Birds of a feather

Have you ever wondered what that bird is in your back yard, out by the lake or up in the mountains?

You have a chance to find out Wednesday at the first ever Wings Over Carbon County (WOCC) Open House at the Saratoga Library. WOCC is Saratoga’s bird club and has been holding regular meetings for six or seven years according to Francis Bergquist, long time-member.

Bergquist, Dennis Healey and Nancy Wallis will present at the open house on birds from different areas around and above the Valley.

Bergquist will talk about mountain birds, particularly those found in the Snowy Range. Listeners can expect to hear about mountain birds such as downy and hairy woodpeckers, gray and Steller’s jays and chickadees. Each presentation will be accompanied by a slide show with images of the birds discussed.

Wallis will present on lake and shore birds, particularly those that can be seen at Saratoga Lake. She will discuss blue heron, bitterns, some of the gulls, pelicans and maybe the osprey. She noted that there are nesting platforms for osprey at the lake and several have been sighted this year.

Wallis stressed that the club is for all types of birders from the expert to those completely new to bird watching. She has been with the club since the beginning and said, “I have learned so much. It’s been amazing,” adding, “We are just a group of people interested in birds and learning what we can about the birds.”

Healey will discuss birds that can be seen at back-yard feeders and, “How to attract birds to your yard, what to feed them and what kind of feeders to use.” He will bring a jelly feeder which he says attracts the most colorful birds like Bullock’s and Baltimore orioles, western tanagers, cedar waxwings and black headed grosbeak. Healey noted that he saw a Baltimore oriole at his house this year which he said is “really rare” around here.

Rose-breasted grosbeak and finches are common seed-eating birds in the area and Healey will talk about feeders for them. Other types of feeders commonly use suet and thistle.

The club has 12 to 15 members who attend regularly. Besides their regular meetings, WOCC hosts field trips during the summer including watching the sage grouse north of town during lekking, and trips to the mountains, lakes and sometimes to the Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge near Walden, Colo.

At regular meetings, they usually have slide shows or watch documentaries.

WOCC meets on the second Monday of the month at the Saratoga Library.

The open house will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday. Anyone is welcome to attend.