A decent backyard day-

[Sherri Carpenter <sherric@charter.net>]

YAHOO!  I finally got the elusive resident Scarlet Tanager in my
binocular for a really good look. I'd chased his call around yesterday
with no luck.  Finally caught him in the mulberry tree, with a huge
berry descending down his beak.  (Side note: I'm not 100% sure whether
this is a native red mulberry or a black mulberry.  It's next to a
definitely native sugarberry tree.  I haven't found any sprouts to give
away; a sassafras keeps springing up at its base, apparently from old
roots.  But I'll keep looking)  Anyway, this is my first ever anywhere
resident yard Scarlet Tanager.

Second part of the day was also of note - we had non-birder friends from
Wadesboro in this afternoon to pick up their hand-raised Jenday Conure.
Despite the heat, they settled on the back porch with no urging from us,
took over the binoculars and the bird ID book, and got to see:  Indigo
bunting, cardinals, titmice, chickadees, goldfinches, RTHBs ("Wow, you
have a lot of hummingbirds!"), chipping sparrows, bluebirds, RB
woodpeckers, Carolina wrens, brown-headed cowbirds, red-winged
blackbirds, and house finches.  Through descriptions and the bird book,
we ID'd their resident sapsucker for them.  The 10-year-old wants to
move in with us, and the mom said she sees now why another friend of
hers keeps a binocular and bird book on her porch - "This is really
fascinating!"
Along with the baby Jenday (Jericho) and his assorted toys, they took
home several wildflower heads in the hope of getting seeds, and a new
interest in cultivating for wildlife.  It is such a kick to see folks go
from "You do what? Yeah, uh-huh, yawn" to "This is really fascinating!"
Sherri Carpenter
Roxboro, NC