Bird watching through my office window

I shouldn't admit this in writing, as I know that my boss Allison reads these posts, but until I started working for her, I never really spent too much time thinking about birds.  It's not that I disliked birds, but I never actively tried to identify birds that I saw and I never even had a birdfeeder at my house.

In the past year, however, I have become more and more interested in birds - and now am the proud owner of four bird feeders at home, as well as one that I recently placed outside my office window.  I was disappointed for the first few weeks that I had no birds at my office feeder (placed far enough away and well below my office window so that I don't worry that birds will fly into my window while trying to get food), but last week that all changed.  I had a pair of chickadees find my feeder, and they clearly have spread the news because this morning I had about 12 birds outside my office window, feeding and singing and greeting me as I got into the office a bit earlier than usual.

A new pair of birds arrived this morning as well - two White-crowned Sparrows.  Allison was excited to see them outside my window, and said that these "are the kind of birds that just show up, you can’t really go out to find them. That we have them here in this very urban area is very cool."

Do you have a bird feeder outside your window at work?  I love hearing the birds sing in the morning while I am getting settled in for a long day at the office.  My office looks out onto a parking lot and several apartment buildings, not really inspiring when I am working to protect Maine's beautiful natural environment, but these birds have really brought me a piece of nature in downtown Augusta. 

One last note about birds - Dr. Jeffrey Wells will be speaking at NRCM's annual meeting next week to discuss birds and global warming - and I encourage any of you bird lovers (of which I consider myself one now!) who are able to attend the event to join us.  You can learn more about Dr. Wells and his presentation at www.nrcm.org/annual_meeting_2008.asp.

I hope to see you there.

Beth

Comments

[Beth Dimond, Public Affairs Coordinator]

Thanks for your comments Shelly. We did encourage people to get out to vote today by sending the following e-alert last Friday, on Halloween. If you are interested in getting on our alert list, you can sign up for our Action Network by visiting www.nrcm.org/getinvolved.asp and clicking on the "Join NRCM's Action Network" link.

Here is the alert we sent to everyone on that list:

Do You Know What is Scary This Halloween?

I'll tell you what we here at NRCM think is scary this Halloween.

Global warming and its effects on wildlife and our planet is scary.

Toxic chemicals. Toxic chemicals in our children's toys and baby bottles. Now THAT is scary.

And the scariest thing of all this Halloween?

Knowing that there are LOTS of people who are eligible to vote but may choose NOT to.

Don’t be one of them!

Please, make time to vote next Tuesday, November 4th. Take a moment to find out where the candidates stand on issues you care about: A healthy environment for our families. Conservation of our natural resources. Sustainable economic development.

Don’t let your silence “haunt” you until the next election. All of us here at NRCM encourage you to vote your values!

Please Get to the Polls and Vote on Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Beth Dimond
Public Affairs Coordinator

[Shelly]

I enjoyed your post. I love birds. I wish you would blog about getting out to vote! Even if you can't or won't say who you are voting for.

[Beth]

Thanks Suze and Kara. I will definitely keep you posted about the birds. I am not a huge fan of winter being on its way, but I think watching the birds at the feeder will help me enjoy the season a little more than usual. I will post some pictures of birds that I see at home and at work when I have a chance. Have a great weekend!

[Suze]

Great post. Nice to have something good that's happened. You should post more.

[Kara]

I am happy to know NRCM cares about birds. I liked your post.