Nov 28
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl has a long name for such a small owl, standing only seven inches tall. “Ferruginous” refers to the characteristic rusty coloration on the back and fine bars on the relatively long tail. The birds have a white circle of feathers around the eyes and in the facial disk, and fake, dark “eyes” …
Nov 12
We often think of owls as fairly large birds that are capable of eating mice and larger prey. The smallest owl, appropriately named, is the Elf Owl. It is less than six inches tall, with a wingspan of 13 inches, and weighing one and a half ounces. It is speckled gray with a brown facial …
Sep 28
Pigeons are those cooing birds you see on tall buildings in the midst of busy city sidewalks. Think of Home Alone and the bird lady rising up out of the brush in Central Park. She was covered with pigeons. Pigeons have been known to congregate where people are, and in fact the relationship between pigeons and human …
Aug 01
The sun is shining brightly over the edge of the woods and over large patches of weeds. There is a beautiful song toWEE toWEE toWEEto tweer tweer tweer, and then, as you approach, comes a frighened ti ti ti ti ti di di di, as a burst of yellow joins the sunlight in the sky. This is the American …
Jul 04
Did you know this majestic bird can be found in every state except Hawaii? So, unless you live in Hawaii, you have an American Bald Eagle sighting near you! Seeing one of these amazing birds in flight is unforgettable and something I recommend trying to see for anyone, let alone a bird watcher. Bald Eagles …
May 15
Purple Martins are members of the swallow family. They are almost 8 inches long and have a wingspan of just over 15 inches across. Of course the species of birds got their name from the beautiful color of the males. The males have a deep purple bluish color on their feathers and their feathers seem …
May 05
The Eastern Bluebird is a small thrush. Smaller than the Robin with fairly long wings and short legs. Their bills are short and straight. The blue color is what makes them catch the eye, but they are fast and blend well with brush and foliage because of their brownish underneath feathers. The male birds of …
Mar 12
The other day another teacher and I were talking about robins. My friend is from Alabama. I said to her, “Well, up here, when we see a robin, we know spring is not far behind.” In reply, Gail said, “Come on, Robins!” There have been some years when the robins have not left this part …
Feb 02
We have had a long January this year. It’s been snowy and seemingly colder than usual. But now that February is here and Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, many of us are now thinking of Spring. If you are also planning to have birds welcomed into your yard this Spring and Summer, now is a …
