In the birding community, especially among the hardcore ranks, no news is bigger than a first state record. That is, a bird species never before seen in the state. Such records are rare as hen’s teeth.
Thus, on Jan. 4, the birding communication networks lit up with news of a lazuli bunting that was discovered by Moses Troyer in rural Meigs County. Troyer is an astute observer and noticed an unfamiliar bird visiting his feeders. It didn’t take him long to figure out what it was. He sent photos to some birding friends for independent confirmation, everyone agreed with the identification and it was off to the races.
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The Troyer family quite generously opened their home to all who wanted to see the great rarity. Birders were quick to respond. By 8 a.m. the following morning, birders were arriving, and it wasn’t long before up to 30 rarity chasers at a time occupied various rooms of the Troyer residence, peering out the windows for a glimpse of the vagrant. As of now, over 300 people have visited, from nearly all parts of Ohio.
A lazuli bunting feeds on cracked corn.
Lazuli buntings are common breeders from the Dakotas and Nebraska westward to the Pacific states. It is a close relative of its eastern counterpart, the indigo bunting, which is a common breeder throughout Ohio. Both species are highly migratory, and nearly all lazuli buntings are currently in much warmer climes in Mexico and Central America.
The Troyer bird is a first-year male, and, for whatever reason, took a wrong turn. Midwestern U.S. records are very few, and lazuli bunting wasn’t high on the list of next species to appear in Ohio.
This bird will eventually molt into colorful adult plumage, appearing as if its upperparts were dipped in melted lapis lazuli gemstones that contrast with underparts of rich cinnamon, set off by bold ivory wingbars.
Shauna and I found ourselves within a half-hour of the Troyer home and its famous visitor on Jan. 11. We were in nearby Athens County to participate in flying-squirrel research conducted by Professor Don Althoff of the University of Rio Grande. I’ve written about Althoff’s fascinating work several times.
After the squirrels, we headed south and soon arrived at the Troyer home near Albany. After a very gracious welcome, we entered the viewing room, and about three minutes later, the bunting appeared. We had great looks for several minutes, and Shauna snapped the accompanying image.
The bunting is still present as of this writing (Jan. 13) and will likely overwinter if the Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks keep their talons off it.
Jim McCormac is a natural historian and columnist.
This lazuli bunting is species 452 for Ohio. On a personal note, it was my 385th Ohio species.
The Troyer family deserves major thanks for their graciousness. Welcoming hundreds of strangers into one’s home is a feat of hospitality that few would match. And their yard is an Eden for the feathered crowd.
Numerous feeding stations and well-placed plants attract scores of birds, and we saw perhaps two dozen species in our relatively short visit.
Just a stone’s throw down the lane is Troyer’s (42710 Lawson Lane, Albany), a store run by the host’s father, David. He is every bit as welcoming as his son, and just as interested in birds.
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A prominent item for sale is large purple martin nesting box assemblages, and David’s own colony produced 271 martins last year. As an avid backyard feeder of birds myself, I was pleased to score 100 pounds of sunflower seed for $50.
Northeastern Meigs County and the vicinity is well worth a day trip. Strouds Run State Park, Vinton Furnace State Forest, Waterloo Wildlife Area and numerous other wildlands are in the area. There is much photographic fodder and plenty of birds and other wildlife.
If you are interested in seeing the lazuli bunting, drop me a note at jimmccormac35@gmail.com and I provide information on how to see it.
Thanks again to Moses and the Troyer family for bringing a remarkable find to light and for their generosity in sharing the bunting with the masses.
Naturalist Jim McCormac writes a column for The Dispatch on the first and third Sundays of the month. He also writes about nature at jim mccormac.blogspot.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Nature: Seeing a lazuli bunting is rare in Ohio