of creating a safe, just society, we can’t accomplish that work if we are exhausted, anxious and stressed out. A remedy for this malady is to step away for a bit and connect with nature through birdwatching. You can watch birds from your own window by putting up a feeder. Suet feeders will attract woodpeckers and nuthatches; thistle feeders will bring finches and chickadees; and seed feeders will appeal to a wide range of birds. To discourage house sparrows, which are an invasive species that displaces native birds like bluebirds, avoid seed mixes that include millet and instead consider using safflower seeds. A great way to learn how to ID birds is with the Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It is free, easy to use and has a great collection of bird photos and audio of bird songs and calls. 22 July 1–Aug. 4, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV284
Essentials Binoculars are helpful but not necessary
Tick defense Permethrin treated clothing and/or picaridin repellant
Birdwatching app Recommended: Merlin Bird ID
An even better way to reap the rewards of birdwatching is to get outdoors and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature. This can have real therapeutic benefits; simply standing still in a natural area, being in the moment, aware of the songs of birds as they flit about in a nearby bush, can be a powerful mindfulness exercise. Thankfully, there are a number of wonderful natural areas in our region with great birdwatching opportunities. In the immediate Iowa City area, Hickory Hill Park, Waterworks Prairie Park, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and the Sycamore Greenway Trail are all wonderful places for birding. A little farther afield, Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, Macbride Nature Recreation Area (home of the Iowa Raptor Project) and Kent Park are all highly recommended. You might also consider joining the Iowa City Bird Club, a local group that leads birding field trips (these are currently on hold due to COVID-19) and helps to conserve bird habitat. Whether in your own yard or in a local natural area, bird watching offers a great way to get outside in a safe, socially distant manner. Enjoy! —Norbert Sarsfield
