This has been an exceptional year for me when it comes to sightings of Indigo Buntings, but, then, surprises are the nature of
birding. I've seen more Indigo Buntings this spring than I have in all the five years prior to this, back to 2003 when I first moved, here. Why? Really no way to answer that with any objective data, but I suspect it is just a year when either Indigo
Bunting populations are on the upswing or the weather patterns during migration have brought more of these beautiful birds than usual. I would love to think it was the former, but I'll take more Indigo Buntings in my
birding binocular, either way. One of the "bunting tips" I would like to pass along is not to concentrate on seeing the deep blue color of these birds, since they often appear as just another dark bird under some lighting conditions. If habitat and shape suggest an Indigo Bunting - a bird most often found where the trees and meadows meet - get that
birding binocular up and take a look. That's the way I have found most of mine.