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On Dec. 27, 2015 Christian Gutierrez, Raymond Justice, and Carter Mesker went on a camping trip to Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve on Oahu, Hawaii. Ka’ena Point is also a breeding ground for the Federally protected Laysan albatross, where 45 nests were being carefully monitored by the non-profit Pacific Rim Conservation. Laysan albatrosses are ocean-dwelling seabirds who have 6-foot wingspans, weigh 7-8 pounds, occasionally sleep while flying, and rarely land except to raise their chicks.
On the Scent of Life In the distance he saw it; the figure of a woman, emerging from a stand of pin oak and palmetto. He had to squint to make sure he was seeing right. Sometimes at dusk, when … Continue reading → The post On the Scent of Life appeared first on 4 The Love of Animals.
Author: Michelle Huff A noted Greek philosopher, Gus Portokalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” delivered a memorable toast to his daughter and new son-in-law near the end of the movie. “Here tonight,” he said, “we have apple and orange. We all different but, in the end, we all fruit.”. The best marketing minds are like that – a marriage of seeming opposites that end up working together.
Cover photo: Brian Stoneman was a living proof that some good birders do wear white. I do not know how roads in your nick of forest look like, but here in Serbia, many of them are poorly maintained and potholed. If someone would asked me in advance where those potholes are, I would not be able to say. Yet, while driving, it is like one of those old Roman empire scroll-maps is being scrolled down in my mind and, as I get closer, I slow down expecting the individual pothole.
After having retired last Friday (yup, you heard that right) I thought it would be nice to just relax around the house and watch some birds! I spotted an Anna’s Hummingbird feeding on some Red Thistle and thought I would try to get some photos. Click on the photos for full sized images.
Cover photo: Black-headed Bunting by Mark S. Jobling / Wikimedia Commons. This year, the first heat of the season came late, only with early June. Instead of writing at home, I discovered a new “study”, a discreet fish restaurant hidden in the branch of the Danube. From its garden I can see the river, willows and poplars, and there’s a light breeze bringing freshness from the water, together with surprisingly good local stout and a friendly couple for owners… My kind of study.
Cover photo: Black-headed Bunting by Mark S. Jobling / Wikimedia Commons. This year, the first heat of the season came late, only with early June. Instead of writing at home, I discovered a new “study”, a discreet fish restaurant hidden in the branch of the Danube. From its garden I can see the river, willows and poplars, and there’s a light breeze bringing freshness from the water, together with surprisingly good local stout and a friendly couple for owners… My kind of study.
This past Saturday, 10 June, I had to be at a meeting near Newburgh at 11 AM. Newburgh is a little over an hour north of New York City so I figured I could get a visit in to a few great locations for breeding birds that I hadn’t yet seen this year. One of those spots, Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge in Ulster County, was hosting a couple really cool birds for New York State so I was eagerly anticipating stopping in to see them.
It’s one thing to go birding. A long trip to a distant hot spot, a targeted species, the careful working of a patch, a heady plunge into the whirlpool of migration or a determined sifting of shorebirds, gulls, distant raptors – all these varieties of birding have their own pleasures and proponents. But there’s a lot to be said for the value of bird knowledge when you’re not birding too.
I have always considered it a true honor to be allowed to join this amazing team of writers, scientists and bird enthusiasts. I feel that the real skill that I bring to the group is in my photography, and some what less, my writing skills. It is with that in mind, and given that we are pretty much half way through this year, that I have picked my top twenty images for 2017.
Most birders eventually realize that our tribe has its own special lexicon. When we “twitch”, we don’t make sudden rapid movements. Instead, we make short or long distance travel with a specific avian target in mind. Miss that Red-footed Falcon , Pink-footed Goose , or Brown-chested Martin and we won’t let a dance partner catch us as we sort of do a pseudo fall, but we will have “dipped” Mention that you were “pishing” to a non-birder and they migh
Oh, to be birding at Shark Bay in Australia. Mid-June causes confusion in the United States, in that summer hasn’t officially started but life post-Memorial Day definitely carries that summer feeling, Except, of course, that some parts of the country have been downright chilly. What season are we in right now? Conditions vary wherever you are, but take comfort in the fact that birds hang around whatever the season.
These days, temperatures are soaring across much of the USA. While summer is indeed the hottest time of the year, there’s a noticeable difference between 80 degrees and 90 or 100. Until we get more serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, I suppose we can expect more of the same (and worse) but in the meantime, you can escape the heat by heading south to around 9 degrees north of the equator.
The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) recently filed a lawsuit against the federal government arguing that a planned wind turbine near the famed birding hotspot of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is illegal. Among other things, Ottawa NWR is a host venue for a prominent birding festival: The Biggest Week in American Birding.
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Life in the Mexican desert is, at its very best a challenge. The basic requirements for survival, food, shelter and water never seem to be in surplus. Therefore, nothing here ever passes on a chance for a meal. Adaptability, and seasonal knowledge are all part of what makes continued survival a possibility, especially when the terrain is as harsh as this area can be.
The first time I saw a Red-legged Seriema , I had no idea what it was. What family is it from? Where does it come from? How do I get to see one in the wild? I didn’t even know where to start. This first encounter was during a bird of prey exhibition at Leeds Castle, so the information was forthcoming from the commentary, but the chances of ever seeing one in the wild seemed remote.
Most long time birders, at some point in their birding career, spent time at a wastewater treatment plant. I am sure there are many reasons why these nasty pools of varying degrees of “black” water seem to be magnets for a large number of species. The amount of insects that are prevalent is, I am sure, a huge one. The lack of human visitors that frequent the area, is likely to be one as well.
While I was in Maine for Memorial Day weekend I managed to get away early one morning, on Memorial Day itself, to check out Scarborough Marsh, mere minutes from where we were staying in South Portland. It was a cold, wet morning and though I gradually built up a decent list of birds it was not easy, especially considering I had never birded at the famed saltmarsh and didn’t really know the best spots to search.
June may be the gateway to summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but the birding still delivers the thrills of spring migration when you have access to the right birds’ breeding grounds. Songbirds are still singing, so go find them! I visited Letchworth State Park this weekend, renowned for a ridiculous density of breeding wood warblers. Based on the songs that surrounded us as we hiked Trail #15, the “Grand Canyon of the East” is awash in warblers, including my FOY Louisiana Wate
We’ve all heard the myth that rice thrown at weddings will explode birds’ stomachs. (Not true, according to Snopes.) But that doesn’t mean chowing down on rice is a good idea for the feathered set. A new study published in The Condor analyzed the feathers of Bobolinks to determine what they eat after they leave their North American breeding grounds and fly south for the winter.
As the dog days of summer descend upon us here in Mexico, many of our avian residents have bailed out and headed back north to avoid the summertime heat. The number of bird species to be found, falls dramatically, but we can always rely on our impressive populations of Herons, egrets and even a few rails to keep our birding juices flowing. Our local Reddish Egrets are a popular species for many of my out of town guests.
A childhood favorite is now out on Blu-Ray, which means Bambi is looking the best it has since it came out on film in 1942! The special “anniversary edition” has a lot of fun extras, including 2 deleted scenes.
For three weeks in June, I traveled up and then down the eastern seaboard visiting ecological research sites. From Florida to Maine and back again I toured urban forests, marshes, estuaries, and more, stopping along the way to visit family and friends. One particular resting place brought me to familiar birding territory: Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach.
Add this weekend to the lengthening list of those that seem to encompass more than one season. While I enjoyed some summer sun and heat at some points, others felt unpleasantly autumnal in terms of chill. How can anyone argue against climate change when climate consistency seems to be a relic of the past? Driving along the NYS Thruway during a picture perfect June morning delivered Ospreys soaring over Montezuma NWR.
My transition from being a kid interested in all kinds of animals to being a full-on birder happened when I was around 11 years old, in the early 1980s (oh dear!). I was given my first real field guide to the birds of Europe by my parents, a guide beyond the species found at backyard feeders and city ponds. For the next few years, I spent countless evenings going through the pages over and over again, learning about all the species I’d previously had no idea even existed since they donR
It’s official: summer has swept over the Northern Hemisphere, carrying a wave of long, hot days and sultry, buggy nights in its wake. The Southern Hemisphere loses light but gains instead the potential for winter resident avifauna. As the season changes, birding changes. This time of year might not offer the most dynamic avian action, but you’ll find plenty of reason to wander out.
Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is one of the premier marine wildlife destinations in the world. The long reef is home to an annual coral spawning event that attracts enormous numbers of charismatic marine megafauna, from whales to Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. The carefully managed ecotourism industry this attracts, and the intact reefs (especially compared to the unfolding tragedy on the other side of Australia) make it a must do destination.
While we in the United States celebrated Father’s Day this weekend, the rest of the world just celebrated the weekend. Saturday and Sunday seem to stand on their own merits for purposes of revelry and relaxation. Maybe next year we can move Father’s Day to some part of the week that needs a shot of fun. Father’s Tuesday, anyone? I enjoyed my special day in the company of my special ones, though their limited energy for hiking meant that we missed the special birds at Powder Mil
North of the Equator, birders tend to focus their efforts this time of year on breeding birds. No, we’re not trying to ogle avifauna in flagrante delicto (at least I’m not) but rather just catching up with parents and chicks. Considering that this Sunday is Father’s Day in the United States, this emphasis on bird parenting is fitting.
Summer is full of fun events, and more and more of them are welcoming pets! Always check first to find make sure your dog will be welcome, and if they are, here’s what you need to know before you go … Continue reading → The post Top Tips for Summer Pet Safety appeared first on 4 The Love of Animals.
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