As the birds make their way back from their winter vacations, I find great peace in sitting on the front porch and counting the species using Merlin ID and recording my results in eBird. This information-gathering is not only fun, but it also helps scientists at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology track birds across the world when birdwatchers report their sightings. On Saturday morning, the weather was significantly warmer and the skies were overcast. It was the perfect morning for counting 28 species that appeared on the farm in a 90-minute observation. I was inspired to report the species in an Abecedarian list poem today, where each line beings with an ordered letter of the alphabet.
Birdwatching Abecedarian
American Robin
Brown-Headed and White-Breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird
Flittering American Goldfinch
Goose (Canadian)
House Finch
Invasive Brown-Headed Cowbird
Jay, Blue
Kinglet, Golden-Crowned and Ruby-Crowned
Loud-mouthed Carolina Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Obnoxious American Crow
Phoebe, Eastern
Quarreling Pine Warbler
Red-Winged Blackbird
Sparrow, Savannah
Tufted Titmouse
Up-too-late Dark-Eyed Junco
Very Hungry Chipping Sparrow
Woodpecker, Red-Bellied
Xenial Gray Catbird
Yellow-Rumped Warbler, "Butterbutt"
Zippy White-Throated Sparrow
Common Threads 
Kim,
I have a vision of you watching birds and documenting them as a poem forms in your head. We’re on the same page as far as form goes today, but we do have different topics. I wish we had more bird varieties at my house. I’ll need to spend more time in the mountains watching birds this summer for bird poetry inspiration.
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Glenda, I don’t think there is much that could top mountain birdwatching! That sounds like it would be fun – – and leave it to you to make a travel adventure! Sign me up.
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Oh, this is fun! Most of the birds you list are frequent visitors to our feeders, though some, like the catbird and phoebe, are not here at this season. Got to love those loud-mouthed Carolina wrens, lol!
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I have to chuckle – – I’m a Carolina Gamecock, and I laugh at those wrens, like they’re cheering the team. Thanks for reading!
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Great fun to read.
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Thank you!
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Getting to the end of your slice, I feel more peaceful. Maybe it is I’m visualizing how peaceful it was for you to sit and count. Maybe it was noticing all the creative moves you made to get an A-Z list poem written. Thanks for sharing. I’m going to be more mindful of my bird friends this week, thanks to you!
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Sally, I think the peace of birdsong and sitting still for a while is medicinal. Thank. you so much for reading! Give those feathered friends a wave from Georgia!
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This is beautiful! I’m a little jealous at your observation skills and “equipment” to support your watching! Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you so much! The bird camera is enchanting at times.
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This is awesome…I love that you participate in the bird count with the scientists and enjoyed the weaving of bird species into a fun poem! :)
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Thank you!
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What a fabulous idea – to savor this bird-watching with an abecedarian poem! You had a wonderful session, such a great variety of birds. I don’t think I have ever had so many in one ‘sitting.’ I adore your adjectives, making that ABC pattern work in these fabulous words – especially the moving ‘flittering’ and the “xenial” catbird. I want to see a “butterbutt”!! Lol. I need to look up this bird! This was marvelous, Kim! Thank you!
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Kim, what a marvelous poem and way to celebrate all the birds you see on your farm. I love “butterbutt”…lol! That could be my nickname!
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Kim – Only sparrows, robins, and crows with the occasional blue Jay here in snowy New Jersey. I love your list poem of our feathered friends! And that photo? Priceless!
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