NEW BIRDS

Hey kids,

It's springtime and that means the warblers are back!! Every spring, warblers (there are over 30 different types in the Eastern US) fly from as far south as South America north to the US and Canada. In the fall they fly back down where it is warm for the winter.

Here is a new one I found last week. It's a Cerulean Warbler. Do you know what cerulean is? It's a shade of blue. Can you tell how they bird got that name? I can't wait for it to get sunny again and look for more!!

I also spotted a new bird in the backyard!! I was looking out the kitchen window and saw a bird that was unfamiliar. I quickly grabbed my binoculars, looked at all it's features then ran to my bird book to look it up. It was a Rose Breasted Grosbeak!! It's a member of the cardinal family. Isn't he cool!!!

Unfortunatley, I did not see a male bird (above.) I saw the female (below.) In the bird world, the male attracts the female so he is usually the one with all the fancy colors and patterns. She was a great new bird that I added to my list. Now I have a total of approximately 194 birds on my "life list." That's my list of all the different birds I have spotted since I started keeping track in January 2001. I wonder what the 200th bird will be ?????

love,

Uncle Shawn & Mr. Ted