[CT Birds] Appreciation

[Scott Kruitbosch]

My subject line is that controversial? It was simply meant as a quick way to
say "I had quite a large number of birds at my feeders today but no real
rarities". I hope I do not have to add some type of qualification to each
and every post appreciating the birds we see every day. The mere fact I am
on this list and enjoying the birds enough to make an email about them
should state without any doubt that I love the birds.

Obviously spotting a Rusty Blackbird outside your window is a bit more
thrilling than seeing a Common Grackle. I can't see how this is lost on
anyone. Someone who lived in out west might love to see a Blue Jay, just as
we would love to see a Western Scrub Jay. Would it be WRONG to enjoy seeing
the Scrub Jay in your yard more than a Blue Jay? I sure hope not.

Personally, I have not had any Redpolls this season, and I was dying for
one. It's disappointing to miss them while others enjoy them in their yard
all season, is it not? Secondly, every big storm we've had in the past few
years has yielded a rare or uncommon feeder bird. Yesterday broke that
streak, and I was disappointed. This is NOT some type of condemnation on the
Titmice and Cardinals, and I do not recall passing some type of criticism on
the common feeder species. Nowhere did I say I did not enjoy the birds that
did appear. Again, the simple fact I was watching these species for five
hours, counting each and every individual, logging results into eBird, and
then posting them to an internet birding list...this should display my
appreciation for the birds.

If I emailed "BLUE JAY" in the subject line, how many of you would be at my
home to photograph it? What about when I emailed "PURPLE GALLINULE"? I saw
streams of birders heading to the pond. If you came to the pond, saw a
Titmouse there, and a Blue Jay...but missed the Gallinule...would you have
been disappointed? Everyone here appreciates EVERY ONE of the birds we see,
but all of us do enjoy some specific birds/species more than others, for
very obvious reasons.

-- 
Scott Kruitbosch
Stratford, CT
kbosch at gmail.com