LeConte’s Sparrow
We are searching for secretive sparrows. The dry rattle of silphium leaves announces our presence as we walk through the prairie. There are…
LeConte’s Sparrow
We are searching for secretive sparrows. The dry rattle of silphium leaves announces our presence as we walk through the prairie. There are sparrows, finches and pheasants in the prairie, but they are all hiding. The birds we are hoping to see are what are affectionately known as skulkers. They stay down low and tend to run on the ground when disturbed.
Fortunately, I am in good company and the prairie is beautiful this time of year. The cool temperatures, light breeze and muted fall colors combine to create a sublime experience. We also see a lot of birds. The most common birds that we see in the prairie are Swamp Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and American Goldfinches.
My friends are identifying them in a split second as they fly off twisting and turning and dive back down in the prairie. They call out the relevant features that they notice “Long tail, rusty color, large size — Swamp Sparrow.” Even more impressive is their ability to identify the subtle chips that sparrows make. A Song Sparrow chip has a quality about it that is reminiscent of a House Finch note. White-throated Sparrows have a distinctive sharp metallic quality to their loud chip note. The other species are more subtle, but with enough practice and sustained attention it is possible to identify those as well. This adds an extra layer of meaning to a walk through the prairie. You can identify a wide variety of birds all around you despite not being able to see them. It is like a superpower.
The LeConte’s Sparrows that we are hoping to see are uncommon and we think they may not have arrived in our area yet. At least that is what we are telling ourselves. They breed in wet prairies and marshes in the northern Great Plains and up into Canada. We are hoping to catch a glimpse of this beautiful orange, white, and tan tiny sparrow that appears as a “twenty dollar gold piece” when seen up close. That type of view is unlikely, a more reasonable expectation would be to see them as they fly away like a piece of “wind blown straw” Their small size, spiky tail, and flash of orange revealing their identity. Either way, seeing one would be a rite of passage and very exciting.
Me and my friends are on journeys of our own as well. There is a young artist dissatisfied with the Midwest who longs for a life out in the open spaces of the west. Others are moving out of the follies of youth into middle age trying to navigate the transition without the help of rituals or community support. It is a bumpy ride. Perhaps that is why we are all longing to catch a glimpse of a little orange sparrow. If he can make the trip, maybe we can too. We want to connect with a fellow sojourner that faces his challenges directly, forthright and without doubt or a second thought. We should all strive for such qualities in ourselves. Our tiny winged friend points the way.
A little more intimacy with nature and ourselves. The birds never let me down, they are a steady presence. They are always themselves.