[Birdtalk] Crossbills

[Jeffrey Holt]

All the excitement this week about Crossbills. I downloaded the ibirds
explorer program onto my iphone. It is a great app. For me the calls are the
best part. I can always get illustrations and ranges in Sibley or a Peterson
guide. But the calls have been so fun to listen to and learn. Airplane time
especially. Others listen to music and I'm over there playing meadowlark
calls.
Huntsville Park was the crossroads for Crossbills this week. Every day there
were birds and birders.

I walked out on my porch to get some firewood for a fire this morning and as
I was gathering up some wood, I heard a racket of twittering coming straight
at me across the snow. I sounded like it was right above the snow, but as it
came closer, imagine my surprise to see about a dozen Red Crossbills (from
the calls I've been learning) zooming straight overhead. My neighbor down
the street has a group of tall pines and spruces very similar to the old
stand in Huntsville park and he shares the flock of Crossbills with them.

But I had known them immediately! Thanks to all who suggested this program.
It has really paid for itself in the first few days.

Jeff Holt
Huntsville
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