• Avian

    Getting Older

    March 4, 2015
    Frost Covered Feather
    Frost Covered Feather

    Well, my Medicare card arrived in the mail along with a very confusing booklet to read. Man, do my parents feel old now!

    A couple of weeks ago I stepped on a crowded bus headed for the transit center on the campus of CSU so I could spend time at Morgan Library. Standing room only so I grabbed the overhead rail to hang on for the ride. A nice young man stood up and said, “Sir, would you like to sit down?” Without knowing or intending to, he made a d deep cut as I immediately felt old. I declined his offer. As I looked at these college students I realized I am 40 years older than almost everyone on the bus except the driver. And I’m still 20 years older than they were. The reality is that to them I am old and at their age I felt the same. When I look in the mirror I don’t see that. Perspective. And, that’s a good thing.

    I’ve had a few days to reflect on my reaction and how I might react differently if faced with that again. If the passenger next to him is a hot 20 year old college girl, heck yes I’m going to take the offer. 🙂 When you think about it there are more perks for getting older besides senior bus passes or food discounts at IHOP.

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  • Avian,  Metro Parks

    Can You Find Them?

    March 1, 2015
    A Few Birds
    A Few Birds

    I know it’s a busy image but wait. I took his image a few years ago at the Blendon Woods Metro Park in Gahanna, Ohio. They have nature center for children (that’s us) with a viewing area for birds where they have placed feeders. I would sit along the windows, elbows on the shelf  and just watch. There are a total of 6 cardinals and one sparrow in the image. Can you find them?

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  • Avian

    Killdeer

    May 27, 2014
    Killdear
    Killdeer

    Killdeer is a medium sized plover that hangs around lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, open wetlands and parking lots. And, in this case, a field along County Road 13. They run in spurts, stopping with a jolt every so often to check their progress, or to see if they’ve startled up any insect prey. They have a distinct far-carrying call that sounds like “kill-dee” or “kill-deeah-dee-dee.”  I’ve hear that sound after dark and they will often give it in flight as the bird circles overhead. I like watching them and listening to them. Much preferred sound than a honking and busy street.

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  • Avian,  landscape,  sunrises

    Sunrise and the Fence Post

    April 18, 2014
    HDR Preset at Dawn
    HDR Preset at Dawn

    This image is post processed using an extreme HDR Pro 2 preset. I like it. There is no sign of the city. No sounds of the city. Just the wind blowing in the grass. It’s an image that reminds me why I get up early, make my latte, and drive east to watch the sun come up.

    But, there is another reason I get up early. The birds! As took the above image a couple meadowlarks were singing in the back ground. Ever notice how birds are up early? And, they’re singing. And, they’re happy. Ever wonder why? Well, maybe it’s because, as William Camden says, “The early bird catches the worm.” Or, in this case it’s probably going to be flying insects, but still. Begs the question why the insects are out so early. Why don’t they just sleep in late and not get caught? One of those nature things. But without all that circle of life stuff, I wouldn’t get to enjoy hearing them sing in the morning when I get up early.

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose

    Stay Warm

    February 6, 2014
    Canada Geese
    Canada Geese

    Well it’s still cold this morning and light snow is falling. They keep predicting it will warm up tomorrow. We’ll see. If it gets up to above freezing I’m pretty sure I will see a few people back in shorts. Anyway, here are a couple of facts you may not know about Canada Geese.

    In spring and summer, geese concentrate their feeding on grasses and sedges, including skunk cabbage leaves and eelgrass. During fall and winter, they rely more on berries and seeds, including agricultural grains, and seem especially fond of blueberries. They’re very efficient at removing kernels from dry corn cobs. Two subspecies have adapted to urban environments and graze on domesticated grasses year round.

    Their feet also keep them warm in the winter. The feet keep the entire goose’s body warm while in the water or tucked up into its feathers. To stay warm, geese will tuck their feet under the down while lying on a frozen pond or snow.  That doesn’t work for me. My feet are the first thing to get cold. Stay warm!

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose,  quotes

    Staying Warm

    February 4, 2014
    How do they do it?
    How do they do it?

    “Ideas are the most fragile things in the world. If you don’t write them down, they will be lost forever.”

    It’s snowing again and predicted to lightly snow all day. We have maybe 2 inches with another inch or two as our total. Always amazed me the geese can do this and who’s idea was it? Stay warm, just as the geese do!

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  • Avian,  Canada Goose

    All I Want is Some Quiet

    March 30, 2013
    Canada Geese at Riverbend Ponds

    I took this image on my walk at the Riverbend Ponds this morning. And what a glorious morning it was. However I think this goose did not have the same impression of the morning as I did. There was a lot of squawking going on and all one sided. I had to laugh as I thought through the following conversation in my head.

    Second Goose: “Stop swimming away from me. I’m not done talking to you! Do you hear me?”

    First Goose: “Am I going to have to deal with this all season? All I want is some quiet.” Sigh!

    Have a great weekend.

     
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  • Avian

    Redheads

    March 29, 2013

    Redheads (Male and Female)

    Male and female Redhead (Aythya americana), in case you didn’t know. As I was finishing a walk I noticed these two on my pond. Ran in and got a longer lens then sat outside and watched them for a while. We doe not see them that often so I needed to look up a bit of information on them. They are primarily a diving and dabbling duck and unfortunately are on a decline due to hunting and  loss of habitat. Their favorite habitats are hanging around marshes and prairie potholes of western North America. The male is the one I spotted first due to the striking colors and bold lines. Interesting fact is that following the breeding season, males go through a molt which leaves them flightless for almost a month. Before this happens, they leave their mates and move to large bodies of water, usually flying further north. The following year they find new mates. Man, what a hassle that would be. And, I’m not talking about the molting as the hassle.  🙂

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