Originally posted on Backyard and Beyond:
Why not mammals, asks Simon Barnes in The Meaning of Birds. He doesn’t use the example of dogs and cats, but these do illustrate our affinity for our fellow warm-blooded, lactating fur-balls. Of course, these are domesticated animals, tamed for precisely their human-philic characteristics. Wild mammals, which we nevertheless try to cute-ify and commodify, know better. They don’t want… Continue reading Why Birds?
Originally posted on Backyard and Beyond:
An announcement from my other life: As some of you may know, I write for JSTOR Daily, a free service of the non-profit database JSTOR. I usually write about historical topics, although I occasionally slip something in about natural history. The Daily has decided to launch a membership component on Patreon. It’s expensive publishing seven days a week and… Continue reading Books of Lichen
Originally posted on Backyard and Beyond:
Walking home, the low November sun in my eyes, I was not at first sure that the shape on the corner of my apartment building was. I briefly wondered if there was an architectural flourish I’d never noticed. The silhouette quickly resolved itself. A Red-tailed Hawk. With prey. And screeching at the other Red-tailed that landed on the parapet… Continue reading Raptor Wednesday
Originally posted on Backyard and Beyond:
Having spotted this Red-tailed Hawk on the roof of my apartment building when I returned home last week, I hurried up the five flights to see what I could see. The bird was mantling over its prey, spreading out wings and tail feathers. Classic raptor behavior. We surmise from this that the bird is trying to conceal its prey… Continue reading Raptor Wednesday on Thursday
Originally posted on Life on the Lighter Side:
I’ve been thinking about killing someone off, and it’s harder than I thought it would be. I am participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which is a campaign to write a novel (at least 50,000 words) in the month of November. I have reached the juncture in my story where someone must die. I knew death… Continue reading A Pen, a Sword, and a Great Blue Heron walked into a bar. Which was mightier?
Originally posted on Abundantly Distracted:
Mid morning I glanced out the window that overlooks my back yard, just to see if there was any bird activity. It was time for a break and I wanted to get some more photos of the birds. I have a few ideas of what I would like to capture, but so far the birds have not been agreeing with… Continue reading Back Yard Photographer – What is this bird??
Originally posted on Abundantly Distracted:
Happily a family of cardinals has decided to call the trees behind my house their home. I must admit, I wasn’t sure there was a family until just this past week. Over the Summer I had seen the cardinals but wasn’t sure if I was seeing one multiple times or several different cardinals. Finally this week, I saw several of… Continue reading Back Yard Photographer – Family of Cardinals
Originally posted on Folsom Mill Studio:
Assorted feathered visitors who stay and have their young, in our backyard. , I think this is a young Coopers Hawk and he swooped in to try to grab a little Juncos or Red Squirrel , what a Naughty Bird, no I know he was hungry but stayed with me for a long time while I took photo after photo of… Continue reading They call our place HOME
Originally posted on Folsom Mill Studio:
Not sure why I am compelled to step up and give of myself by way of volunteering but it seems I went from so much free time to none are you that way as well. Volunteering for community based events and the garden club have taken on an a life of its own. The self-watering container in town will… Continue reading Crazier Than Normal
