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It's not just a brown little bird

| 27 Mar 2017 | 12:55
    PHOTOS BY JANET REDYKE Joseph Caravella begins his birding slide show on March 21 at the Vernon Senior Center.
    PHOTOS BY JANET REDYKE Joseph Caravella begins his birding slide show on March 21 at the Vernon Senior Center.
    Master Gardener Caravella discusses the complicated nest building technique of an American robin.
    Master Gardener Caravella discusses the complicated nest building technique of an American robin.
    Nests of various species of birds and their favorite foods are on display.
    Nests of various species of birds and their favorite foods are on display.

VERNON — Joseph Caravella, former owner of the Wild Bird Crossing of Old Lafayette Village and current Rutgers Master Gardener, conducted a presentation on backyard birds during the March Golden Lunch Bunch garden meeting at the Vernon Senior Center.
Caravella began his Power Point program by saying, “It’s not just a little brown bird, every backyard bird is a certain species and has a distinguished name.”
Participants initially received a birding “test” containing 45 species of birds that visit Sussex County backyards and were required to give the correct name of each. A few of the garden club members were able to name all 45, while most named half or three quarters of the listing. Caravella’s slide show corresponded with the birding quiz, elaborating on each example.
“Not only do I teach birding to adults, I also instruct children and what better way to identify birds then by color,” Caravella said.
He pointed out the obvious difference in the color of the male and female cardinals. The male, splendid in bright red while the female is that little brown bird for nest camouflage purposes. Also brought up was the goldfinch. It changes to a brownish hue during the winter and sports its usual golden yellow in warm months. Caravella reminded the group, the goldfinch is the state bird of New Jersey. The nuthatch is the only bird that comes down a tree head first. Starlings are not native to America but were transplanted here from England by the Pilgrims. It seems the common pigeon, maybe to give it some much needed dignity, has been renamed by the birding community. Its new name is rock dove.
According to Caravella, birds seek three basis needs: food, water and shelter-habitat. If those needs are met in one’s backyard, they will come. Caravella shared his experience of setting up a video camera in his Sparta backyard and within one hour, he encountered 27 species at his feeders.
Discussed and displayed were nests constructed by several birds and nutritious preferences of the various species.
The Golden Lunch Bunch garden group is open to all seniors with an interest in gardening. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday at 10 a.m. under the guidance of Rutgers Master Gardeners.