A bird call pierces the crisp morning air near my cabin in the Poudre Canyon. “Ping! Ping! Ping!”
Living on my own, I enjoy getting to know my wildlife neighbors, large and small. They are fascinating company. The high-pitched note rings out repeatedly, like an invitation, as I walk my dog down our dirt lane. I’ve heard this sound before, but the bird and I have never officially met. Today, I’m determined to learn its name.
After returning my dog to the house and his warm bed by the fire, I grab my phone and binoculars.
Back outside, I slowly walk over to where I think the mystery bird is perched—a tall, scraggy juniper loaded with berries. The loud note penetrates the air again. I open an app on my phone, press record, and point it toward the tree.
As a beginning birder, I struggle to visually tell some birds apart, as well as match melodic songs or sharp calls to their owners. Black-capped chickadees alone have at least 16 distinct vocalizations. I’m also terrible with names. I need all the help I can get. One of my sons, a more experienced birder, recommended Merlin Bird ID. To say I’m technology resistant is a massive understatement. But this free app has been a game changer, introducing me to hundreds of new feathered friends that would have otherwise remained strangers to me.
On my phone, a picture of Townsend’s solitaire pops up as a suggested match. I select the bird’s image and play a sample song. Not my bird, I think at first, then realize my rookie mistake. I play a sample of the Townsend’s solitaire call, vastly different from its song. Bingo! It sounds exactly like my hidden visitor. Merlin’s brief description helps me get to know it a little better.
“Sleek songbird, a bit smaller than robin and much slimmer. Overall plain medium-gray with short bill, rather long tail, white eye-ring …”
Armed with this info, I now know what to look for. I scan the tree’s upper branches, spot a single gray bird, and zoom in with my binoculars. To my delight, its white eye-ring comes into clear focus. “Loves juniper,” Merlin further divulges, another satisfying clue. It’s a Townsend’s solitaire, all right. I click “This is My Bird,” and Merlin magically adds it to my growing list.
I look up at my new acquaintance and witness the moment it opens its beak. “Ping!” it calls out. “Ping!”
I wave in acknowledgment, one solitaire to another.
“Nice to meet you, neighbor.”
About the Author
Becky Jensen is a writer and podcast contributor who lives and works in a little cabin on a big river in Northern Colorado. She’s a former farm girl turned mountain mama, and a proud member of Poudre Valley REA. You can find her at beckyjensenwrites.com.
