Bird Photography Weekly #187
March 25, 2012
Article in: Bird Photography Weekly
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“Kinda” Birding – Fort Worth, Texas
March 20, 2012
Article in: Travel
I (Jennie) had the good fortune to be able to travel to Ft. Worth, Texas for some special work training last week. I quickly found out how hard it is to be somewhere “cool and different” for birding and have NO TIME TO BIRD!
All was not lost. I found large numbers of Great-tailed Grackles and Northern Mockingbirds. I love common birds especially when they are not common to me! I could not get enough of the crazy, loud Great-tailed Grackles. They were everywhere! I was able to sit and listen to the harmonious screeches and whistles every evening along with the Northern Mockingbirds mimicking. It was great.
Great-tailed Grackles at the hotel
I was also lucky enough to be near a waterway that had a few species milling about. Double-crested Cormorant, Bufflehead, Northern Shoveler and American Coot and of course Mallard and Ring-billed Gull. I always forget just how striking Buffleheads can be.
Double-crested Cormorants
Oddly enough, I got a life bird. I did not get a great photo, but this Eurasian-collared Dove was hanging out near my hotel.
Another not-so-great shot: Northern Mockingbird
All-in-all not bad for a non-birding trip.
Tree Swallows Already!
March 19, 2012
Article in: Birding
On Sunday (March 18) I spotted my first Tree Swallow of the season.
Seems early in northern Illinois but with temperatures topping 80 degrees and insects already in high numbers, it also seemed fitting.
Tree Swallow digiscoped at Afton Forest Preserve in DeKalb County, Illinois.
Bird Photography Weekly #186
March 18, 2012
Article in: Bird Photography Weekly
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Review of Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success
March 15, 2012
Article in: Book Reviews
The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success: Hundreds of Surefire Tips for Attracting and Feeding Your Favorite Birds
Whether you are new to the hobby of backyard birding or a long-time vet, you’ll find many nuggets of information to improve your ability to bring in the birds and make you and your avian visitors happy.
There are chapters on the wide variety of seeds and seed mixes available as well as other types of feed: nuts, corn, suet, nectar, etc. For all the types of food there are pros and cons listed as well as ways to grow your own food sources. Growing your own bird food is cost-effective and lots of fun!
We love the inclusion of so much information on gardening specifically to attract and feed birds. This is exactly the type of information we can use to improve and enhance bird-centric backyards.
The chapter on “Feeding Station Features” explains some of the do’s and don’ts of creating a feeding station. There is an emphasis on planning and picking the best location for feeders as well as techniques on making it easier to clean and fill your feeders.
Unfortunately, this is the only section that is lacking a bit as water features and nest boxes are added without much information. These are two major issues that can improve the ability to attract the birds and then in turn, feed them.
The chapter on “Bird Favorites for Your Garden” is a great resource for choosing amazing plants and focuses on creating bird habitat right at home.
The final chapter, “Birds at the Buffet” covers a huge array of bird species you can look for not just at your feeders but anywhere in your yard, no matter where you live in the country. The birds include photographs as well as descriptive text and most importantly, information on what natural and feeder foods to provide as well as what feeders to use.
This last chapter is an excellent resource for choosing a new feeder, feed type, or what plants to add to your native garden based on specific birds you want to see.
We really enjoyed The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success
Disclaimer: We received this book for free from Rodale Books to review on Birdfreak.com. The links are Amazon affiliate links.
Review of Petrels, Albatrosses & Storm-Petrels of North America
March 13, 2012
Article in: Book Reviews
The following is a review of the beautiful book on tubenoses: Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
Steve N. G. Howell’s book on the tubenoses is thorough and highly enjoyable. No other single source provides so much information on such a complicated group of birds.
These birds belong to the “superfamily Procellarioidea, which also includes frigatebirds, penguins, and loons.”
Living in the midwest we are unaccustomed to the petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels but on occasion we have visited the coasts and seen a few.
“…tubenoses are a well-defined group of seabirds that comprise the order Procellariiformes, and are so-named because their nostrils are encased in tube-like structures on the bill.”
These seabirds use their nostrils to “…drink saltwater and excrete surplus salt in solutions that leak out of the nostril tubes.”
This photographic guide provides the means necessary to learn how to identify these pelagic species by including numerous photos along with the detailed text. The text explains what to look for in the field, similar species to compare with, as well as habitat and behavior.
Surprisingly, the ocean isn’t just one giant habitat of salty seawater “…but instead they comprise many habitats usually invisible to the human eye.”
“On land, these habitats would be as different as deserts are from rainforests, and at sea they are mobile deserts and rainforests!”
Accompanying the species accounts is a colorful map that shows sea range, molting area, breeding range, as well as main migration routes. The main routes even include numbers that indicate seasonal occurrence: 3-4 (March-April) for example.
Also included in the text is conservation information including why tubenoses are important, the threats they face, and what we can do to help them out.
Whether you have a growing interest in these fascinating sea birds or are a seasoned pelagic birder, Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
Disclaimer: We received a free copy of this book from Princeton University Press to review on Birdfreak.com. The book title links are Amazon affiliate links.
Bird Photography Weekly #185
March 11, 2012
Article in: Bird Photography Weekly
Join in now on the 185th edition of Bird Photography Weekly!!
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Ohio Young Birders Meet Author Richard Crossley
March 5, 2012
Article in: Take Kids Birding
Richard Crossley- author of The Crossley ID Guide
The Ohio Young Birders Club was invited to meet field guide author Richard Crossley who presented at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio. He discussed his life and bird identification plus signed books (included Birdfreak’s!). Dakota traveled with fellow Ohio young birder Kayla and her wonderful grandparents who were kind enough to drive. They had a great time!
Pre-talk Fun
The Ever-so-awesome Black Swamp Bird Observatory Education Director – Ken Keffer
Dakota writes…
Traveling to Columbus during rush hour was a challenge but we made it to the Audubon Center just in time to eat pizza and listen to author Richard Crossley speak. There were not many people there to start off with because Mr. Crossley was doing a seperate talk for just the young birders. After that, a lot more people started to show up for the main talk.
“The Crossley beckons the reader to observe the scenes and better familiarize themselves with the bird and the habitat.” – Eddie, Birdfreak.com review
He spoke to the young birders about how he started birding, were he was from, and how lucky we are to have such a great young birders club. And we really are lucky. The Ohio Young Birders Club is very active and it brings young birders together.
Mr. Crossley’s Presentation
For the main talk, Mr. Crossley spoke about his birding life and career. He is a great story teller and the whole audience was captivated. His accent was cool too! He is originally from Europe but now lives in New Jersey.
He talked about the ups and downs he experienced while birding and some of the things he turned down to be a birder.
Did you know he was once offered professional training in soccer and lacrosse when he was 14 but said no?
Mr. Crossley is a very passionate birder. His ID guide is different from most. He shows the birds as you would see them. Flying, perching, landing, males and females of different ages.
“As a new birder I love that the Crossley shows the bird from so many different angles . . . the habitat scenes bring the whole bird identification picture together.” Stacia, Birdfreak.com review
The night was a lot of fun despite coming home late on a school night.
We encourage you to read the Birdfreak review of The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds.
