wildbird

New Yoga Pose?

June 5, 2015 — 31 Comments

Killdeer

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 720.

Killdeer

Day 156 / 365

At first I thought she was doing yoga, and I was going to join in. Then I notice she might have a broken wing, but all of it was just an act. Very convincing broken-wing act, I would give her an Oscar for outstanding performance.

Interesting Fact: Killdeer exhibit a clever “broken wing display” in which they appear to be struggling with a broken wing while leading the predator away from their babies. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/101/overview/Killdeer.aspx )

 

Come Fly With Me, Let’s Fly, Let’s Fly Away

June 4, 2015 — 10 Comments

Great Egret 1

F/6.3, 1/500, ISO 1400.

Great Egret

Day 155 / 365

What kind of bird can carry the most weight?
The crane

Interesting Fact: Though it mainly hunts while wading, the Great Egret occasionally swims to capture prey or hovers (somewhat laboriously) over the water and dips for fish. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/lifehistory )

What Do Swallows Swallow?

June 1, 2015 — 16 Comments

Barn Swallow

F/6.3, 1/250, ISO 1600.

Barn Swallow

Day 152 / 365

What bird is helpful at dinner?
A swallow!

Interesting Fact: An unmated male Barn Swallow may kill the nestlings of a nesting pair. His actions often succeed in breaking up the pair and afford him the opportunity to mate with the female. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/lifehistory )

 

Do I Look Like A T-Rex? Grrrrr !!!

May 30, 2015 — 19 Comments

gosling

F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 1600.

Day 150 / 365

What do geese do in a traffic?

They honk!

Interesting Fact: Canadian geese can travel more than 1000 kilometers in a day while migrating. The circumference of the world is 40008 km. This means that they could fly around the world in approximately 40 days! ( http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/beckwith_kayl/Interestingfacts.htm )

Damn I Look Good!

May 21, 2015 — 31 Comments

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

F/6.0, 1/1000, ISO 450.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Day 141 / 365

What do you call a heron at the North Pole?
Lost!

Interesting Fact:  Occasionally it will prey on small turtles; its stomach secretes an acid capable of dissolving the shells. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/53/_/Yellow-crowned_Night-Heron.aspx )

“Make Sure You Get My Good Side.”

May 14, 2015 — 25 Comments

Bananaquit

F/6.3, 1/50, ISO 1600.

Bananaquit

Day 134 /365

Why do birds fly south for the winter?
Because it’s too far to walk!

Interesting Fact: It uses its sharp beak to pierce a flower from the side, taking the nectar without actually pollinating the plant. They cannot hover like a hummingbird, and must always perch while feeding. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1014/overview/Bananaquit.aspx )

Swamp Chicken!

May 13, 2015 — 18 Comments

Common Gallinule

F/ 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640.

Common Gallinule

Day 133 / 365

“Red means STOP, don’t come any closer I have babies…”

Common Gallinule Chick

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800.

Common Gallinule Chick

Day 133.5 / 365

Cute little chick and screaming for it mom.

Interesting Fact: Despite lacking either webbed or lobed feet, the Common Gallinule is an excellent swimmer. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/464/overview/Common_Gallinule.aspx )

Swamp Fishing!

May 12, 2015 — 34 Comments

Tricolored Heron

F/6.3, 1/30, ISO 1600.

Tricolored Heron

Day 132 / 365

I paid the price of too many mosquito bites to get this shot.  But it was worth it.    🙂

Interesting Fact:

The tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), formerly known in North America as the Louisiana heron, is a small heron. It is a resident breeder from the Gulf states of the USA and northern Mexico south through Central America and the Caribbean to central Brazil and Peru. There is some post-breeding dispersal to well north of the nesting range. Tricolored heron’s breeding habitat is sub-tropical swamps. It nests in colonies, often with other herons, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. In each clutch, 3–7 eggs are typically laid. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricolored_heron )

Backyard Bully!

March 31, 2015 — 18 Comments

House Sparrow

F/6.3, 1/320, ISO 1600.

House Sparrow

Black and White  Day 2 of 5

Day 90 / 365

This little guy was bullying all the other birds today. So small yet so feisty.

Interesting Fact: The House Sparrow takes frequent dust baths. It throws soil and dust over its body feathers, just as if it were bathing with water. In doing so, a sparrow may make a small depression in the ground, and sometimes defends this spot against other sparrows. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Sparrow/lifehistory )

I was challenged by Cynthia at http://cynthiamvoss.wordpress.com/  to take up the Black and White 5-Day Challenge.  Part of the fun is to nominate another blogger, one on each day.

Today, I nominate Maggie of https://magscorner.wordpress.com/ Maggie, if you accept, the goal is to post one B&W photo each day for five days, and to nominate a fellow blogger each day to join in.

There is no pressure to accept this challenge. It’s just for fun!    🙂

Show-Off!

January 24, 2015 — 18 Comments

American Kestrel

F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 400.

Day 24 /365

“I have very nice feathers and I like to show them off, so stop bothering me”.

Interesting Fact: American kestrels do not need to drink free-standing water. They get all the water they need from the moisture of their prey. ( http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=470372 )