The other morning, I woke to a Hitchcockian moment in the backyard. It had rained (not enough to really improve the drought, but you knew that). And somehow, that seemed to have rousted about 500 grackles, who were sipping up every last drop of aqua on their way South (I hoped).
Now I find it hard to Hate an animal. And grackles are about the most committed parents of the bird world. Helicopter Moms and Dads come to mind. And we have some noisy families that call our neighborhood home. But do I want a flock over-wintering on my .25 acre ? Um, no.
So I was relieved when they took off and continued their journey. You will see flocks of them, and often Starlings, together at this time of year. Just keep them moving South is all I am gonna say.
I got interested in the timing of other birds departures, so I looked up a Long Island site. First, this blog is a day-by-day report of what birds the author sees: http://www.libirding.com/LI_Birds/Erics_Blog/Erics_Blog.html. While it might not seem like East Quogue has any relation to birds we would see on the North Shore, I am sure that the observations apply. After all, birds migrate along well known corridors, and if you have ever flown towards Long Island in a plane, chances are your approach was over our East End. Pilots and birds might just know something we earthbound do not.
If you are looking for less copy and more list, the mothersite for Eric's blog has one: http://www.libirding.com/LI_Birds/Sightings/Sightings.html.
You can even report your own sightings to them via email, and there is excellent information on how to approach a birding ID.
The more well known birding group, the Audubon Society has at least 6 chapters on Long Island. I am not sure if there is a central one. The nearest to Huntington is this:
http://www.huntingtonaudubon.org/. I signed up for the emails. You might want to as well. For Smithtown and Three Village readers, I believe this is your nearest chapter: http://www.fourharborsaudubon.org/.
Enjoy, and let me know what you have seen overhead. Or what is still blooming in your garden. I still have a native bleeding heart in bloom, as well as the asters and the fleabanes. Despite the slightly colder temperatures, I did see my not-friends, Yellow Jackets today. Looking more frenetic and angry than usual. Why I am inside on this gorgeous day.
