More arrivals

This morning, during the training for Physics on the Farm, I heard the distinctive call of a sora rail. It's not surprising that I didn't see the bird - they tend to be quite secretive. Or, according to an article in this month's BirdWatcher's Digest (ID Yourself: Rails, p. 32), it's just that rails tend to hang out in dense vegetation which makes them hard to spot - they're there, but not in plain view. Soras look a little like a stocky chicken, but walk more upright. They have a black mask and greenish-yellow bill and legs. You might spot one at the edge of the cattails, but it's more likely that you'll hear something that makes you think of the Three Stooges: a whoop-whoop-whoop kind of cry that starts on a high pitch and descends with each "whoop." Listen (and look) for the sora at the Farm Pond, the north end.

The other arrival spotted today at the nature center is the white-throated sparrow. Along with a white patch on the throat, look for two white stripes from the eyes over the crown of the head to the neck. And listen for their distinct call. It's rhythm makes it sound like they are saying: "Oh-h-h my Can-a-da, Can-a-da, Can-a-da." Some people hear "Oh-h-h Sam Pea-bod-y, Pea-bod-y, Pea-bod-y." Say either phrase out loud and you'll hear the pattern. The white-throated sparrows are here for a short time as they are migrating through the area and heading north. With their appearance, you can start counting the days until the juncoes also depart for the north. My records from home show the average last appearance of juncoes is April 28. It's usually within two weeks of the first sighting of a white-throated sparrow. The countdown has begun...