F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 200.
Red-tailed Hawk
Day 242 / 365
Did you know my fiancé does a great bird impression.
She watches me like a hawk.
Interesting Fact: In flight, this hawk travels at speeds from 20 to 40 mph (64 km/h); however, when diving to catch prey, their speed may exceed 120 mph (190 km/h). ( http://beautyofbirds.com/redtailedhawks.html )
F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.
Great Egrets
Day 235 / 365
Why does the bird bring toilet paper to the party?
Because he is a party pooper.
Interesting Fact: The pristinely white Great Egret gets even more dressed up for the breeding season. A patch of skin on its face turns neon green, and long plumes grow from its back. Called aigrettes, those plumes were the bane of egrets in the late nineteenth century, when such adornments were prized for ladies’ hats. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/lifehistory )
F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800.
Bumblebee
Day 233 / 365
What did the bee say to the other bee when they landed on the same flower?
Buzz off.
Interesting Fact: Bumblebees live in society that consists of up to 400 individuals. They are divided in three groups: queen, worker bees and drones. Worker bees develop from the eggs during the spring. They collect pollen and feed newly born bees. Drones develop from the eggs during the summer. They die immediately after fertilization. ( http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/bumblebee_facts/582/ )
F/ 6.3, 1/500, ISO 320.
Double-crested Cormorants
Day 230 / 365
Which side of the Cormorant has the most feathers?
The outside.
Interesting Fact: Cormorants often stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/lifehistory#at_food )
F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640.
Greater Yellowlegs
Day 223 / 365
How do baby birds learn to fly?
They wing it!
Interesting Fact: They often feed actively, running after fish or other fast-moving aquatic prey. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/252/overview/Greater_Yellowlegs.aspx )
F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.
Great Egret
Day 221 / 365
What do you get when you kiss a diseased bird?
Cherpies
Interesting Fact: Resident to medium-distance migrant. Most Great Egrets move south for winter, traveling as far as the West Indies or southern Central America. They migrate by day in small flocks. During mild years, Great Egrets may stay as far north as Massachusetts. Individuals from the southern U.S. may not migrate at all. In late summer and fall, Great Egrets range widely over the continent. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 200.
European Starling
Day 220 / 365
What kind of birds do you usually find locked up?
Jail-birds!
Interesting Fact: A female European Starling may try to lay an egg in the nest of another female. A female that tries this parasitic tactic often is one that could not get a mate early in the breeding season. The best females find mates and start laying early. The longer it takes to get started, the lower the probability of a nest’s success. Those parasitic females may be trying to enhance their own breeding efforts during the time that they cannot breed on their own. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/lifehistory )
F/6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400.
Bonaparte’s Gull
Day 219 / 365
A man and his pet seagull walk into a bar. It’s about 5pm, but they’re ready for a good night of drinking.
They start off slowly, watching TV, drinking beer, eating peanuts. As the night goes on they move to mixed drinks, and then shooters, one after the other.
Finally, the bartender says: “Last call.”
So, the man says, “One more for me… and one more for my seagull.”
The bartender sets them up and they shoot them back. Suddenly, the seagull falls over dead.
The man throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave.
The bartender, yells: “Hey buddy, you can’t just leave that lyin’ there.”
To which the man replies: “That’s not a lion, that’s a seagull.”
Interesting Fact: The smallest gull seen over most of North America, it is also the only gull that regularly nests in trees. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/459/_/Bonapartes_Gull.aspx )
F/6.3, 1/800, ISO 800.
Bumblebee
Day 212 / 365
Who is the bees favorite singer?
Sting!
Interesting Fact: Bumblebees produce buzzing sound as a result of vibration of muscles used for flying. These muscles increase temperature of the body and facilitate gathering of pollen. ( http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/bumblebee_facts/582/ )
F/6.3, 1/250, ISO 500.
Green Heron
Day 209 / 365
Why did the heron cross the road?
The chicken was on vacation.
Interesting Fact: The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, earthworms, twigs, feathers, and other objects, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/lifehistory )
Through Open Lens 