Birding by Ear

Edward Frampton photo

You can tell it's May in Mountaindale because the hummingbird feeders have begun to go up along Main Street. The little shimmering green Ruby Throated Hummingbirds began finding them immediately. All are encouraged to take a stroll along Main Street to watch their amazing antics. It's the best entertainment 1/4 cup of sugar can buy! It gets especially exciting as the young begin hatching & fledging and start visiting our feeders en masse during the summer months.

Sometimes, the first indication you might have that a tiny hummingbird is nearby is that you hear them. You might hear a buzzing, humming sound - hence, the name. Or you you might hear them chirping as they come in for a landing or fuss with each other for control of their favorite feeder perch.

This 'listening' for bird sounds is known as Birding by Ear. It has been especially useful this past week when the bleak, drizzly mornings have made it more difficult to spot our feathered friends in the neighborhood. Mountaindale offers a lovely quiet serenity that allows us to put the hustle and bustle of everyday life on pause and just stop and LISTEN to the nature sounds around us. If you learn what a cardinal sounds like, it might alert you to where you might look to be treated to a bit of scarlet up high on a tree limb. You might hear a Phoebe saying his own name. Nowadays there are fun Bird Call Identificiation Apps to help. Another great resource is the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which can also help you learn to memorize certain songs and calls as you build up your mental library. Please come to see and hear the wide variety of birds on Main Street, in the Sandburg Creek RiverWalk Park and on the Rails to Trails.

New Michael McKee Art Exhibit in Uccelli Restaurant

Vi Carpio Photo of Murals

Michael McKee and his wife, Martha, have supported the growth of the arts in Mountaindale since they day they moved in. Technically, even earlier if you count the Visioning Workshop they attended in 2004. Martha joined the Board of the Mountaindale Community Development Project and volunteered countless hours in our Mountaindale Art Center. She helped coordinate a very successful exhibit by her talented sister, Esther Vanderpot, as well as the wonderful exhibit of Michael's work that so many have enjoyed in our Main Street gallery for an extra long time.

Several years ago, we had an extra ambitious Sullivan Renaissance Project that included creating the Mountaindale Meditation Labyrinth and five 8'x8' full color Murals. Michael painted all five of them singlehandedly every afternoon for several weeks. Thanks to his hard work, along with all of the other many volunteers on the Labyrinth, we were very pleased to have won that summer. If you have not yet seen the Murals, they are part of the Sandburg Creek RiverWalk behind the former Mountaindale School. Just follow the path through the Art Garden at 105 Main Street, next door to Upstate Karate.


Moydan's Chair

Starting Friday, you will be able to see a very different collection of Michael McKee's paintings. His work will be on display in the Uccelli Restaurant Dining Room. There will be an announcement of the official Artist's Reception by Chef Robert, but anyone is welcome to have an early preview if you stop in tomorrow night for the Taste of Spain menu, including Tappas & Paella, or even if you just stop in to pick up a gourmet pizza. There will be a price list for the art if you would like to own any of the pieces. Here is an excerpt from Michael's personal Artist's Statement on this new show:

 "Each artist’s own individual memories, preferences, and physical capabilities combine into a unique perspective which shapes his or her style. My goal is to create unique images that are aesthetically pleasing and in harmony. I hope to convey to viewers my outlook on the human experience and invite them to see how it compares with their own"

Although Uccelli Restaurant will seem very different without the beautiful photographs by Lou Jawitz, I am looking forward to stopping in to see the new show and have a delicious meal with the new atmosphere a different artist will create. If you are an artist who would like to display your work in Uccelli Restaurant later this year, please contact Chef Robert at 845-434-4447.