[TN-Bird] Fw: Jeff's Sparrowdise

From: Michael Todd <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: TN Birds <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:17:15 -0800 (PST)
Many on here will remember Jeff's older posting style, which went way beyond 
reporting his many rare birds. For the more recent additions to TNBirds, here 
is 
a glimpse of the genius that was Jeff Wilson.

Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Roseanna Denton <roseannamd@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Hap Chambers <HapC1@xxxxxxx>; Mike Todd <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, February 12, 2013 9:42:56 AM
Subject: Jeff's Sparrowdise

I remembered reading this on birdchat many years ago. I was able to
locate it in the archives and thought I'd share it with you. He sure
had a way with words.

October 19,1997
Britton Ford, Tenn.

It's Sparrowdise !!

The extensive rains of late June and July have paid off in spades
for the newly arriving sparrow clans. No self-respecting grass can
hold its seed laden head up, from the paniculated Panicum to the
tiny Timothy and flashy Foxtail, seeds abound. The Barnyard Grass,
Redtop and even Johnson Grass are beautiful with their bending heads
nodding in the wind or from the sparrow feeding forays. The sparrows
are everywhere in the fields today, great numbers have moved into
the area within the last week.

The few early arrivals had had the bounty to themselves but are now
forced to share with multitudes. Everyone seems quite happy and are
getting along very well because of the bounty. The Song Sparrows in all
their size and color variations are only out numbered by the Savannah
Sparrows and their many variants. The Swamp Sparrows, some still
sporting bright but worn plumage, seem to be in good numbers but
are not as outgoing and tend to hold back from some of this joy of plenty.
The tiny Field Sparrows remind me of a band of red headed kids with
ruddy faces and crewcuts, all tumbling and scooting about. Their
classier cousins the Chipping Sparrows are hanging out just up the
road at the woodlot edge, they are not much for all this banal frivolity.

Even the staid Mr. White-throated has come from the field edge and
is in the middle of the mix. His clean white head stripes, white chin
and bright yellow lores seem out of place. He stands out like a butler
at a costume party, is he a participant or just here to (ob)serve? Another
surprise is a lurking Lincoln's Sparrow, just briefly showing himself when
absolutely necessary. He has a bookish, learned look and is dressed in the
most tasteful suit, just the right accents of color placed ever so properly.

I catch just a head peering at me above the grass tops. It is a shy princess
with the finest of gold surrounding a sweet face, the black and white on
the head and the white eye ring are each as perfect as the gray and chestnut
scarf draw around her nape. I suddenly realize that I have made my way
into her domain, a solid stand of Panicum Grass. It's as if I'm standing
knee deep on a flaxen colored sheet, thrown over a feather mattress,
delicate flowers of Pink Ladyfinger define the edges with lacey white
and lavender asters finishing the trim. The LeConte's Sparrow is always
glorious wherever you find them but never so much so as in Panicum Grass,
truly an elegant setting for such a stunning bird.



The sparrows chase about and once in a while bubble with song, a
celebration of all species is in full swing in these fields of plenty.
Time is short but for now food is abundant, winter territories can wait.
Soon a cold hand will lie on these fields and some of you will travel
farther south and others will stay and seek out a living under these very
same grasses. They will then give needed cover and also protected
beneath will be seed. Hidden from the snow and ice these will provide
much needed energy for you and also a few in a million will survive to
sprout next year. With the cold weather the larger, hardier White-crowned
and Fox Sparrows will arrive and hopefully we will be visited again by the
beautiful Tree Sparrow.

I'll leave you to your feeding and games as I have a long drive ahead.
When I come back this way in the gray days to come I will hear your
short whispering songs thrown into the wind. I will then wonder if they
are given in remembrance of these bountiful times or as a longing for
the still distant spring.

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
Bartlett, Tenn.
[TN-Bird] Fw: Jeff's Sparrowdise

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