July Birds of the Month

In today’s post, one of our volunteers, Nathan Martineau, writes about two birds that can found at Fenner right now. Check it out, and try to spot one today!

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

One of four species of sparrows that nest here at Fenner, the Field Sparrow is a bird of pastures of tall grass, scattered with shrubs.  Due to its lack of prominent facial markings, this sparrow possesses a distinctive baby-faced look. While it is often quite a challenge to catch sight of one of these little sparrows, a much easier way to locate them is their song, which is quite loud and reminds many people of “a bouncing Ping-Pong ball.” 

From mid-March until mid-October, Field sparrows can easily be heard—and often seen—at two locations at Fenner:  the first is the vicinity of the Field Pond, which is often the only place where it is possible to see one of these birds.  The second place is the field that formerly held a buffalo for many years.  On the trail map, this area should appear to be south of the Service Drive (light gray), near the intersection of the Turner and Tamarack (blue and pink) trails.  You are practically guaranteed to hear Field Sparrows here, although the scale of the place, combined with restricted access, makes it extremely difficult to see one here.  In migration, it is often seen flocking with Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina), especially in spring.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Many people say that the bluebird is the bluest bird in North America, but a male Indigo Bunting certainly gives a bluebird a run for its money!  Indigo Buntings can be found in forest edges and weedy fields here at Fenner from May through September.  As well as being abundant in spring and fall migration, it is a common summer resident and breeder throughout Michigan.  Indigo Buntings commonly eat the seeds of plants such as grass, dandelion, thistle, goldenrod, and other weedy plants. The bulk of their diet, however, consists of invertebrates like grasshoppers, beetles, flies and caterpillars.  

Letting a few dandelions go to seed will often attract Indigo Buntings to your yard in migration. At Fenner, I recently saw Indigo Buntings on the ground in the parking lot, which is unusual. I have also seem them out in the prairie.  Right now, they are found in breeding pairs and sometimes they can be seen singing from the tops of the trees on the prairie.