those more electronically inclined to help with the calls and visual identification.
Ebird.org is a wonderful online resource where users can en- ter a location and view up-to-date information on sightings and locations.
Ideal Conditions
Time of Year: Winter and early spring are the best times of the year for birdwatching due to the visibility enabled by the bare to budding trees. Once the trees “green-out” in May, bird- watchers have to rely heavily on sound for identification. Time of Day: According to Dunn, the best time of day to spot birds is around 9 or 10 AM on a sunny morning, or, if you’re interested in nocturnal species, sunset is an ideal time to scope out your feathered friends. Location: As far as location goes, Dunn explains that some of the best birdwatching areas are transitional habitats, for example, where a meadow transitions to small trees or a wetland transitions to brush. Luckily, our region within the Susquehanna Greenway has plenty of these prime environ- ments, plus it is within the Atlantic Flyway—a major north- south flyway for migratory birds in North America. How to Attract Them: The easiest way to attract birds is to simply set up a birdfeeder. You can also try different bird- houses to see what kinds of species your shelters attract.
PHOTO BY CATHIE ENSMINGER provided by Susquehanna Greenway Partnership
Next, you look at its habitat. Then you can look at the plum- age, or colors to help narrow down the options. And finally, if you’re deciding between two very close species, you can identify by their calls.”
For identification, Dunn highly recommends apps like the Warbler Guide, Merlin Bird ID, and AllAboutBirds.org.
What was your most Memorable Sighting?
While Dunn has encounters with bird species in the Susque- hanna Greenway each and every day, there’s one experience that stands out as quite a memorable sighting. In the Sylvan Dell Wetlands, on what is soon to become the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area, Dunn spotted a sandhill crane. The man for which the area is soon to be named was an American ornithologist and environmentalist from South Wil- liamsport who achieved worldwide attention for his rescue operations of the whooping crane. Along with the sandhill
Identification & Tools
There is a method to bird identification Dunn says. “You start with the shape of the bird’s silhouette, this will give you its class—for example whether it’s a little songbird, a predatory bird, a wading bird, etc.
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