Townsend ’ s warbler

ADRIAN JOOSTEN AND FRANCIS JOOSTEN

In the summer 2017 issue of news & views , readers met Adrian and his brother Francis who have been bird enthusiasts for as long as they can remember . Their habits vary and miles separate them , but they share the love of birds . Here ’ s a conversation about their birding adventures .

FRANCIS : An avid birder is thrilled to see a new species and check it off his personal list . For example , many warblers frequent Alberta , but unless you ’ re in the right place at the right time , they ’ re nothing more than rumours . I considered myself lucky to spot two in one day in my yard . A couple of years ago , in early September , winter made an unwelcome visit . It was a wet , cool day . In the front of our house is a flower garden where aphids thrive . In a space of twenty by fifteen feet , I counted twelve warblers at one time ! Maybe only three or four different kinds , but twelve at once ! And all feasting on aphids amid the falling snow .

ADRIAN : Occasionally , nature — or at least birds — will come closer than my feeding station . Sometimes a disoriented bird flies into a window and is incapacitated . I can recall chickadees , American goldfinches , redpolls , pine siskins and others being rescued by my wife or daughters and having a hastily made nest of grass in a shoebox for their recovery . To examine their feathers , to see their colours and delicateness up close kindles a keener awareness of both the birds ’ charm as well as their tenacity . In most cases , if they were not badly injured , they would soon be on their way . Our most recent guest in need of care has been a young red-eyed vireo . He too made a quick recovery .

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