Spark Bird: How a Vermilion Flycatcher Started Em De Blas’s Birding Journey

# The moment that started it all

Potosí, Mexico, a small bright red bird landed near their abuelita's house. Em's mother had given them a pair of binoculars. The bird's color and flight pattern caught their eye, and the view through the binoculars made them ask: what is that bird?

Em looked the species up and learned it was a Vermilion Flycatcher. They searched online for the bird's song, heard a clear, distinctive whistle, and then went outside the next day to listen. Hearing the call repeatedly changed how Em experienced that landscape. The sound provided an added layer to what had been only visual.

# Learning by ear

That initial success—matching a visual sighting to a recognizable song—led Em to test other birds' sounds. They tracked down Curve-billed Thrasher and White-winged Dove calls and kept listening. Learning birds by ear became a method for extending time outside and deepening attention to habitat and behavior.

Flycatcher example shows a simple, repeatable practice: identify a striking species, find a reliable audio reference, and then use that sound as the cue to find and learn more birds in the same area.

# From personal discovery to community leadership

Em's interest didn't stay private. Over the years they began leading outings in Chicago, including bilingual events. They work with Chicago BIPOC Birders, the Chicago Ornithological Society, and the Urban Birding Festival. On these walks, Em shares the listening approach that first engaged them—pairing observation with focused listening—to help others tune into birds in urban and regional landscapes.

# Sound sources and production credits

The episode's bird sounds are credited to the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Specific recordings mentioned include a Vermilion Flycatcher recording by Bob McGuire, a Curve-billed Thrasher recording by Paul Marvin, and a White-winged Dove recording by Robert C. Stein. The episode was written and narrated by Ariana Remmel and produced by BirdNote staff.

# Practical takeaway for new birders

If you want to start birding the way Em did:

• Pick one visually striking species in your area.
• Find a reputable audio recording of its call or song (libraries like the Macaulay Library were used here).

• Consider small group outings or bilingual walks if language or community connection is important to you.

# Why this matters for urban birding

The story demonstrates a low-barrier approach to deepening nature engagement in cities. Sound-focused listening works where visual detection can be limited by buildings, light, or vegetation. Teaching birding through sound also opens access for people who might not have years of field experience but want to connect with local wildlife.

# Episode context

This Spark Bird episode shares Em's personal recollection and connects it to their ongoing public work in Chicago. It frames a single bird encounter as the starting point for continued learning, community outreach, and bilingual nature programming.