Having friends, family, and coworkers know that I am a birder is a wonderful advantage. How? Well it’s kind of like a positive feedback loop. I go birding, see birds, and tell people my birding tales. This spurs them to pay attention to the birds around them and tell me what they see. A recent example:

Yeah, I know, it doesn’t look like much. But if you look carefully you can see the tail of an incubating American Robin sticking out of the left side of her nest. I never would have seen this nest if it were not for my coworker Paula letting me know that her parents had a robin nesting right next to the window that is over their washing machine and dryer. So lunchtime yesterday we drove over for a look.

not bad for a shot through window and screen

This bird has gotten very used to people getting close to it, mostly while they do laundry. It was unafraid, even when I went outside to get a better picture with the sun at my back:

Thanks Paula! And I look forward to returning when the eggs have hatched!