Mid-summer can be slower for birding (also known as birdwatching). Adult birds have found their mates and are likely raising young.
Nests are well-hidden in trees, shrubs, and other places, making it more challenging to see birds.
Birds aren’t singing to attract a mate, as they do in spring. But they do continue to sing to defend their territory.
Trees and shrubs have leafed out, so it’s harder to find birds.
On summer mornings I often start my day checking eBird for recent checklists of what folks have found in my area.
Or reading about an interesting Southern Hemisphere gull that inexplicably found their way north.
This morning I found an eBird checklist which referred to birds loafing, a term I had never heard before.
Which had me searching online for what it meant.
I nodded my head as I read the definition. And went on with my day.
Until, after lunch when I was reading a conservation story, where the author referred to birds loafing.
Twice in one day I read a word related to birding I had never heard of before?
Hah, an ideal topic for a blog post!
I have to say, I’ve seen a lot of birds loafing in my years of birding.
But I didn’t know what it was called.
Until today.
According to Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the definition of loafing is:
Sitting or standing around for a period of time without engaging in feeding or breeding activities. Many birds gather to do this in dedicated loafing areas.
Like these gulls at a nearby park.
Have you recently seen any birds loafing in your area?
