[obol] Back Yard Rain Birds

[steve Gordon]

Here in the Friendly Neighborhood in Eugene, about two inches of rain 
fell on Wednesday, January 3rd.  For baseball fans, winter is time to 
watch the trades and await the pitchers' arrival for spring training in 
Arizona and Florida camps.  Birders have it much easier.  We 
participate in Christmas Bird Counts.  Finish up on a few birds missed 
for the outgoing year list.  Begin the new year list on January 1st.  
Even when it rains, you can watch through the window as puddles form in 
the low, worn, depressions where the middle of the brick path takes 
most of the foot and wheelbarrow traffic.  The Black-capped Chickadees 
and Bushtits remain active in the rain.  Then a bright Townsend's 
Warbler appears in the Catalpa tree.  In thirty-one years, it is a 
first for your yard list.  Then you notice that the Dark-eyed Junco 
number is double the normal count. In pouring rain, they are feasting 
on seeds cast from hanging feeders by House Finches and American 
Goldfinches. Among the Junco flock is a  sparrow feeding under the 
Japanese maple; it catches your eye with its broad, bright eyebrow.  A 
White-throated Sparrow has decided to feed in the rainstorm in your 
back yard. Only once before in thirty-one years have you seen this bird 
in your yard.  After two hours of feeding, the flock moves out of the 
yard, and you watch the rain drops on the puddles that are now merging 
to form Lake Gordon.  Birders have it easier than baseball fans in 
winter, and we don't call the game because of rain.  Some of our best 
experiences can happen in a game-stopping rainstorm.