Though the weather was cool for mid-April, it didn't chill the enthusiasm of birders who participated in the museum's 2005 Spring Birding Event. Throughout a leisurely day, covering a variety of bird habitat, the participants peered through scopes and binoculars and studied bird books to identify 68 different species of birds!

Spring is an exciting time of year for birders, as some of our more colourful species return to Cortes. Common Yellowthroats were spotted near a swamp singing their beautiful wichity-wichity-wichity song. The male's bright yellow breast and dark eye band were easy to spot. Numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers were sighted during the day, as they actively darted out from alder thickets in their flycatching manner. At Smelt Bay a Townsend's Solitaire thrilled everyone, as it is a very rare sighting. Another rare treat were Marsh wrens singing their distinctive calls from reeds on the edge of a pond. Dozens of violet-green swallows were observed performing their beautiful acrobatic flight over Hague Lake. A Band-tailed Pigeon arrived as if on cue at one spot, perching at the very top of tree long enough for everyone to get a good look!

There were a few birdcalls that stumped everyone, the elusive singers staying just out of sight. Maybe it's those unidentified ones that keep us interested and wanting to learn more!