white throated sparrows are among our family’s favorite birds. their deee-DEEEE-dee-duh-dee dee-duh-dee dee-duh-dee song has two associations for us. The first is their spring migration when they filter through our woods, and wake us up on april and may mornings with cheerful exhortations to get up and make the most of the beautiful day ahead of us. The second association is the north woods, where in summer we encounter them at the end of that migration, and they serenade us in our fishing boats and canoes from the tops of towering white pines on the shores of cold, clear northern lakes. so imagine my horror, to find not one. but two, white throats this morning lying lifeless below two of my windows. i will miss them this summer. as will any number of northern hikers, campers, fishermen, and paddlers who should have heard them sing.
white throated sparrows
saint paul, minnesota
Oh, this breaks my heart. They are a favorite in my home as well. They reply back when you sing their call. Their spark of yellow is so vital to the feeling of Spring around here. I am glad you captured their essence so poignantly. Poor little guys…
Oh, poor sweet things, their song, along with that of the red wing blackbirds means spring more to me than the return of the robin. Your photo of them is stunning.
what truly beautiful creatures they are