Deciphering The LBJs - A Study Of Sparrows In Winter

With Josiah Clark
Those "Little Brown Jobs" sure are common, but if you don't know what you are looking at, they are surely not as interesting. Sparrows may not be colorful, but this hardy, successful group deserves our attention. On this field trip, we will attempt to seek out and study at least six kinds of sparrows, looking through flocks in a variety of habitats until we become familiar with the characteristic field marks of this well-represented taxa. We'll also be on the lookout for some less common winter sparrow species. Josiah will also reveal some intimate details of sparrow life as he tells us about the foraging methods, movement patterns and breeding strategies of each species. As always, Josiah will also focus on the relevance of each habitat visited, discussing how the resources of the land have shaped the evolution of each particular sparrow species. While sparrow study will be the focus of the day, we will be sure not to overlook the dozens of other interesting wintering birds we encounter.