Golden Crowned Sparrow - The Foolishness of a Driven Birder

 

It was in February 2026. If you spent any part of Winter in Newfoundland last Winter, you know there was a never-ending supply of snow, rain, ice, fog and gales of wind.  Not "fit" to venture out.  However, there are appointments to be kept, errands to be done and the strong desire to NOT become a recluse.

Well, this was the time a Golden Crowned Sparrow came to Newfoundland for a visit.  I have been birding here for 16 years and have never seen one. Grrrr. In no time, I began to rationalize if I could go out for appointments and errands, why can't I manage a short jaunt across town to see this rarity. Think something long enough and you ultimately act on it.

No sweat cleaning my car because it has been stored in a garage. The roads were clear and I was feeling empowered!  I was on my way. No turning back now!

When I arrived in front of a fellow birder's house, I could see plenty of birds flitting around the back yard.  Oh good!  Maybe I would just park, sit in my car and eventually catch of glimpse of my target bird.  I sat and sat and sat and strained to upgrade the image showing up in my binoculars.  A big blur, that's all I could get at that distance.😕

I really didn't want to get out of my warm car, but a crew of birders ascended the incline after seeing the sparrow multiple times.  "It was there," they said. Oh my, oh my, oh my.  I was going to have to get out and take on the icy glaze that coated every inch of the sloped sidewalk toward the back of the house.  I waited until others left and opened my car door. At that moment I realized I should have tried to make the walk when there was someone to steady me.

How long does it take an aging, week person to get a grip strong enough to start the walk?  Long enough.  Add the weight of my camera and the fear of falling down breaking a bone or smashing my lens and I was literally trembling.  Was it the cold or the fear?  Both, I think.

I made it up to the lawn, then to the walkway where I could grip the brick on the side of the house That was comforting except for the fact the sidewalk was sloped, and I was beginning to slip down the path.  Now, I was in a mess. No going back up, only sliding downward faster that I wanted. Alas, I reached the backyard. I hugged a 4' x 4' that was supporting the deck above. Breathe. Breathe.  I made it. Now the bird.  That sparrow was nowhere to be seen.

Given all of the bird activity, I was pretty confident it would return. There I was gripping the 4" x 4" tightly to prevent sliding down the ice.  The longer I stood, the more the warmth of my shoes melted the ice underneath my feet. I constantly adjusted to land on a safe spot.

Then, there is was - the Golden Crown Sparrow! The conditions were pitiful for getting a good picture so I just had to settle.  Now that I had seen "my" bird, I had to figure how I was going to ascend the sloping sidewalk back to my car. I will spare you all of my trials, but just know it took me nearly 7 minute to move about twenty feet. There lay another 15 feet between me and my car.  The good thing is the ice had melted some and road was flat. I had to hold myself back from running to the car. I made it and settled into my still-warm car and blasted the heater.

At last I felt safe, safe enough to allow a little grin of self-satisfaction settle in on my face. Even though in my heart I knew how foolish what I had just done really was.