bird photography, bird-watching, and bird gardening

Bringing Nature Home

2012-01-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

Since I am a public speaker covering backyard habitats, it is very important that I keep up on my reading about environmental topics. There are few books which have influenced my husband and me as much as Douglas W. Tallamy's "Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants."
This book is my bible now and I often mention it during my presentations. I can attest that we detect more and more insects in our yard, the more native plants we are planting.
Professor Tallamy discovered that our native insects cannot digest alien plants. Alien plants are any plants which were, accidentally or on purpose, introduced into the United States. These "aliens" often bring with them alien insects (e.g. the marmorated stinkbug as a recent example). Alien plants do not provide any host plants for native insects, and thus are not part of the natural food chain.
A large part of the book focuses on plants you should plant to create a healthy habitat. The back of the book lists the plants by geographical area.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gardening.

Bird Feeding in Winter

2012-01-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

This fall I finally decided to hang up a log that we purchased at a birding store a while ago. It has several cut-out holes to stash in food for woodpeckers and chickadees. I put some extra crunchy peanut butter in the holes and didn't have to wait long for takers. Downy and hairy woodpeckers love it and I can't refill it fast enough for them. It seems to be even more popular than the suet cake we put out.

Since winter has arrived here in western Pennsylvania with freezing temperatures and snow flurries it is particularly important to provide birds with the fuel they need to survive in this weather. Peanut butter or suet are just the ticket because of their nutritious content. You can also place nuts in the holes, but only if it isn't windy. Now sit back and enjoy the show from the warmth of your house.

Photographing a Chipmunk

2011-12-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Now I see you

Now I don't

Winter Birds Have Arrived

2011-11-16T12:28:00.000-08:00

Fall brings many changes to the garden. The hues of leaves change every day and the last hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies have left our area weeks ago. In their stead, the dark-eyed juncos and white-throated sparrows have arrived from Canada. All birds have one thing in common: They want to stock up on food for the upcoming winter. Besides the sunflower seeds in our hopper feeder, peanut butter is a big hit with woodpeckers this year.

I am busy photographing the birds in our yard. Recently, I have also given a talk about "Attracting Birds to Your Yard" at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. It was the first time ever that I gave an open-air talk, at the site of the future garden. Afterward I participated in a guided tour of the Appalachian woods section of the park. I learned a lot about the differences between oaks and the requirements for different native plants--not a bad way to spend a gorgeous autumn day.

The Great Migration

2011-09-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping. Butterflies will soon be a memory for us here in Pennsylvania. For the past couple of weeks we have spotted quite a few Monarch butterflies stopping at our goldenrod and asters to fuel up on nectar before flitting in the direction of the South. It is time for their migration to the mountains of Mexico. I am sad to see them leave, but I realize that they would never survive during our winters. So I marvel at their beauty and the fact that such small, delicate looking creatures can fly all the way to Mexico to their winter quarters. It will be a long time before we'll see the first Monarch of the year here in the North. By that time, they will be several generations removed from their wintering ancestor. They need nectar along their journey, and milkweed plants to use as host plants for their eggs. If you want to ensure their survival, please plant milkweed plants in your yard.

Red Chokeberry

2011-09-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

Last year, we added a red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) 'Brilliantissima' cultivar to our front yard because of its beautiful fall color. I had also hoped that the birds would devour the red berries. At least, that was my plan until I learned that its berries have a very astringent taste. To protect it from the rabbits, we put a wire cage around it.
Last week, I spotted two unfamiliar caterpillars on it. The green monster above is the larva of a Polyphemus Moth. I watched it daily as it munched on the leaves of our little chokeberry, wondering whether there would be any leaves left to turn red in the fall. I need not worry anymore. Yesterday, I saw with dismay that another animal - most likely a deer - had eaten almost all ripe berries and for dessert, had chewed off quite a few little twigs.
When left alone, the chokeberry gets to be about 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It can take dry to moist soil and sun and partial sun. Spring flowers are white and only last a few days. All in all, the chokeberry is a versatile addition to any native garden, provided that you don't have deer in your neighborhood.

Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis

2011-08-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Part of the Bellflower family, the Cardinal flower stands out in any garden with its scarlet flowers. Its tubular flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and bees alike. While it prefers moist meadows and wooded streamsides, it appears to be happy in our suburban garden with the aid of water. It began blooming in mid-July, making it one of the longer-blooming native plants in our yard.

A Fruitful Morning at North Park

2011-06-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, I photographed on a tiny island in North Park. A red mulberry tree had fallen over and onto the water. Nonetheless, it had a bounty of ripe berries that the birds gobbled up. I spotted Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, Goldfinches, Grey Catbirds, a Grackle, and even a swallow while they were eating. Birds are very tame there and did not mind my presence at all. It was a photographer's dream. Feed them and they will come!

Future Butterfly

2011-06-27T11:43:00.000-07:00

Our spicebush has to be the most watched shrub in the neighborhood. Folded over leaves - especially the ones that are very thick - and bite marks on other leaves can only mean one thing: we're expecting! Last week, I noticed something that looked like a bird dropping. It turned out to be a tiny larvae. And I've been keeping close watch on a big leaf that seems to be thick as a sausage. I can't be outside all the time, of course, so preparation is crucial. I kept a macro lens on the camera and had the tripod prepared at the right height. Yesterday, I finally spotted and photographed this gorgeous caterpillar:

Caterpillars are never in the open very long. They eat and then retreat under their leaf to avoid predators. Being prepared certainly helped me capture the moment.

The Spicebush

2011-06-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

If you have a spicebush in your yard and it looks like its leaves get eaten, don't despair. That is actually good news. It means that a spicebush swallowtail laid its eggs under the leaves of the spicebush. As the caterpillar emerges from the egg it folds a leaf around it to protect it from predators. They feed on the leaves, which is why your spicebush might look like a giant insect took big bites out of it.
For the last few weeks I've been inspecting our spicebush for signs of larvae. Today, I spotted this teeny fellow:

Water Lily

2011-06-15T10:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I photographed a local garden for an assignment. I was particularly attracted to the pond with its big pink lilies. While we have recently installed a pond in our yard and have put in two lily pots, they are nowhere near as big as these beauties were. Needless to say, I took almost more photos of the lilies than I took for the assignment.

Fast Food in our Yard

2011-06-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Every year is different in our garden and the only constant is change.

When our serviceberries ripened last year, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings decended on our yard to gobble them up. I was delighted to spot those beautiful birds in our garden and took some gorgeous photos of them. Their competition for the berries was a feisty robin who often chased them away.
This year, I have not seen any waxwings. That means that the robins have the serviceberry to themselves. So instead of photographing silky waxwings I had to content with taking photos of a robin fledgling as it ripped the berries from the trees with little grace. More exciting was the mockingbird that visited the serviceberry one late evening, but its visit was brief.

A Trusty Spring Bloomer

2011-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Spring blooms are short. Very short. If you blink, you'll miss them. Such is the case with our serviceberry and our chokeberry. Therefore, I am happy that our wild columbine flowers are not only thriving, but they have been blooming for more than two weeks now. Yesterday, I received an added bonus as I watched a male ruby-throated hummingbird drinking from every flower of one of our numerous columbine plants. It was a thrill to behold. Wild Columbines not only provide a beautiful splash of color in the spring garden, but they are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds before any other flowers bloom.

Spring brings delightful birds

2011-05-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

Spring brings many birds to our yard, especially to our feeders. None of them are more colorful than the rose-breasted grosbeaks. This male beauty landed in our serviceberry and eyed me and my camera suspiciously before it decided it was safe to eat. We have also spotted our first female ruby-throated hummingbird at our wild columbine and our syrup feeder. The juncos have departed now and were replaced by a white-crowned sparrow, song sparrows, chipping sparrows, and Eastern towhees.
We are busy planting for wildlife and have added two chokeberries, two blazing stars, an American plum, and a bee balm to our native garden. Plant it and they will come!

New Bird in our Yard

2011-04-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Our feeder is getting plenty of bird visitors. In addition to the usual suspects - titmice, chickadees, woodpeckers, cardinals, nuthatches, sparrow, and finches - we are happy to announce that two male rose-breasted grosbeaks have arrived the other day. One species baffled me lately, however. Were they common redpolls, very colorful house finches, or purple finches? I could never be sure when I spotted them through the binoculars. When I recently photographed Mr. and Mrs. Finch at our feeder we decided that they were indeed purple finches. The difference between house finches (introduced from the western U.S.) and purple finches is subtle and the best way to determine it is by looking at the tail. The purple finch's tail is split. Perhaps we have had purple finches before and just didn't know it. Such are the thrills of backyard birding. You never know who will come to your feeder next.

Yet More Photos from the Everglades

2011-03-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

More Photos from the Everglades

2011-02-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

Snowy egrets and great blue herons migrate to Pennsylvania, but they are very photo shy. They won't let me come closer than a quarter of a mile before taking off. I was therefore thrilled how tame those birds are in Florida. This heron was sitting on top of a shelter, providing me with an uncluttered background. Others stalked through the grass right next to the trail. Would that I could photograph a rookery in such close proximity!

Winter in the Everglades

2011-02-10T14:36:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I attended a bird photo workshop in Florida's Everglades. Sixteen eager photographers attended the workshop, which was led by Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito. It was still dark when we headed toward the Anhinga Trail for the first of three field sessions. Here are two photos I took on the first day. The first photo shows the Anhinga, for which the trail is named. The second photo is of one of the ubiquitious alligators we saw everywhere in the water. Most amazing was the fact that the birds stalked just a few feet away from them. It was like a zoo, only without fences.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2011-01-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

For the second year in a row I am an ambassador for the Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place from February 18-21, 2011. In connection with this event I will give a presentation at the Sewickley Library on February 16 from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Participating in this free event is easy, but it helps if you can identify the usual backyard suspects. A pair of binoculars also comes in handy. You may watch birds in your backyard, a park, or a school yard - it doesn't matter. Count the highest number of birds you see at any given time and log down the location of the sighting. You may report your findings online. That's it! Have fun.

Winter Birding

2010-12-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

We recently purchased a bird bath heater, and it has been a hit. Apparently, birds do need drinking water during the winter just as much as during the sweltering summer heat. Keeping it filled and clean in these frigid temperatures can be a challenge, though.
Because of the icy weather, I have been birding through our kitchen window lately. The other day I watched a crow fly into our neighbor's pear tree. A Cooper's hawk hiding in said tree did not put up much of a fight, but flew across our yard and disappeared. Crow - 1, hawk - 0.
Winter brings many birds to our yard, including more than a dozen red-winged blackbirds yesterday. A recent newsletter by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania alerted me to the fact that those reddish finches I've seen lately are probably common redpolls. I hope they will still be around when the weather releases its icy grip.

Ohio Raptors

2010-11-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

In late October, I attended a raptor photo workshop held by Brian Zwiebel at Ohio Nature Education. I came away with some beautiful photos of permanently injured birds, which are now being used for educational purposes. I am glad for the opportunity to get an up-close view of these awe-inspiring raptors. Just days before the workshop we heard a Great Horned Owl from our backyard but couldn't see it in the dark.

More Images from North Chagrin

2010-11-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

These images of a female and male wood duck depict the differences in their appearance. Fall is an especially good time to photograph them because they have just molted and look their best. The top photo shows the autumn trees reflected in the water while the bottom photo brings out the iridescent head of the male duck. No wonder North Chagrin is so popular with photographers!

New Bird in our Neighborhood

2010-10-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

The other day I set up my blind in our backyard to photograph some of the birds that visit our feeder. We had placed the feeder close, but not too close, to our serviceberry so that the birds can scope out their surroundings before flying to the feeder. The fall foliage provided a nice backdrop. I expected the usual tufted titmice, chickadees, and cardinals. When a bird sat on a perch for quite a while it seemed to be saying, "photograph me." I did not recognize it and was thrilled that I could take almost a dozen photos before it took off. Imagine my surprise when I viewed my images on the computer and learned that the mystery bird was a "Myrtle" yellow-rumped warbler! I had never even seen this bird, ever. Sometimes the best subjects are as close as your backyard.

Return to North Chagrin

2010-10-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Around the same time last year I attended a photo workshop in Ohio focusing on wood ducks. I had so much fun that I decided to return on my own. This time I had plenty of sunshine. Another plus was the fact that the deck near the nature center and a trail to another deck were finished. This allowed me to zip around checking on possible photo opportunities. I knew the ropes by now and, when the lighting was good, I was ready with my camera and lawn chair to await the action. And action I got.
Besides wood ducks, I also observed Canada geese, a great blue heron, red-winged blackbirds, chickadees, a robin, and a marsh wren. It is no wonder that the park was very popular with visitors young and old. I consider it one of the best places I have photographed birds at so far.

An Autumn Garden

2010-10-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Our backyard is a riot of colors right now. Red, yellow, and brown trees compete for our attention. Bumblebees and honey bees are still visiting our native garden with its New England aster, goldenrod, and panicled aster; creating a pleasing color scheme in purple, yellow, and white. The milkweed seed pods are opening, releasing their seeds to the winds.

The hummingbirds have departed and other birds show up in their place. We hung our feeder last week and have attracted a variety of birds. Besides the usual chickadees, titmice, cardinals, house sparrows, and mourning doves I have also spotted a white-crowned sparrow and an Eastern towhee. Last night we heard a great horned owl through an open window and went outside to investigate. Without the help of a moon we could not make out its shape, but we heard its hoots through the night air. There is always something new to discover in our backyard.

A New Bird in our Yard

2010-09-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

As far as bird sightings are concerned, summer has been quiet in our yard. There were the usual robins, and goldfinches drinking from our bird bath and eating seeds in our garden (and dozens of house sparrows in our front yard). So, when the blue jays out back made a racket on Monday morning, my husband went to investigate. He never did find out what upset them, but instead he spotted a warbler. Now, we have lived here for 13 years and have never seen a warbler in our neighborhood. As is usual in those cases, identifying which kind of warbler was impossible. A few minutes later I headed out with a camera to perhaps photograph an intruder, and saw a female rose-breasted grosbeak instead. I haven't seen any grosbeaks since spring and it is a sign that the birds are beginning to show up. We are therefore getting ready to hang up our feeders because they really are bird magnets. We purchased black-oil sunflower seeds, thistle, and safflower for cardinals.
We haven't spotted any hummingbirds for a while and assume that they are on their way south. May they return safely next spring!

Backyard Visitor

2010-09-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

As we strolled through our backyard last week we noticed this small groundhog in a tunnel made out of cut grass. We wondered:
Maybe it is sick?
Maybe it is young?
Maybe I should get my camera?

That last thought spurred me into action and I set up my tripod and 400mm lens. All this commotion did not disturb the little guy, but when I clicked the shutter once it made a hasty retreat. Such is the life of a wildlife photographer. You may only get one shot...

Award Winning Bird Photography

2010-09-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

Today's issue of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an article about me and my incredible feat of winning three major awards for the same photo of an airborne Tufted Titmouse.

Failures of the Gardening Year

2010-08-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

While the successes outweigh the failures, we had a few duds in our garden:

Annuals
We purchased salvia for the first time this summer and, while they added a splash of red to our flower island, they did not attract any insects at all.

Perennials/Shrubs
A spicebush had been on our wish list for years. This year we finally found one at a local nursery and planted it in our backyard. Here it receives shade in the morning and then full sun. Its leaves are now black around the tips and edges and the whole shrub looks sickly. We don't know whether it is getting too much sun in this location and are considering to replant it in a shadier spot. Or perhaps it needs some nutrients and a dose of fertilizer would help. Or--it has just been too dry this summer to support a newly planted shrub.

Hummingbird Air Combat

2010-08-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

Every year in late summer there are aerial battles going on in our backyard. Before they head south for the winter hummingbirds like to gourge themselves on syrup and nectar. Our syrup feeder is therefore more popular than ever. When one hummigbird approaches it carefully checks out its surroundings and then sits down on the perch to drink. Its caution is warranted, because soon another hummingbird - usually a male - arrives and drives the first one away from the feeder. Other times, the first hummingbird perches on a tree branch and waits for another hummingbird to land on the feeder. Then it takes off and chases the second bird around our yard. As if there isn't enough syrup for everybody! This goes on until it is dark, and it's much more entertaining than anything that is on TV.

Successes of the Gardening Year

2010-08-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

It is time to take stock of the successes and failures of gardening year 2010.

Annuals
The winners are: Zinnias. Even though the first growth was eaten by rabbits the zinnias made a nice comeback and are clear favorites with insects. Whether they're cabbage, eastern tiger swallowtail, black swallowtail, or monarch butterflies, or bumblebees, they make a bee line (pun intended) to the zinnias and ignore every other annual on our flower island.

Perennials
It's a tie between common milkweed/butterfly weed and Joe-pye weed. Besides the fact that milkweeds are the only host plant for monarch butterfly larvae, they are also very popular with insects. During their bloom they were literally covered with flying objects all day long.
Our Joe-pye weed (a cultivar named 'Little Joe') has grown much taller than last year. It is, in fact, taller than me. It enjoys a long blooming season and is a great draw for insects. And it doesn't look like a weed at all.

An Amazing Hummingbird

2010-08-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

While we were out on the wetland trail at Raccoon Creek State Park we were able to see a hummingbird up close and personal. It drank eagerly from a swamp thistle, oblivious to our close presence. Its wings rotated at such a speed that we were unable to see them. Even though I could have touched it, the hummingbird did not see us for quite a while. At one point it was almost right above me and I had to crane my neck to observe it. At last it stopped its motion for a moment, apparently noticing our presence. It flew off, leaving us behind as we marveled at the closest encounter with a hummingbird we had ever witnessed. Unless one lands on our hands we will probably never see another bird this close to us.

Summer at the Wetlands

2010-08-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

After weeks of humid, hot weather we finally had a nice weekend. We celebrated it by going for a hike at the wetlands trail at Raccoon Creek State Park. We enjoyed many butterflies - mostly Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, and Questionmarks - and the wildflowers of summer: Joe-pye weed, various sunflowers, jewelweed, and the very popular thistle. The trail was often overgrown and we were thankful for our hiking staffs, which we used to blaze our way through the wilderness. We watched a female mallard and her grown chicks on the lake and listened to numerous bullfrogs. Countless catbirds made it clear that they did not like us being around. After ducking under several fallen trees we came to a challenging tree and decided it was time to turn around. We observed the following wildlife: a blue heron at the spillway, catbirds, a hummingbird, mallards, a water snake, and a shorebird (possibly a juvenile Greater Yellowlegs).

New Addition to Our Backyard

2010-08-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

For years we have been talking about how nice it would be to have a pond in our backyard. Finally, we decided to turn our dream into a reality. Of course, when our contractor could fit us in it was a bit late to find a good selection of pond plants locally. We ended up ordering submerged plants and a water lily by mail because we wanted to buy native plants. That way we won't have to worry whether our plants will survive the winter.

Great Expectations

2010-07-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Our native garden is still attracting many insects, and no wonder. While the common milkweed and butterfly weed are going to seed now, the purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, blazing star, and wild bergamond are enjoying many insect visits. The blue lobelias are beginning to open and the Joe-pye weed will not be far behind. It is vital to have continuous bloom in a garden to provide food for butterflies throughout their life span.
Yesterday morning we observed an exciting event: an adult monarch butterfly flitted around our milkweeds. We weren't quite sure what it was doing. And then it occurred to us: It was looking for places to lay its eggs. Finally, it placed its eggs underneath the leafs of the plants. A couple of times it flew away - apparently looking for other egg hosts - only to return and lay some more in our patch. That means that there are no other milkweed plants in the area. While we have no intention of cutting down our milkweeds, it is important for their survival to spread their eggs around to more than one habitat. It is sad that so many people grow nothing but lawn, which goes brown this time of year anyway. Wouldn't you rather have butterflies than brown grass?

Build It and They Will Come

2010-07-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

On the rare occasions when we venture outside in this hot, humid weather we have had numerous butterfly and insect sightings. A monarch visited a common milkweed the other day; fritillaries, eastern tiger swallowtails, and an eight-spotted forester checked out the purple coneflowers; an eastern black swallowtail landed on the black-eyed Susans; and a spicebush swallowtail gave our spicebush a once-over (could it be that it was laying its eggs in there?).
The milkweed is also very popular with bees and other insects of all sorts. Next to bloom is the Joe-pye weed, which is already beginning to open. Word is out that our cafe is open for business. One reason, though, why our backyard is so popular is because none of the other neighbors have anything but lawn and alien plants. Build it - or rather, plant it - and they will come!

A Blazing Star

2010-07-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Last year we went on a Blazing Star hike at Jennings Environmental Center. I liked the flowers so much that we purchased two this year. The first one has begun to bloom and is already attracting butterflies. They look better in masses and we're hoping to collect some seeds this fall to expand on our garden.
Butterflies and bees are busy in our garden. The purple coneflowers, bergamond, sunflowers and cosmos are blooming while the black-eyed Susans are beginning to open. Next will be the Joe-pye-weed. A week ago I thought I saw a monarch butterfly on a butterfly weed.

Gardening Update

2010-06-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

The berries on our serviceberry are now a distant memory, but there are other feasts to look forward to. Our two virburnums (arrowwood) are finally growing some berries. The common milkweed and butterfly weed are blooming now and are very popular with fritillaries, bumblebees, honey bees, and other insects. Our Joe-pye weed is growing taller than last year and I am already looking forward to photograph the butterflies it will surely attract. The blazing stars we bought this year are looking good, especially since we caged them to protect them from the rabbits that are causing havoc in our garden. The rabbits have made a meal out of the zinnias I planted but they are slowly making a comeback now.
Notable bird sightings include: a hawk that perched on our neighbor's tall willow tree, only to be chased away by crows or grackles (in the commotion it was hard for me to tell). We see Baltimore orioles around but they never visited the feeder I put out for them, so I took it down.
For weeks we have been wondering why our front yard bird bath was often muddy. While we were out weeding today we saw a robin taking a full bath and the water got muddy quickly. Apparently, it had not wiped off its feet before getting into the bird bath. Another mystery solved!

Success Story

2010-06-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

When we planted a serviceberry in our backyard, we had two goals in mind: providing a natural food source for birds; and an additional object for me to photograph. We succeeded on both counts. They are, of course, related. The serviceberry has an incredibly large amount of red berries, which the birds devour. There is a bully among them, however. A robin loves them so much that he chases everyone away when he's eating them. The berries are irresistible to cedar waxwings, cardinals, and house finches. We tasted them and liked them too. Some people make marmalade out of them, but I think you need more than one shrub to have a decent yield. Of course, if we made marmalade I wouldn't have been able to take this photo. So for now, we are happy to provide food for wildlife.

At the Marsh

2010-06-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning we headed to Independence Marsh for the first time this year. Besides seeing plenty of wildflowers, here is a list of birds we saw: Canada geese (naturally); killdeer; mockingbird; house sparrows; one female wood duck; hummingbird; great blue heron; hawk; turkey vultures. Of course, we also saw plenty of dragonflies and a bullfrog.
Apparently, the wood duck tried to lure us away from her nest, since she stopped chattering once we were gone. Seeing the duck took me back to the photo workshop I attended in Ohio last fall. Observing one on a local lake was quite a treat. We did not spot a male duck or any chicks.
While we could do without biting insects, a trip to a wetlands is almost sure to offer plenty of opportunities to observe wildlife and wildflowers.

Plant it and They Will Come

2010-05-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

The serviceberry has quite a few desirable features: a beautiful - if not very brief - spring bloom; red berries that are a favorite source of food for many birds; and a russet colored fall foliage. It is also called Juneberry for good reason. Its berries are ripening already, and it isn't even June yet. Cedar waxwings are checking out the berries for ripeness several times a day and we have even spotted robins and cardinals tasting them. It seems as if we hit the spot by planting a serviceberry. That's what happens when you plant native plants instead of aliens.

Backyard Bird Sightings

2010-05-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

In my presentations I am telling people how to garden for the birds. Case in point: Our serviceberry is growing berries right now, and the cedar waxwings are already checking them out. Of course, once I grab my camera they perform a disappearing act. I plan on setting up my blind soon to await their return. Or perhaps I'll wait till the berries are ripe...
Another exciting sighting is a Baltimore oriole. I hung up our oriole feeder and hope to lure them into our yard.
I finally took down our bird feeder today, after it became too big a draw for grackles. Between our shrubs, flowers and the bird baths I hope we will lure them into our yard nonetheless. And I kept a few sunflower seeds to bribe the birds when I want to photograph them.

Brief Update

2010-05-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

I did not do much birding last week, for a reason I explained in my other blog. One afternoon I was in our backyard photographing birds. My highlight was a white-crowned sparrow. They visit our feeder every spring for a short period. I also saw a male ruby-throated hummingbird.
Yesterday, my husband observed a Baltimore oriole flying through our yard. I am sorry that I missed that one, as they are quite beautiful with their bright orange color. I am never sure whether to hang up an oriole feeder or not. They don't seem to stay around.

Birding Friday

2010-05-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

This morning my husband and I finally spotted the first ruby-throated hummingbird at our feeder. Usually they arrive here around May 1 and I was getting worried they may not show up.
On a whim I decided to participate in a guided bird walk today at Sewickley Heights park. I was hoping to get some tips on where to find birds. Highlights of our (very long) walk were: Blackburnian warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, hooded warbler, Kentucky warbler, American redstart, red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, bluebird, and a Cooper's hawk. Not bad for a couple of hours of birding. I also learned that the best way to see warblers is to search for them in sun-lit tall trees. All in all it was an enjoyable outing and I took away some great advice about the habitats of different species.

Bird of the Day

2010-04-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

The other day my husband spotted the first rose-breasted grosbeak in our backyard. I didn't see it, but set up my camera yesterday hoping it would show up. Instead, I photographed a blue jay with a piece of corn in its beak. Wind and clouds finally convinced me it was time to go inside. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I took my camera off the tripod a turkey showed up in the yard. If only I had stayed in my blind a minute longer... Such is often the case with photography. The moment I pack everything up an exciting bird shows up. That's why I'm hesitant to quit.

I haven't seen a ruby-throated hummingbird yet, but keep cleaning our feeder and expect to report a first sighting soon.

Turkey Hill

2010-04-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

The "wild" turkeys in our neighborhood are getting pretty bold. The other day my husband observed a turkey in the front yard of a house down the street from us. It is pretty common for them to stroll through our backyard, but now they're crossing the street?
Then on Sunday we spotted a male and a female turkey under our feeder for a short while. A little later my husband noticed a turkey taking a dust bath in our neighbor's dirt. Perhaps there is some truth to the advice to give birds a place to take a dirt bath. After all, their feathers need to be in ship shape to take off when a predator is nearby. We never run out of new things to see in our backyard.

An Unusual Visitor

2010-04-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday I set up my blind to photograph the birds in our backyard. I took several photos of what I thought was a sparrow. But when I looked at the LCD monitor of my camera I noticed that it had a crossbill; its upper bill was longer than the lower bill and its tail was very long. We consulted our birding guides and websites and came to the conclusion that it was probably a juvenile white-winged crossbill, a very rare visitor in our parts. I'm now waiting to have my sighting confirmed. During spring migration we often see birds that we don't observe for the rest of the year. But this bird is truly a life list bird.

Planting for Birds - Serviceberry

2010-04-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last year, we planted a Smooth Serviceberry - Amelanchier laevis - in our backyard. It is also known as a shadbush or juneberry. When in doubt, always check the Latin name on a tag.
This particular serviceberry is a shrub and ideal for small yards. Its white flowers are blooming right now. The berries are popular with birds and the coppery red leaves add great color to any fall yard.

Birding Update

2010-04-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

Two days ago we saw the first Eastern Towhee in your yard. It has been a regular early-morning visitor ever since then.

Yesterday, I headed to Boyce-Mayview Park to photograph birds. The morning air was resonating with the call of Red-winged Blackbirds who flitted about the shrubs and tall trees. The Bluebirds were more quiet, taking in the morning sun from tall trees. I did not have much success photographing either since they were too far away. Perhaps when the vegetation grows and I can easier hide I will be more successful. In the meantime, I am putting up my blind in our backyard. Unfortunately, the blind is very noisy in the slightest wind and yesterday I had to take it down again, as it spooked the birds away.

Still, it is great to be outdoors again after a long winter. Yesterday, the temperature reached 81 degrees. It seems unreal that the trees are still bare and the juncos are still here.

A New Plant in our Yard

2010-03-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

The nurseries are finally open and we made a trip to Reilly's Summer Seat Farm to see what native plants we could find. We bought a spicebush, which had been on our wish list for several reasons: birds like to eat their red berries in the fall; they attract spicebush swallowtails; they are compact; and their yellow flowers add a new color to our yard in mid-spring. What's not to like?
I plan on photographing this shrub in several seasons and will keep you posted how the birds and insects take to the spicebush.

At the Rookery

2010-03-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be spring without a visit to a great blue heron rookery. So, when I learned that there is a rookery at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair I had to investigate it. It was a beautiful spring morning when we headed out to the park where we were greeted by red-winged blackbirds and the first bluebirds of the season.
Finally, after making a wrong turn and having to climb up a hill, we saw the rookery across the creek. It was quiet time and the only action we saw was a heron who kept flying to an abandoned nest across the creek. Was it a nest from last year? Who knows, but the heron seemed to think it was a convenient way to build a new nest. While we observed the herons we saw a red-tailed hawk from above.
All in all, it was a successful day of birding, especially once we found an almost level trail that took us back to our car.

It Works!

2010-03-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

After the snow receded I could finally test my new birdcam. I first put it on the ground to catch birds that don't visit our feeders but rather forage among the spoils from above.
It is only appropriate that the first two photos the camera took were of a turkey (and the tail of another one). If it seems as if I'm blogging about turkeys a lot lately that's because they are around so often. The camera also captured a mourning dove, a cardinal, and a song sparrow.

Backyard Brawl

2010-03-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

We are experiencing exceptionally sunny weather and the snow in our yard is slowly melting. The snow-free area under our feeder is getting a bit larger every day, thus exposing all the sunflower seeds that fell to the ground over the past few weeks. Visits from our "resident" turkeys are becoming less frequent. One time over the weekend, however, we witnessed three turkeys approaching said area, only to find a squirrel canvassing the ground. When one of the turkeys got a bit too close to the squirrel the squirrel defended its riches and the turkey hopped into the air. This occurred at least twice. It was quite hilarious to watch the squirrel stand up--so to speak--to the much larger turkey.

Birds & Blooms

2010-03-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

My already award-winning photo of an airborne Tufted Titmouse is competing for the Grand Prize in Birds & Blooms Magazine's backyard photo contest. Voting has begun online at www.birdsandblooms.com/Contests/Backyard-Photo-Contest.
The news on the home front is that our backyard has turned into a wild turkey habitat. I saw five turkeys in the still snow-covered yard this morning. Their footprints are all over our yard and even close to our garage. Pretty soon they'll be ringing our door bell, demanding to be fed! We're hoping that they'll go somewhere else once the snow melts. Spring can't come soon enough around here.

Late Winter Update

2010-03-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

When I first saw a turkey in our snow-covered backyard I was excited. Next thing I knew three female turkeys have become regulars at our bird feeders. They time their appearance precisely when my husband puts a feeder out with food for ground eaters. The plan is, of course, to feed songbirds (such as cardinals, white-throated sparrows, fox sparrows, Carolina wrens and anyone else who is more comfortable eating on the ground). We had not anticipated to feed gigantic turkeys and hope they'll disappear once the ground is free of snow. What's a photographer to do? Take photos, of course. However, they tend to disappear once I get out there.
I have another reason to wish the snow gone. I just got a Wingscapes birdcam and hope I can field-test it soon. The camera has a motion detector and a flash and I hope to capture birds with it that just aren't comfortable with me being around photographing them. I plan on posting it near our hummingbird feeder and/or our birdbath during the summer.
Until then, I watch the birds from a window. Lately, we've observed a flock of red-winged blackbirds, more starlings than we dare to count, a robin, and all the other species I mentioned during the bird count. I have also noticed that, despite the cold weather, the birds are singing more and more often. I even heard the red-winged blackbirds call this morning. Can spring be far behind?

Turkeys Away - Not

2010-02-23T08:29:00.000-08:00

My favorite episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati" is the Thanksgiving show "Turkeys Away." The joke is that the station manager drops domestic turkeys out of a helicopter, thinking they can fly. Around our house, we have wild turkeys and they're flocking to our bird feeders more and more often. Until today, I had only seen one at a time. Today, I spotted three turkeys at the same time and did what any shutterbug would do: I photographed them.
As the snow melts away it reveals the sunflower seeds - and their shells - that have landed on the ground recently. It'll be a chore to rake them up, but otherwise they will attract rodents if left unattended. As the weather gets above freezing it is also imperative to clean the bird feeders. We usually clean the feeders in the evening so they can dry overnight before they get filled again. For cleaning we use one part bleach to ten parts water. If you don't have bleach, vinegar will do too. It is important to rinse the feeders thoroughly to remove any trace of bleach. Diseases can spread easily at a heavily frequented bird feeder. That's why it is important to keep up with cleaning and/or removing moldy seeds.

The Great Backyard Bird Count - Day 4

2010-02-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

I love it when things go according to plan. This morning I was thrilled to see our "resident" wild turkey show up at our feeder, just in time to be counted. It spent a considerable time in our backyard and returned around lunch time. I took some photos through the window. Then I attempted to mosey around our house to photograph it but it detected me and flew off. It is hard to approach anything through frozen snow that reaches over my knees.

The Great Backyard Bird Count - Days 2 & 3

2010-02-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning things were eerily quiet around our feeders. A couple of cardinals sat motionless in a pear tree and a squirrel practically hugged another tree. No one was at the feeders. That could only mean one thing: A predator was out there. And then I saw a Cooper's hawk landing on one of our trees, the squirrel not too far above him! After a few moments it flew off again. It did not take long for the birds to return to our feeder.
This morning I spotted 17 cardinals in our backyard. I stopped counting them after that, because what was the point? I didn't even know we had that many around. A less pleasant surprise was counting 18 starlings. Where do they all come from all of a sudden? I am pleased, though, to see a flicker returning to our feeder regularly. And after seeing a turkey at our feeder twice this week it isn't showing up at all to be counted.

Great Backyard Bird Count - Day 1

2010-02-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Great Backyard Bird Count is on. Here is a list of the birds I observed today:

10 Northern cardinals
5 Starlings
1 Northern flicker
1 Black-capped chickadee
1 Tufted titmouse
1 Carolina wren
1 Downy woodpecker
1 Red-bellied woodpecker
1 Hairy woodpecker
1 Blue jay
2 Dark-eyed juncos
2 House sparrows
1 White-throated sparrow
2 Fox sparrows
1 White-breasted nuthatch
2 Mourning doves

This list is by no means complete. While driving through our plan I saw dozens of birds (possibly mourning doves) on a powerline. I couldn't count them, though, because I was driving. I am also hearing quite a bit of bird chatter outdoors today despite the weather.

Feeding birds and other creatures

2010-02-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

On Friday and Saturday our region was hammered with more than 21" of snow. My husband had filled the bird feeder before the yard became unpassable, but the ground feeding birds were out of luck. However, our resident fox sparrow managed to dig a hole in the snow--something we had never seen before. After the snow fall ended my husband stalked through knee-deep snow to put out a platform feeder filled with corn and seeds for the ground eaters on top of the mass of snow. Needless to say, our yard is very busy.
Birds are not the only creatures taking advantage of our outdoor cafe. Last evening we saw a doe at the platform feeder. And today I observed a turkey for several hours eating happily away. In this weather no one wants to expand energy looking for food. I managed to take a couple of photos through our window glass, but when I ventured outside to take a sneak shot it must have heard me coming and flew away.
Hanging a bird feeder is a bit tricky. Put it too far away from the house and you have to trudge through snow and ice to fill it. Put it too close to the house and the birds might crash into your windows and perish. It is absolutely essential to provide the birds with shelter near the feeders (no more than 8-10 feet away) so they can escape if a predator lurks nearby. Lately, we have observed a hawk that often dive bombs through our driveway to make a surprise attack. Hawks have to eat too, but I would like the playing field to be level. Of course, if it was up to me they could eat all the starlings they like...

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2010-02-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

The Great Backyard Bird Count is now just one week away. It will take place from February 12-15, 2010. Where, you ask? Wherever you feel like watching birds. That could be at your feeder, your school, a local park or a wildlife refuge. As long as you write down the times you watched the birds and tally your count it doesn't matter where you view them.
Sometimes the best place is right at home. This afternoon I looked out the window and saw a female turkey under our bird feeder. Too bad it was a week early for the count...
In order to whet your appetite for the bird count I am enclosing a list of all the bird species we have seen in and around our yard over the years:
• American Goldfinch
• American Robin
• Baltimore Oriole
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Carolina Wren
• Chipping Sparrow
• Common Grackle
• Cooper's Hawk
• Crow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Downy Woodpecker
• European Starling
• Eastern Towhee
• Great-horned Owl (heard only)
• Hairy Woodpecker
• House Finch
• House Sparrow
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Cardinal
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Song Sparrow
• Tufted Titmouse
• Turkey
• Turkey Vulture
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• White-crowned Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow

Winter Notes

2010-01-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

It is bitterly cold today and the birds were already at our feeder before daylight broke. Three crows descended on our yard, probably remembering that my husband throws out some peanuts every morning. They've been stopping by more and more often. Perhaps they figure that the best food is the food that takes the least effort to find.
How do our backyard birds survive the frigid nights, other than fluffing out their feathers? They roost, I'm told. They huddle together to give each other warmth or hide in tree cavities or vacant bird houses. Brush piles and evergreen bushes also provide habitat for birds. We had to cut down a shrub last fall and threw it at the edge of our hill side. That brush pile is now teeming with sparrows, juncos, and wrens. Shelter is also important for birds to hide in when our resident hawk lurks around.
In the morning birds have to replenish the energy they expended throughout the night. That's why our feeders are busiest in the early morning hours. Late afternoon is another busy period. While birds cannot afford to totally rely on a particular feeder (they would be doomed if you moved away or went out of town) it is important to keep up the feeding throughout winter once you started feeding birds.

Watch Out, Cardinals!

2010-01-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

I often say that watching birds is much more entertaining than television. Today is no exception. This morning I spotted a bird on the ground and grabbed my binoculars. It was a Cooper's Hawk! I had never seen one on the ground before. It flew on the trunk of a felled shrub nearby and looked around. Then it flew into a pear tree that edges our yard. Against my better judgement I grabbed my camera and stepped outside the front door. I knew they are pretty shy, but thought that I could approach our side porch to take a shot. When it spotted me, however, it flew off--much to the relief of the cardinal that was perched on the other side of the tree. The other day the hawk had better luck, since we found a large pile of feathers on the ground. Apparently, the hawk had snatched a mourning dove, which happens quite often. Hawks need to eat, too, but I would be sad if it caught a pretty singer such as a cardinal.
According to a book I bought recently, Cooper's hawks feed mostly on birds and small mammals, hunting by stealth. They usually move from perch to perch in dense cover, then using a burst of speed to overtake prey. Their habitat are mature forests, open woodlands, and wood edges. Since there is a wooded ravine behind our house there is plenty of habitat to choose from.
Years ago I was more successful with my camera when I photographed an immature Cooper's hawk at our bird bath. Yes, it really was just taking a drink. Back then, our garage door was already open and I used it as a cover. Many photographers also shoot from their cars, but I have never tried that. Perhaps I should, once the weather gets a bit warmer. The best advice, though, is to be ready all the time because you never know what unexpected visitors will pass through your yard.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2010-01-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

I'm gearing up for the Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place on February 12-15, 2010. I am an ambassador this year and will give a presentation about the GBBC at the Moon Township library on February 6.
If you would like to participate please visit www.birdcount.org to learn more about it, how to count the birds, and how to submit checklists. It is important that you submit the highest number of birds seen at any given time; e.g. if you see seven cardinals at a time and an hour later you see five, put seven in your checklist, not 12. It is quite possible that you are counting the same birds twice.
Most importantly, have fun! The GBBC is a great way to get acquainted with birds. Perhaps you will find a new interest. I did.

Adventures of Bird Feeding

2010-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

Our backyard has been covered with snow the entire year now. That means that the birds are busy visiting our feeders. Nature being what it is, occasionally songbirds look like a tasty meal themselves. My husband spotted a hawk in our yard and the cardinals disappeared; all but one, who was sitting in the neighbor's pear tree unaware of the danger. When he noticed the hawk he took off between our house and the neighbor's with the hawk in pursuit. We don't know what happened to the poor cardinal but haven't seen any feathers around. I guess hawks need to eat too, and with the snowcovered ground they can't find any rodents to eat.
When I stepped into our garage today I saw a creature fluttering around. It was a bird who must have flown into the garage and then the door was closed. I let the poor guy out because he must have been hungry. That happens when birds become too curious!

A Stranger at the Feeder

2010-01-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

The frigid weather - and the fact that the ground is covered with snow - brings lots of birds to our feeders. Unfortunately, many of them are starlings. The other day, however, I noticed a red-brown speckled bird on the ground I did not immediately recognize. I consulted my new book, "Lives of North American Birds" by Kenn Kaufman, and feel pretty confident that the new guy is a fox sparrow. The book says that it makes forward jumps and then scratches back with both feet at once. That's exactly what struck me as odd about this sparrow. We have never seen a fox sparrow before, but since we are just north of its usual winter grounds it's entirely possible that a fox sparrow is visiting our yard.
I would love to get a photo of this stranger, but my fingers are already ice cold inside the house. I therefore need to find a good pair of gloves/mitts with removable finger tips to operate camera controls. Don't worry, I would not expose my bare fingers but instead wear liners underneath the gloves. Liners give me the necessary dexterity to turn buttons and focus the lens. It will be a while, though, until the weather is decent enough for me venture outside for more than filling our feeders. Until then, I keep watching the birds from our kitchen window--and try to figure out how to get rid of starlings.

Winter Feeding

2009-12-31T13:36:00.000-08:00

We're busy filling our feeders since the arrival of arctic temperatures. The other day, I observed a flock of red-winged blackbirds and some starlings in our trees. Sure enough, I had to fill our feeder twice during the day. I also made some homemade suet because the birds loved it so much last winter. However, today I realized that the birds weren't eating it. Finally, it occurred to me that the suet holder on our new bird feeder is bigger than the slice of suet I put in. I added another piece of suet and, sure enough, the birds attacked it right away.
Last weekend, we headed to the trail in search of exercise and fresh air. However, the trail was still covered with icy snow and walking was treacherous. We therefore didn't get very far before turning around. When we stopped and looked up we observed a cardinal, a red-bellied woodpecker, a mockingbird, a chickadee, and a tufted titmouse. I have to go back with my camera when the weather is more favorable.

Feeder Watch

2009-12-22T13:01:00.000-08:00

Saturday's snow fall really brings the birds to our feeders. I counted 12 cardinals at one time. Also in abundance are house sparrows, mourning doves, and squirrels (not birds, but a steady presence around our feeders). A Carolina wren also visits the feeders quite often, and three crows search for the peanuts my husband throws outside every morning. As if to compensate for other birds, we seem to have fewer dark-eyed juncos than during other winters.
A new addition to our bird/squirrel offerings is a log that hangs from a bungee cord. It is pressed out of corn kernels, peanuts, and sunflower seeds. It is a huge hit with squirrels, titmice, chickadees, and wrens. Of course, we have our usual offerings of black-oil sunflower seeds, safflower, corn kernels, nyger, and suet. Something for everybody!

Failures of the gardening year

2009-12-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

The biggest "failure" of our gardening year was our inability to find a two-tiered bird fountain. It was supposed to be the focal point of our second native garden. We looked locally and online and came up "empty." Everything we saw was either too small or the water would be too deep for birds to stand in. A bird bath should not be deeper than two inches and nothing passed the test. We finally bought a pretty bird bath and a water wiggler. It was not very popular, though, until we hung up our bird feeders. I guess water alone was not enough of a magnet for birds.
We also purchased an arbor and placed it at the entrance to our native garden. We had images of trumpet honeysuckle climbing up the sides and luring hummingbirds with their sweet smell. Alas, we could not find trumpet honeysuckle anywhere. We hope to have better luck next year.
We also expanded our vegetable area and planted tomatoes and paprika. That proved to be too much temptation for our resident groundhog (actually, he resides under our neighbor's barn, but finds more food in our backyard). Our plan for next year is therefore to put up a fence to protect tender plants from wildlife since we spend a small fortune on repellants.
Fences are on our list for next year, but overall we're happy with the way our backyard has turned out this year. Considering that we haven't had much rain this summer and fall we're lucky that we only had to water our new serviceberry and the annuals, of course.

Successes of the gardening year

2009-11-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

The gardening year is winding down and it's time to take stock of the successes of our native garden. After removing our huge silver maple, we had enough space in our backyard to finally buy a serviceberry. It is now the centerpiece of our second native garden. Its bloom was very short this year (I didn't even get to photograph it because it was over so quickly) but I hope it will bloom longer in its second year. I missed the berries because I was out of town at the time. Its autumn color was beautiful--a russett red that added a beautiful shade to our fall garden.
We also purchased a Joe-pye weed that was a bee and butterfly magnet. I have the photos to prove it. Its blooms attracted bumble bees into October. Luckily, we got a dwarf variety. They can get taller than a man in the wild.
Our zinnias recovered after the first shoots were eaten by rabbits. With a later bloom, they provided color until the first frost killed them.
Next time I will blog about the failures of our gardening year. Luckily, there weren't many.

Birds & Blooms

2009-11-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that my photo of an airborne Tufted Titmouse is a finalist in Birds & Blooms magazine's backyard photo contest. People can now vote online by logging on to www.birdsandblooms.com/contests.
After winning First Place in WildBird magazine's photo contest in 2005 and an Honorable Mention in Pennsylvania Magazine's photo contest 2006, this is the third time my little friend is up for an award. It even landed me on TV when Dave Crawley from KDKA Country filmed me in 2005. Now, the titmouse graces my business card and the homepage of my website, enchanting everyone who sees it. Will three be a charm? I'll keep you posted on the results.

The Wood Duck

2009-11-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

The wood duck is one of a few ducks in North America that nests in trees near water. Many people consider it to be the most beautiful of all waterfowl. You can count me among them now. I think they look like swimming paintings.
Wood ducks readily nest in boxes, and that's how they were introduced to North Chagrin Reservation. As you can see on this photo, the head of a wood duck drake is iridescent. While the females look more drab, they also have a crest and beautiful plumage. Most remarkable is their white eye ring.
They feed off seeds, acorn, fruits, and invertebrates. At North Chagrin, they often picked up pieces of wood out of the pond.
Wood ducks pair up in January and are usually paired by the time they reach their breeding grounds. They are probably gone by now, but they'll be back in Ohio next year, ready to enchant us again with their beauty.

North Chagrin - Part 3

2009-10-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

Photographers should always be open for new subjects. Such was the case on the morning of the first workshop day when a buck appeared on the other side of the small pond. Undisturbed by leaf-peepers and photographers, it made its way along the paved trail while we photographers fired away. It was the first time that I actually photographed a deer. The only other time I encountered a deer while carrying my camera the deer was way too close. I figured that I could maybe photograph its nose and not much else. And the nose would have probably been out of focus.
I am still editing the hundreds of shots I took at North Chagrin and find that I have many favorites. Considering the bad weather we have had during the past few weekends I had great luck. I still can't get over how tame the birds were. Last week, I went to Beechwood. There were three mallards on the pond but they always swam to the other side of the pond when they noticed me. They must have been passers-through since Beechwood is a popular destination with hikers and school groups.
All in all, I couldn't be happier with my results.

North Chagrin - Part 2

2009-10-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

Waterfowl were not the only tame birds at North Chagrin Reservation. Here is a list of the birds I observed during my stay: Bluebirds, American Robins, Cooper's Hawk, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-crowned Sparrow, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Wigeon, Red-winged Blackbirds, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, House Sparrows, and a Great Blue Heron.
It is one of life's mysteries that a bird that I really could use in my portfolio only shows up when I don't have a camera handy. Such was the case on Sunday when my husband joined me and I decided to leave the camera behind while we walked around the pond. Just then, a bluebird landed on a small tree not far from where we were standing. Considering how many people visited the reservation last weekend I was amazed how accustomed to humans all the birds were. Of course, humans weren't the only creatures around. I haven't seen so many dogs this side of the Allegheny Mountains. But wood ducks are truly the stars of the show and quite a few people asked me anxiously, "Are they still here?" Yes, they are - at least until early November or whenever they decide to fly south.

Ducks galore

2009-10-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend at North Chagrin Reservation in Ohio where I attended a wood duck photo workshop. I arrived on Friday afternoon in a light rain and checked out the pond. To my surprise the birds were so tame that even the great blue heron I saw did not fly away when I approached. Apparently, the waterfowl and shorebirds are so used to people that they don't get spooked.
On Saturday morning, we joined plenty of other photographers on the boardwalk to photograph wood ducks and mallards in the early light. We learned that about ten years ago, wood ducks began to breed in the nest boxes that had been built for them. More nest boxes followed and the reservation now is home to a beautiful flock of wood ducks. Before migrating south in early November they have molted into their fresh plumage. Against the backdrop of fall foliage reflecting in the ponds they are truly beautiful. Mallards and Canada geese were also plentiful. And the trees around the ponds and on the trails are home to many songbirds. Although the workshop ended on Sunday evening, I spent Monday morning at the pond before I packed up and it began to rain. It has been a cold, breezy weekend but at least the rain held off until I was finished. The fall foliage, which was probably at or near its peak in Cleveland, added to the beauty of the experience. Now I am back in our warm house, tired and excited about the happy task of editing hundreds of photos. I think I have found another favorite spot to visit.

We're ready

2009-10-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

We took down our hummingbird feeder over the weekend and cleaned our bird feeders. We have already stocked up on black oil sunflower seeds, safflower, and cracked corn. Now we only need to buy or make suet and we're all set. And I bought a new hopper feeder today. Let the birding begin!
Next weekend I'm going to a wood duck photo workshop and hope to return with plenty of great photos to add to my stock. I'm hoping to get more than one species of birds, of course.
At home we're seeing plenty of birds, mostly sparrows. The fall flowers are still in bloom and yesterday I actually saw a monarch on our New England aster. It was probably coming from the North and passing through our yard. I wonder how many visit our flowers without our knowlege?

Fall Has Arrived

2009-09-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

It is now officially fall and the leaves are certainly changing. Last week we headed to Presque Isle. I was hoping to see migrating warblers, but we saw nothing but a few mallards and plenty of ring-billed gulls. Instead we almost got eaten alive by mosquitoes and decided to never return in September.
At home things are getting lively. While the hummingbirds have probably all departed (we saw a straggler over a week ago and none since then) we are spotting more birds overall. My husband saw four flickers in our backyard at once and the blue jays are noisy and numerous. I also observed a red-bellied woodpecker yesterday as it pecked at our neighbors house. It won't be long now until we hang up our feeders again.

Pre-Season

2009-09-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Last week we had such beautiful weather that I headed out to the Audubon nature reserve in Beechwood for the first time in almost a year. The reason for my "abstinence" was, of course, road work. I just couldn't seem to find a direct route to Fox Chapel that didn't include massive detours. Finally I decided to use backroads.
Unfortunately, it was quiet at Beechwood. Birds were in short supply, except for that one hawk circling overhead. There weren't even any Canada geese or mallards. In the end, I photographed a painted turtle sunning itself on a log in the pond.
At home we often hear the not too melodious call of blue jays. They seem to have had a good year. Occasionally I hear a pileated woodpecker. And the hummingbirds are still here, at least the females. It will probably take a weather change to force the migrants to fly south and the warblers to pass through our area.

Hiatus

2009-08-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

We are experiencing hot and sticky weather right now and don't venture outside much. No matter, the birds seem to be on hiatus too. All, except hummingbirds. They are performing aerial combat around our syrup feeder, chasing each other away from the energy drink. As if there weren't enough for everybody! Why can't they just get along? It won't be long now before they start heading south, the first sign that fall will be approaching.

Summer Musings

2009-08-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

We don't see too many birds right now, but I have seen and heard plenty of hawks lately. The ruby-throated hummingbirds are hitting our syrup feeder hard. Not only do they have chicks now, but they are also beefing up for their upcoming migration. I have to check the feeder often to make sure it is full. They are also visiting our flowers, but I see them on the feeder more often than not.
Lately I've been photographing butterflies (yes, we finally have some) and posted some pretty photos on my other blog. Our wildflower garden has recovered from the groundhog's attacks and even the cosmos is blooming now. The biggest hit is our Joe-pye weed. Sometimes we count almost a dozen bees on it. That's where I photographed the butterflies.
While we have taken a few wildflower hikes lately the weather is not inviting us to do much this weekend. There isn't much else to do than making plans for the cooler season. I just signed up for a wood duck workshop in October. I hope it is as exciting as promised.

A Summer Hike

2009-07-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

During the summer - and once we take down our feeders - we don't see too many birds in our backyard. We therefore am more interested in wildflowers than birds right now. Last Sunday, we headed out to Raccoon Creek State Park where we stopped at the wildflower reserve first. After admiring eight to nine feet tall ironweeds we inspected the native garden where we fell in love with the blazing star wildflower. We would love to grow this showy flower that seems to be popular with insects too. Now we have to find a nursery that carries them. After all, gardens are always works in progress.
After the detour to the wildflower reserve we headed out on the valley trail, a trail we had never been on before. I soon realized why: the trail is not wider than two feet and winds up and down around the creek banks. At one point, where the trail went down a steep grade toward a foot bridge, I would have turned around if my husband had not urged me on. Needless to say, he had to lift me up the grade on the way back since this was not a loop. We did see many "first" wildflowers that day. Perhaps we should start a life list?
In our backyard we're still fighting off rabbits and a groundhog. I don't mind if they eat grass, but they're not satisfied with that. They even attacked our purple coneflowers this summer. Survivors of the carnage are our new Joe-pye weed and a nice stand of wild bergamot which I photographed the other day. As if rabbits weren't enough, other plants (such as black-eyed Susans, for example) suffer from the lack of rain. Last night's downpour was a nice respite for them. What I am also missing this year are butterflies. Where have they all gone to?

Birding in Germany

2009-07-09T11:08:00.001-07:00

I recently returned from a trip to Germany where I visited my family and friends. My parents' garden is big and it abuts several other gardens and orchards. Fruit trees and evergreens provide ample cover for the many birds I heard. With the help of my dad's binoculars I observed serins, blackbirds, a blue tit, magpies, and a great tit. Also passing by were swallows, a hawk, and a white stork. The stork nest on top of the fire hall has three inhabitants this summer. And let's not mention the rooster who lived not far away!
If I had the window open at night I could hear bird songs before four o'clock in the morning. When I was younger I did not notice birds unless they were swans or other showy species. Now that I'm interested in birds I see them everywhere.

Backyard photography

2009-06-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

My favorite lighting for bird photography (or flowers, or wildlife) is bright overcast. Last week was just such a day and I set up my blind to take advantage of the great lighting. While I did not get to photograph any new species, I did get a very charming shot of a male cardinal with a sunflower in its beak.
In the meantime, we have taken down our feeder for the summer - the hummingbird feeder remains - and we have to find other ways to lure birds. One way is adding a bird fountain to our new garden. However, we have yet to find one.
Our new garden is having some growing pains, and that's mostly due to rabbits and a groundhog. My zinnias have been eaten in the front and back yard, making it look like the Munsters' garden. There are some native plants that the critters don't touch and perhaps that's a sign to plant more of those. Trial and error is the motto here and it's quite possible that the garden won't take off until next summer.

June observations

2009-06-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

We are still seeing many birds in our backyard. In fact, their population has swelled because many have chicks now. Their constant chirping sounds through our yard all day long. My most exciting sighting this week was a Northern Flicker in our front yard. It targeted the ants on our walk. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still around, enchanting us with their beauty.
Of course, birds aren't the only wildlife we attract. The chipmunks have also multiplied and we are trying to save our newly planted flowers from rabbits. The latter find our flowers really tasty. Oh well, such is life in the suburbs.

Return to Raccoon

2009-05-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we returned to the wetland trail at Raccoon Creek park. It was quiet this time and we only encountered catbird fledglings, one warbler, two bluebirds and numerous Canada geese. The sound of bullfrogs frequently interrupted the silence. I had taken my camera along, but did not take many photos. The hot and humid weather (not to mention insects) soon diminished any idea of staking out birds.
At home, we are busy planting and watering flowers in our new native garden. It doesn't look like much right now, but we're hoping that the recent rain will spur on our seedlings to grow. We are still feeding birds and they are beginning to bring their fledglings to our feeder. They are as big as their parents and it is quite amusing to see such big birds begging for food. We are still seeing a male rose-breasted grosbeak and I hope it will stick around. If we could find a bird fountain, then we would be able to see our birds taking a refreshing bath on a hot summer's day. Oh well, we'll keep looking. Something will come up eventually.

A Trip to Raccoon Creek

2009-05-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

For the first time this year, we headed to Raccoon Creek State Park yesterday. The weather was less than stellar - it was cool and very windy. I therefore left my camera at home and brought my binoculars instead. With such winds I would have been hard-pressed to find a branch that was still long enough to take a decent photo.
Because we're also interested in wildflowers, our first stop involved trilliums and other spring bloomers. On the wetland trail, we saw a Catbird, several warblers (one was probably a yellow warbler, the others were harder to identify), two Baltimore Orioles, countless robins, and a couple of bluebirds.
At home, I had some rarer sightings lately: a Northern Flicker and a White-crowned Sparrow. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still around, too, and I've taken lots of photos of them. To provide some natural food for the birds this summer, we started another wildflower garden. May seems to be the busiest month of the year.

Cowbirds, oh my!

2009-05-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

One of the problems with hanging up bird feeders is that you're also attracting less desirable creatures. At the moment, that would be cowbirds. For weeks now, they have descended on our feeders, eating everything in sight. Of course, the obvious solution would be to stop feeding birds. But then I wouldn't be able to see the rose-breasted grosbeaks that are hanging around lately. They are big eaters too, but at least they don't lay their eggs in other birds' nests. We are on our last bag of birdseed now and when that's gone, they're on their own for the summer.
We are planning on adding another small native garden where birds and insects will be able to find natural food sources. And we're trying to find a bird bath with flowing water, which is more difficult than we expected.
Last Saturday, we went to Sewickley Heights park hoping to see some warblers. We saw a few towhees and I commented that we had not seen any at home lately. Shortly after we returned home we looked out the window and there was a towhee. Ask and you shall receive.

Hummers

2009-04-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we hung up our hummingbird feeder, rather timely as it turned out. On Monday evening, my husband spotted two male ruby-throated hummingbirds at the feeder already. I figured that the southern winds might speed up their way north - and I was right.

They're here...

2009-04-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Things are getting exciting in our backyard now. While we still see a white-throated sparrow around, the juncos seem to be gone. Unfortunately, we have a small flock of cowbirds around. I don't like to see them because they put their eggs in other birds' nests, but there isn't much I can do about them except taking down the feeders. But then we would have missed out on a sight yesterday. First, we spotted one male rose-breasted grosbeak at our sunflower feeder. Soon, I noticed another male in our neighbor's pear tree. A female was not far behind. They all came to our feeders and ate...and ate...and ate. Did I mention that they ate? They are beautiful birds and have a pretty song, so how can I complain?
Yesterday, we also hung up our hummingbird feeder. We usually see our first hummer around May 1, but it can't hurt to be ready. The recent winds we had might carry them here earlier than normal. And what's normal around here when we have 88 degree weather in April?

Independence Day

2009-04-25T11:48:00.001-07:00

I've been honing my bird photography skills in our backyard lately, sort of like spring training after a long winter. Today, we went on our first bird outing. We drove to Independence Marsh in Beaver County and were not disappointed. We had not even left our car when we already spotted a killdeer, tree swallows, Canada geese with goslings, and the ever-present shriek of red-winged blackbirds. Besides the tree swallows, we had other firsts of the year: first female and male blue bird, first yellow warbler, and my husband saw a waterthrush. While rambling around, we flushed a couple of ducks out of a tree, saw a mockingbird, a mystery bird, and two turkey vultures in the distance. All the while we were entertained by the incessant call of frogs and the dragonflies that were out and about. It sure was noisy out there, but it was a pleasant sort of noise. I was disappointed that we didn't see more waterfowl, yet the arrival of spring migrants was a pleasant surprise. Finally, the wind and the heat - too hot for April - got the better of us and we drove home, happy and exhausted at the same time.

Backyard Birds

2009-04-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

When the weather is agreeable I am out in the backyard photographing birds. Last Friday, I spotted a dark-eyed junco eating seeds underneath our feeder and a white-throated sparrow that landed on a branch. I had not seen any white-throated sparrows for a while and had wondered whether they had left yet. Winter is not officially over until these migrants have returned to Canada. Yet, the next day my husband spotted a sparrow with a particularly white breast. Apparently, I had seen the tan-triped variety. I have also seen (and heard) cowbirds in our yard recently. And let's not forget the red-winged blackbirds that pass through every few days.
In a few days I'll have to prepare the first mix of hummingbird syrup because these little flying machines show up around May 1 or 2. I wouldn't want them to pass up our yard because I forgot to hang up a feeder. I am less fortunate with an oriole feeder. For a couple of years, I hung out an oriole feeder after spotting an oriole in our neighbor's tree. But, none of them ever visited my feeder and it's now collecting dust.

The Rookery

2009-04-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and most importantly, it wasn't windy. We therefore headed out to Big Sewickley Creek Road near Ambridge to view the Great Blue Heron rookery we had discovered last year. There must have been 20 or more nests, but photographing them was difficult. Many branches obstruct the view, making focusing and taking a decent photo almost impossible. To show you what I had to cope with I'm including some of my photos here.
Every now and then, one heron took off in flight and glided over the valley. I could never figure out where they flew. When they returned with a stick in their beak they "handed" it to their partner who was busy outfitting the nest. Occasionally, a fight erupted and the herons honked at each other, almost sounding like Canada Geese.

At long last

2009-03-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

As a bird photographer and bird lover, it is my objective to lure birds to our backyard. Feeders are the obvious choice, but the feed can be pricey. Much more natural, if you disregard the initial price tag, is planting trees and shrubs for birds. For years, I'd been longing to get a serviceberry. Everything about them seems perfect: Their spring blossoms are beautiful, their nectar feeds insects, their fall foliage is attractive, and birds and people savor their berries.
There was one problem, though. We had no space to plant another shrub without removing something else. Last November, we finally had our silver maple removed. Not only did its shallow roots grow too close to our patio, but the tree itself was so vulnerable to storms that we feared it might fall onto our house or car some day. Lesson learned: Don't plant a tree that has shallow roots.
On Saturday, we set out to buy a serviceberry. Luckily, the selection was much better than years ago. The nurseries seem to carry more native plants than they used to and our biggest problem was what size shrub we wanted to buy. The smallest ones were quite inexpensive and would have fit into our car, but they would take years to mature. We settled on a medium sized shrub (about eight feet) that will hopefully bear fruit this year or next year. Will we attract cedar waxwings with this shrub? We shall see.

Spring has sprung

2009-03-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

Until yesterday, our backyard was quite uneventful this week - that is, if you don't count hawks. We have had quite a few red-tailed hawk sightings lately. Sometimes they fly right through our yard.
Last evening, we saw our first eastern towhee of the year and I saw it again today. I also noticed that the goldfinches are beginning to molt. Those are two signs that spring is here to stay.

Turkeys Away

2009-03-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

My favorite episode on WKRP in Cincinnati was Turkeys Away. The joke is that the station manager drops turkeys out of an airplane thinking that they fly. So, when I first saw a huge bird fly across the street in front of my car, I thought, "It could have been a turkey, but since turkeys don't fly, what could it have been?" I then learned that wild turkeys do indeed fly...
On Monday, I spotted several turkeys in our backyard, scratching at the seeds that dropped from our bird feeders. I knew that they spook easily. I grabbed my camera and stalked down our driveway to the edge of the house, not an easy feat on a gravel driveway. To my surprise, there were over a dozen turkeys in our and the neighbors' yards. I fired off a couple shots before they spotted me and flew away toward the wooded ravine behind our house. All winter long, we did not see a sign of them but now that the days are getting longer they will probably show up more often. Years ago, I even saw a turkey landing on top of our feeder pole. More dangerous was the time when I observed three turkeys crossing the street toward the school that abuts our housing plan. Where they after the food the children dropped on the ground or did they want to attend turkey school?

Mystery Solved

2009-03-09T06:22:00.001-07:00

During the past few weeks, I noticed some strange looking birds in our backyard. They didn't quite look like goldfinches, yet they often visited our thistle feeder. They also ate seeds on the ground, but they weren't sparrows either. The other day I received an Audubon Society bulletin and learned that they are pine siskins. I wish I had known this during the backyard bird count so I could have included them. On Saturday, when they were visiting our feeders again I set up my camera and took some photos of them. I was quite excited that I could finally photograph again after a long winter trapped indoors.
At the same time the siskins were at the thistle feeder, a male goldfinch showed up. Its eyes were quite shut from what I assume is conjunctivitis. A bit later, I spotted it on the ground eating seeds. I felt quite sorry for it since it will probably starve to death sooner or later. My husband cleaned out the feeder that same night to avoid spreading the disease to other birds.

Musings

2009-03-06T13:59:00.001-08:00

Despite the recent cold spell, spring is around the corner. Really. The birds think so. I hear more and more bird songs around our house and even when I'm driving. Last week, my husband spotted a blue jay that was feeding another one.
The results of the great backyard bird count are in and I can report that we have all 10 of the most frequently reported birds in our yard. I would be happier if I could report a rarer species than, say, a mourning dove, but so it goes.
A bit more unusual are the seagulls we saw at the Pointe recently. There is no body of water nearby and I can only assume that they are raiding the garbage disposals of the restaurants. Go figure!

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2009-02-17T13:54:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count. At some times of the day it was like a feeding frenzy out there. On Saturday, for example, I counted 13 cardinals at once. I can explain their abundance with the wooded ravine we have behind our house. Other large numbers were: five juncos; nine mourning doves; five goldfinches, and seven starlings. I also saw three robins on our street, my first sighting of the year. Their survival instincts have not quite kicked in yet.
Our most exciting experience was on Sunday when we watched two crows land in our yard. At that same inopportune moment, a vole decided to leave its hole - only to be snatched up by one of the crows who then took off with its prize.
The other backyard visitors were vegetarians and munched on our four bird feeders and the feed that fell to the ground. Too bad I was not allowed to count squirrels. They are always in abundance around here. I was also sorry that the flock of red-winged blackbirds I have often seen lately did not show up during the count. That would have been impressive! I am anxious to see the final tally of the count. Last year, cardinals were the most reported species. No wonder, judging from my own numbers.