F/6.3, 1/60, ISO 250.
Blue Jay
Why did the girl bring lipstick and eye shadow to school?
She had a make-up exam!
Interesting Fact: The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/lifehistory )
F/ 6.3, 1/125, ISO 500.
Yellow Warblers
How do birds fly?
They just wing it!
Interesting Fact: The nests of the Yellow Warbler are frequently parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird. The warbler often builds a new nest directly on top of the parasitized one, sometimes resulting in nests with up to six tiers. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow_Warbler/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/160, ISO 200.
Green Heron
What does a teddy bear say when you offer it a sandwich?
“No thanks, I’m stuffed”
Interesting Fact: Green Herons are common and widespread, but they can be hard to see at first. Whereas larger herons tend to stand prominently in open parts of wetlands, Green Herons tend to be at the edges, in shallow water, or concealed in vegetation. Visit a wetland and carefully scan the banks looking for a small, hunch-backed bird with a long, straight bill staring intently at the water. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron )
F/6.3, 1/640, ISO 200.
American Coot
Why did the picture go to jail?
Because it was framed.
Interesting Fact: American Coots in the winter can be found in rafts of mixed waterfowl and in groups numbering up to several thousand individuals. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/60, ISO 400.
Turkey Vultures
What do you call security guards working outside Samsung shops?
Guardians of the Galaxy.
The Turkey Vulture’s distinctive slow, teetering flight style probably helps the bird soar at low altitudes, where it is best able to use its nose to find carrion. At other times they may soar high on thermals and form mixed flocks or kettles. On the ground they move with ungainly hops and are less agile than Black Vultures. Often, especially in the morning, they can be seen standing erect, wings spread in the sun, presumably to warm up, cool off, or dry off. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Turkey_Vulture/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/400, ISO 1600.
Hooded Merganser ( Male )
Did you hear that all the toilets at the police station were stolen?
Yeah… the cops got nothing to go on.
Interesting Fact: Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser )
F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 250.
Hooded Merganser ( Female )
What insect runs away from everything?
A flea!
Interesting Fact: Once a female begins incubating eggs her mate abandons her, and it’s not known if they reunite the following season. Incubating females may use a broken-wing display to protect eggs or nestlings from raccoons, mink, black rat snakes, black bears, pine martens, European Starlings, Northern Flickers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Merganser/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/250, ISO 800.
White-Tailed Deer ( Fawn )
Which branch of the military do babies join?
The infantry!
Interesting Fact: White tailed deer can run as fast as 36 mph, jump as high as 8 1/2 feet, and leap as far as 30 feet. They are also very good swimmers. ( https://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/48142.aspx )
F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 200.
Brant
What kind of shoes do you make with banana skins?
Slippers!
Interesting Fact: The Brant is also known as the Brent Goose. The spelling “Brant” is the original one, with “Brent” being a later folk-etymological idea that it was derived from a classical Greek water bird name brenthos. It actually came from the guttural call note of the species. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/290/overview/Brant.aspx )
F/6.3, 1/640, ISO 200.
Canvesback
What do you call it when you have your Grandma on speed dial?
Interesting Fact: Canvasbacks are social outside of the breeding season; they gather in large rafts by the thousands to tens of thousands. Only when winter food is scarce or clumped do they defend foraging areas against other Canvasbacks. ( https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canvasback/lifehistory )
Through Open Lens 