Travels With Birds

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea

I have a sister-in-law (Grace), whose age I shall not mention, save to say that a few ripples have passed over the rocks since her birth. Born into a rural Mennonite family she remembers the presence of nature in all its seasons. Although not specifically schooled in the ways of birds she recalls vividly, and with great pleasure, the spring time arrival of the Indigo Bunting. She was always enthralled by the stunning colour of the male and the cheery repertoire of its vocalizations. I hope that she will derive great pleasure from this magnificent photograph, reproduced with the kind consent of Guy Poisson of Montmagny, Québec, and that it will recall happy memories of childhood. We already have a Grace's Warbler; perhaps henceforth we will refer to this species as Grace's Bunting!