This Week’s Bird Sightings

Confirmed bird sightings on the Outer Cape in the week preceding the Independent’s deadline on Tuesday, April 9 included the following, based on a report prepared by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Neither farmers nor ranchers like Common Ravens much because they’re known to pick seeds out of the ground and target newborn livestock. But according to the Sacramento Audubon Society, which posted this week’s photo, they are also extremely intelligent birds that use tools and even hide them for later use. “They can also be quite acrobatic when flying,” the Sacramento site says. “One was recorded flying upside down for more than a half-mile,” and “Young birds are fond of playing games with sticks, repeatedly dropping them, and then diving to catch them in midair.” (Photo by Timothy Jackson/Sacramento Audubon Society)

Sightings at Race Point in Provincetown this week included a Manx Shearwater, 60 Razorbills, 4 Common Murres, 5 Iceland Gulls, 125 Red-Throated Loons, 225 Northern Gannets, and a Common Raven.

Besides an odd sighting of a Sora on a rooftop in Provincetown there were reports of three early Purple Martins in town.

A yard in Eastham has been hosting an early Indigo Bunting and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. A Western Kingbird continues in Eastham as well this week.

If you have questions about these sightings or want to report a sighting, call the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or send an email to [email protected].