Long ago the tide did not ebb and flow, but stayed close to shore. Before the boat leaves, climb the stairs and step out on the observation deck where you can enjoy a mini-birdwatching cruise.
The robber escapes with edible tidbits and caches them in trees with its sticky saliva, reclaiming its stored food in the cold, snowy winter.
What birds you see depends upon the time of year and the route of your ferry. Remember when you were a young Saturday morning birdwatcher, learning the intricate lessons of predator-prey relationships?
Should it go down headfirst or tailfirst? Male Raggiana Birds of Paradise perform elaborate displays to attract females, sometimes even hanging upside-down with their wings pointing upward.
A Red-tailed Hawk soars on broad, rounded wings, the epitome of effortless flight. Put your winter garden to work as a haven for birds. Putting out a feeder is easy.
But its song belies a rather bloodthirsty feeding habit. But its song belies a rather bloodthirsty feeding habit.
Movie-makers love to add bird sounds to a film, to evoke a mood or set a scene.
Should it go down headfirst or tailfirst? And the rewards of feeding birds in your yard are mutual: smaller birds, which have high energy demands, benefit greatly from the food you provide during the colder months. Long ago the tide did not ebb and flow, but stayed close to shore. Herons nest in colonies, constructing their stick nests in adjoining trees or cramming several nests into one tree. Others dive under the water, using their feet and occasionally their wings for propulsion.
Learning to tell these LBBs apart can be really frustrating for novice birdwatchers. This male Willow Ptarmigan from the shrubby willow tundra seems like he might be doing his best to make others laugh.
One crow is just a crow.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler, probably mid-way through its fall migration, is unafraid. The Black Oystercatcher is completely dependent on the marine shoreline for food, even in winter, when waves hit the rocks with awesome force. Merlins, compact birds of prey about ten inches long with a two-foot wingspan, are swift, powerful fliers, true thunderbolts on long, pointed wings. Only a few weeks after young Bald Eagles fledge from their nests, the parents leave the area as well.
The nests are bits of gravel, debris, and dried vegetation or sticks, often next to a wall or chimney.
What birds you see depends upon the time of year and the route of your ferry. Herons nest in colonies, constructing their stick nests in adjoining trees or cramming several nests into one tree.
Is that big black bird a crow or a raven? Except for Northern Pintails.
A clean feeder is a life-and-death matter to some birds. Imagine: a Great Blue Heron trying to swallow a snake. It has a pleasing and rhythmical song, which it sings even in winter. Because cell towers stretch high above surrounding trees and buildings, they sometimes offer perfect nesting sites for Ospreys, large brown and white birds of prey. The evidence and theories are complex.
Such labels are not used by ornithologists, but they add a bit of fun to the study of birds. The harsh call of a silvery-white seabird rips the air. Learning to forage takes practice.
Others dive under the water, using their feet and occasionally their wings for propulsion. Some dabble along the surface, feeding along shallow edges of lakes and estuaries.