What’s a Spark Bird?

In the birding community the term spark bird is used to describe the the first bird someone sees which ignites their passion and launches them into the world of birdwatching creating a lifelong interest in observing and learning about birds.

Devon’s Story

When I stumbled upon my spark bird, the Baltimore Oriole, It was the very confusing start of the COVID pandemic when the department I worked for made the decision to have employees work from home. I excitedly set up my workstation in front of the large windows in my dining room which had a perfect view of my backyard. I smiled at the thought how much of an upgrade this was compared to being shoved into my windowless office.

Unknown to me at the time, it was spring in Michigan which is the peak of the bird migration season. I was busy typing away in my new home office when, in my peripheral vision I noticed a displaced hint of vibrant orange. I turned my head and peered out the window to the get a better observation and I immediately froze staring at this strange bird flaunting a bright orange plumage. It seemed out of this world to me that such a vibrant bird would be here, in Michigan, in MY backyard of all places.

In this moment I became obsessed with understanding the origin of this stunning bird. Did it belong here? Was it someone’s escaped pet? After a trusted Google search I quickly learned that the Baltimore Oriole travels thousand of miles to Michigan each spring from as far as Central America and the Caribbean.

Upon further investigation I discovered they eat oranges and grape jelly. Assuming my visitor must be hungry after such a long journey I set out the preferred snacks. Before I knew it my backyard was speckled with orange and yellow flashes from the male and female orioles all day long.

My afternoons became consumed with replenishing feeders, not just for orioles, but a growing variety of backyard birds. Over time, this new passion expanded beyond my backyard, inspiring me to seek out birding hotspots around Michigan. One trip led me to Tawas Point State Park, where I had the opportunity to spot the rare Yellow-Headed Blackbird. In this moment, I reflected on how far this journey had taken me, from a dining room window to the wonders of a tick filled nature trail.

What’s Your Story?

In an effort to place the spotlight on the birding community I am seeking birders who are interested in sharing their spark bird story to be featured on the Modern Birder Collective. Whether you’re a backyard birder, nature trail birder, or in an urban setting, every birder has a story to tell which can inspire others to discover the joy of birding.

Submission

Want to share your story on the Modern Birder Collective?

It’s easy! Simply write up your unique spark bird experience and email it to modernbirdercollective@gmail.com. Be sure to include the following:

• Your name as you’d like it to appear in the published post.
• A photo to be used as the featured image.
• Your story, written by you, I’ll copy and paste it directly into the post. It can be as short or as detailed as you’d like to capture your experience.
• Any social media handles (optional) you’d like to include so fellow birders can connect with you and grow the community.

Looking forward to connecting with you soon & happy birding!