Every Mother’s Day weekend, early risers join Granby Land Trust Board Member John Weeks and his wife, Christine Chinni, on a quest to see the many species of birds that pass through North Granby on their annual migration routes. John and Christine are passionate and knowledgeable birders who generously share their time and expertise with others.
North Granby resident and GLT board member Jamie Gamble kindly opens his private property for the walks each year. The property’s open fields, pond, wetlands, and woodlands provide great habitat for migrating birds such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, orioles, and others.
This year’s outings took place on May 11 and 12—two very different days in terms of weather. May 11 was a beautiful, sunny spring morning, and the outing was an enormous success with 64 species of birds identified. (Please see box on this page.) On the morning of May 12, however, the temperatures dropped, the rain moved in and many of the birds hunkered down for the day. The birds weren’t the only ones deterred by the rain: just seven intrepid souls showed up to see what birds were out and about. Their bravery paid off. While fewer species were seen, the Sunday group did get to see a Virginia rail run right across the path in front of them; and they also had very nice looks at Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks and scarlet tanagers, among others.
The GLT thanks John and Christine for running this popular event for us each year. The GLT is committed to preserving and protecting bird habitat, and it’s always exciting to see the amazing variety of species that make Granby their home or stop for a rest here during their spring migration.
These are the 64 species of birds identified on the May 11 bird walk.
Canada goose
wood duck
great blue heron
turkey vulture
osprey
sharp-shinned hawk
red-shouldered hawk
Virginia rail
chimney swift
ruby-throated hummingbird
red-bellied woodpecker
yellow-bellied sapsucker
downy woodpecker
northern flicker
least flycatcher
eastern phoebe
great crested flycatcher
eastern kingbird
yellow-throated vireo
blue-headed vireo
warbling vireo
red-eyed vireo
blue jay
common raven
tree swallow
barn swallow
black-capped chickadee
tufted titmouse
white-breasted nuthatch
blue-gray gnatcatcher
eastern bluebird
veery
Swainson’s thrush
wood thrush
American robin
gray catbird
ovenbird
Louisiana waterthrush
blue-winged warbler
black-and-white warbler
Nashville warbler
common yellowthroat
American redstart
northern parula
Blackburnian warbler
yellow warbler
chestnut-sided warbler
black-throated blue warbler
yellow-rumped (myrtle) warbler
prairie warbler
black-throated green warbler
Canada warbler
song sparrow
swamp sparrow
white-throated sparrow
scarlet tanager
northern cardinal
rose-breasted grosbeak
red-winged blackbird
common grackle
brown-headed cowbird
orchard oriole
Baltimore oriole
American goldfinch