For me, January is the time to reflect on last year and look forward to the New Year. I have been working on improving the habitat value of my yard since 2003. But in spite of the changes I have made, I see fewer individuals of the species such as thrushes, sparrows, towhees, and kinglets that once were regular visitors. Whether it is the changing climate, decreasing habitat, or increasing pesticide and herbicide use around me, I do not know. But, spring and summer of 2022 year was different. I had a number of species that I have rarely if ever seen in my yard. This could have been because of the drought; I would like to think that it is because of my yard’s habitat value. The most spectacular sight was a pair of Painted Buntings that stayed for a week, feasting on Plains Bristlegrass. All the pictures I took of them were taken through screened windows, so they are not great. Although I have seen Painted Buntings in the county, I have only observed them once inside city limits. It was, indeed, a colorful summer treat.
