April 2, 2026

Where: Tidal Basin, DC

When: 4:45pm

Bird Species: rock pigeon, house sparrow, American robin, European starling, mourning dove

Things I Thought About:

• I am so dedicated to the New Year’s resolution that produced the bird blog that I am determined to get a photo during this, my first work social event. 
• This is something called the Cherry Blossom Social, where every year they do a loop around the Tidal Basin and then have happy hour drinks. The first thing I have to do, after introducing myself to everyone, is apologize for my giant camera, with the note that “I have this giant camera every time I know I’m going to be outside for an hour, sorry for my tourist vibes.”
• The National Mall is a wide-open space, usually a reliable place to see birds, but I must remember that the wide-open spaces I’m used to are on the edges of old-growth hardwood forests, not a sharp-edged Neoclassical city.
• Now that people know I’m into birds, people point at birds and say, “Do you know that one?” They are all European starlings.
• It's good to meet people. I like meeting people.

BOTD: Surprise! It's a European starling.