Brant Geese in flight

In the words of the famous John Lennon, “Free as a Bird, It’s The Next Best Thing To Be, Free as a Bird.” Those words are never truer than on Nantucket.  At any one time this island is filled with dozens of different bird species.  This time of year, with all the foliage still missing from the trees and shrubs, areas of conservation land or even our own backyard look like an artists paint palette with brightly colored birds dotting the branches.  Just the sight of the Blue Jays, Cardinals and Yellow finches out my kitchen window make me smile and set the tone for a happy day.

I’ve always loved the birds on Nantucket.  There is just nothing better than waking up to their sweet singing voices on a slightly cool summer morning.  And who among us doesn’t ooohh and ahhhh when we see a flock of geese soar overhead or watch the hummingbird feeding outside our window?  And it’s not just the little tame guys that make me smile.  A few weeks ago I was walking my dog to the beach when I spotted what appeared to be an oversized statue perched on the end-post of a split rail fence.  As I got closer, I realized this was no statue.  It was a real live Red Tailed Hawk- big as life!  His body didn’t move as I passed, but those big eyes followed me…you saw this one coming… like a hawk!  I’m sure I imagined it, but I could swear he winked as I made my way past.

The hawk encounter and the lovely birds dotting my backyard got my curiosity up. I discovered recently that “birding” is more than just a hobby on this little island. There are folks here who passionately and seriously track the thousands of birds who call Nantucket home or just stop by to pay a visit.  Recently, my husband and I decided to tag along with the Nantucket Bird Club early on a bright Sunday morning. I had no idea what to expect, but was delighted by what I found.

This bird watching and tracking is serious business. Twelve of us made our way to several different locations on the island.  We spotted Ruddy Turnstone’s, Carolina Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler’s and American Oystercatcher’s to name a few.  41 species in all!  I learned more in 2 hours than I could possibly imagine. Did you know that Brant Point is named for the Brant goose? Or that some Oystercatchers carry a band on their upper thigh so birders can track their migration?

If you have never had the pleasure of being introduced to the many varieties of birds on Nantucket, I highly recommend you take some time on your next visit to get acquainted with them.  Visit the Edith Andrews Ornithology Collection at the Maria Mitchell Association or check out the programs for kids and adults at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.  Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to spot a black-capped Chickadee or a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker!  (I double dare you to say those names out loud and not smile.)  It’s fun to learn their names and how to recognize their various singing voices.  Throw on some comfy shoes, grab a pair of binoculars and…

…come fly away!

Shellie Dunlap