Birding with Maddie

(photo by Dad)

By: Pat Coate

One of the benefits of a large family is that I have lots of nieces and nephews to enjoy and, as some might say, to try to brainwash. Of my 13 nieces and nephews, Maddie has shown the greatest interest in birding (and other critters) and is great fun to bird with. She is very adept at spotting birds and continues to impress her parents by identifying birds they see in their backyard and on various excursions. I recently got to spend a morning birding with Maddie and my father at White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.

Here is the trip report from my favorite young birder:

Baltimore Oriole (male)

“Aunt Patty and me (Maddie) went birding at White Clay Creek. It was sooo fun! We saw a blue-jay, blue bird, House Finch, Baltimore Oriole, and a whole bunch of other cool birds! My favorite bird was the Baltimore Oriole. I always love birding with Aunt Patty. She is the best person to bird with, she even has the bird calls on her ipod so we could identify the bird by its call. Well that is all I have to say about my wonderful trip!!!!”

It was a great morning (and clearly there is nothing to the brainwashing) and we got very good looks at a pair of Baltimore orioles, common yellowthroat and other warblers, Eastern Towhee, several swallow species – total of around 35 species seen. And just as importantly as the birding, we got in some nice wading in the creek.

(photo by Dad)

Baltimore Oriole (female)

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