Dear Cobirders,
Just wanted extend a quick thanks to Peter for sharing the link of the Colorado Symphony's digital outreach, and to Allison for her birds+music story. The short answers: yes, Shoeshine is indeed a Jenday Conure, and did not, unfortunately, arrive in Colorado by natural occurrence. He loves all kinds of music (although not opera curiously, so he has never accompanied me into the pit at the Santa Fe Opera), and will bob and "whoop" to the beat enthusiastically.
Also, I would like to add my voice to Allison's with regards to seizing this opportunity to bird (very) locally. And please post to Cobirds so that we may bird vicariously (and conscientiously in terms of keeping those at higher risk safe and healthy).
As some of you may know, for the last dozen or so years I've been on a "green" birding kick, hiking or biking, sometimes many miles, rather than getting in a car and emitting more carbon. It was inspired by a challenge that several Canadian birders started back in 2008 called the Big Green Big Year. See this site for a bit more background:
One of the best outcomes of this endeavor has been a higher appreciation of the diversity, activity, and nuance of local bird life. Last year I made a huge effort, including several wonderful bike trips up Lefthand Canyon to Ward, Brainard Lake, and even Mt Audubon, to get out and see/find as many species as possible. This year, perhaps as a result of that effort, I've become even more local and have birded almost entirely in my yard and on Mt. Sanitas.
In keeping closer watch in my yard, and taking notes, I've been able to follow the trends, observe individual birds, and be present for the unusual visits. For example: Lesser Goldfinches present almost every day in numbers of 1 up to 18 from early December to early March, suddenly gone, coinciding with the appearance of Pine Siskins; Red-breasted Nuthatches much more regular this winter; Cassin's Finches coming down in elevation with almost every snow storm; the white-cheeked Dark-eyed Junco that appears every several days; two new yardbird owls (N Pygmy-Owl in the am, the E. Screech Owl at night) in one day; FOY Common Grackle today (3/28), just one day off last year (3/29); Say's Phoebe five days earlier than last year; Red Crossbills in numbers of 1-20 on at least 15 trips out of 50 up Mt Sanitas, also a Red Crossbill nest pointed out by Maggie Boswell.
It might be excruciating to stay local this spring migration, but, who knows, maybe that rare warbler will end up in one of our yards or local patch, and we'll be there to see it.
Good birding to all, best wishes for staying healthy and safe,
Thomas Heinrich
Boulder, CO