My friend Becky, recovering from bunion surgery on both feet, has spent the past several weeks watching birds from a large window opening onto her backyard. Becky's backyard is full of trees and flowers, with feeders as well, so it's good for birding. Her list of bird species seen or heard from that window rose to 59 Sunday when an Eastern Screech-Owl called from one of her trees. Notable were the number of species she saw simply by looking into the sky — gulls, herons, swallows among others. Any of us can compile an interesting yard list by paying attention to our surroundings. Attention is as important as landscape or feeders. Looking up is a fine idea. Interesting flyovers are more common than you might think. Her owl? Cityscape is as good as suburban landscape. Asked several years ago for a good place to listen for screech-owls, a friend directed me to a St. Paul neighborhood near the river. My best screech-owl photos were taken a block off University Avenue, near the KSTP studios. My best winter Barred Owl photos were taken in Minneapolis, along Minnehaha Creek. Raptors are frequent flyovers — Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and, nowadays, the no-longer-uncommon Bald Eagles … if you are paying attention. Just about the only way to see Chimney Swifts is when they're foraging in the air. They are common city/suburban birds, with a very distinct profile.

Be alert. Look up.