ARLINGTON, TEXAS — I have a yard list now of 10 species. Saturday was move-in day — an exciting one for me because this is my first apartment. No more dorm; no more spare bedrooms.

I quickly discovered that a piebald pigeon has taken up residence atop the light fixture on the balcony. I startled it from its perch twice on Saturday, and I told Parke we’d either have to adopt it or invert a funnel over the light fixture to keep it away.

On Sunday, I was eating a peaceful breakfast outside (blissfully unaware that the time had changed, I might add), and the pigeon whooshed explosively over my shoulder. Apple juice splashed over my pants and across the pavement, and the bird veered off in a panic. My charitable feelings toward the creature did not increase at that time.

The balcony, aside from hosting obnoxious squatters, is really ideal. It overlooks a courtyard of trees and real, live grass. In fact, one of the trees — a Bradford pear — backs right up against my bedroom window and the balcony, and yesterday I watched a little band of yellow-rumps moving through the branches, unconcerned by my presence.

And so I’ve decided to keep a yard list, defining the term rather loosely. If I see it fly over or hear it in the distance, I’ll put it down. I’m relieved and thankful that I’m not stuck with a window overlooking a parking lot and rushing highway traffic.

Here is the list so far, in order of appearance:

• Rock Pigeon
• Blue Jay
• Northern Mockingbird
• House Finch
• American Robin
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• American Crow
• Great-tailed Grackle
• European Starling
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

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