Attract Rare Birds

Perhaps the rarest sighting of a Red-flanked Bluetail in a backyard took place in Whiting, New Jersey, far from the species’ Asian range (photo by Thomas Gibson). A recent surprise sighting of a Yellow Grosbeak visiting a feeding station at a ranch near Berryville, Arkansas established a First State Record for that species (photo by Johanna Beam). While you can’t plan to attract a rare bird to your yard, you stand the best chance of attracting an off-course species by providing a variety of foods and fresh water daily. This male Calliope Hummingbird was photographed at the nectar feeder in the author’s yard, photos that documented it as the Fourth State Record (photo by Paul Konrad).

Stay Alert: It’s that time of year when new birds filter north, appearing outside your windows, foraging in your trees and on your lawn, or flying straight to your feeding station or a birdbath. New migrants will continue to appear this week through early June, and that’s expected each year; but there is another level of birding excitement that could suddenly appear in dramatic fashion – a rare bird, so rare that you may not be familiar with it at first sight. “What’s that bird?!” Well, it could be a super-surprising Yellow Grosbeak at your feeder, or a Redwing among a flock of robins, or a Red-flanked Bluetail on a nearby perch in the company of juncos!

These are rare birds on a North American scale! And they were found in people’s yards. The Yellow Grosbeak is still visiting feeders in Arkansas, far northeast of the species’ normal range in western and southern Mexico – and it created a First State Record! The Redwing was found even father off-course in southern Quebec, establishing a Sixth Provincial Record for this Old World species of thrush that normally winters in Europe. Even more dramatic was the long-term visit of a Red-flanked Bluetail that many birders were able to see. Normally found in Asia, this small songbird occasionally visited a feeder in New Jersey and obviously established a First State Record. In fact, it is one of a handful of North American records of the species, and the only East Coast record.

Some ‘rare birds’ are found on the opposite side of the country from their normal range, such as the Hooded Oriole visiting a hummingbird feeder in Athens, Georgia. Although this colorful species nests as close as southern Texas, during winter the closest a Hooded Oriole is expected to be is in the Yucatan of Mexico. Of course, it would be pretty impossible to say: “I’m going to attract a super-rare bird,” or even a rare bird. If it’s going to happen, it will essentially happen by accident; primarily because a bird like a Yellow Grosbeak arriving in Arkansas is an accident on the bird’s part. But having a feeding station with a variety of foods will attract birds in very big ways, as will fresh water. Would the residents have attracted the yellow dude if they didn’t have feeders filled with seeds? Landscaping can also be a factor to attracting rare birds – any birds – with cover mixed with open spaces, and bushes or trees that provide fruit a real attraction.

New Species in Your Yard

While the potential to find a record-setting bird in your yard is remote, it is possible to attract a different species that has never before visited your yard. That happens almost annually in my yard, with such new birds visiting as a Scarlet Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Canada Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, White-winged Crossbills, and most recently a Northern Shrike, which was followed by a second Northern Shrike about a month later. Each one was a surprise, and each created thrilling moments!

Most of these birds were only present for a few moments, so I could have missed them if I wasn’t alert or if I hadn’t looked up from my work at just the right time. That, of course, opens the question about how many new birds I’ve missed when they made their momentary stop outside my bay windows or my backyard trees when I wasn’t looking or away from my office or home. That said, it’s especially exciting to see a new species in your yard or at your feeding station.

The next step up is to see a record-breaking bird in your yard, which is nearly impossible. But never say never. Last fall I had a record-breaking Calliope Hummingbird visit my feeding station for 3 days, from September 8 to 10. That western mountain species, the smallest of American birds, created a Fourth State Record for North Dakota – so it can definitely happen to you in your state too!

More Rare Birds at Feeders

Other recent record-breaking sightings that materialized at birders’ feeding station included a First State Record Lazuli Bunting in Albany, Ohio; a Second State Record Scott’s Oriole in Tallahassee, Florida; a Second State Record Spotted Towhee in New London, Connecticut; and Michigan’s Second State Record of an Anna’s Hummingbird. When you do find a rare bird, be sure to document it with a number of photographs, and report it to your state’s rare bird committee.

The term “Rare Bird” can have different meanings; what’s rare in your area is common in other locations, so it’s a matter of the species’ range, its distance from its normal range, and the time of the year. Some species are more apt to wander off-course than others too, but any which way you look at it, having the chance to add a new bird to your Yard List is meaningful. And if you do find a really rare bird, it’s meaningful to the birding community – especially if you share the sighting and the opportunity for others to see the rare bird to add to their State List, or even their national or North American List of species seen to date.

Finding, observing, and documenting a rare bird is especially exciting, and although it’s not something you can plan for, by providing a variety of foods and fresh water, you have a better chance of attracting an off-course visitor. And while you’re at it, let us know at The Birding Wire too – we are always interested to hear about feeder experiences from readers. We also refer you to the Rare Birds articles that are created from almost weekly reports made by the American Birding Association (ABA); what for the next one in our next issue. Good luck as spring migrations brings new birds to our yards and feeding stations, and remember, every bird counts.

Share your backyard birding experiences and photographs with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com