Ah, spring. What could be more glorious? Flowers are blooming, insects are buzzing, frogs are calling. And the birds? Well they’re doing what birds do…
A Bird Eat Bird World
Red-Headed Woodpeckers
What’s black and white and red all over? Here in the TriCities’ corner of the natural world, not a lot. But the red-headed woodpecker is…
Monk Parakeets
A little over a year ago, in February 2020, I signed up for what promised to be the adventure of a lifetime. “Travel to Costa…
Grackles
Grackles. They’re a bird you know, even if you don’t know birds. Remember back when you learned about robins and cardinals and blue jays? Grackles…
Departure of the Dark Eyed Juncos
Well, it’s here. Can you feel it? Spring snuck in at 4:37 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, and with it came a host of spring…
Song Sparrows
“Sweet, sweet, sweet…blah blah blah yada yada.” “Sweet, sweet, sweet…blah blah blah yada yada.” “Sweet, sweet, sweet…blah blah blah yada yada.” Sound familiar? No, it’s…
Redhead Ducks
Last week we took a look at the American robin, a bird regarded as a sign of spring but-confoundingly-has been popping up all over northern…
Robins — In Winter?!
Okay folks, show of hands. How many of you were raised to believe that robins are the first signs of spring? I know I was.…
Snowy Owls
It’s snowy owl season once again. Look for this regal visitor from the north in farm country, atop fence posts and utility poles. Good Natured: Snowy Owls January 8, 2021 Not only do I remember where I saw my first white owl, I also remember when. I was four years old, poking around my
Turkey Vultures
Turkey vultures are the sorts of birds that command attention. For one, they’re VULTURES-dark-feathered and hunchbacked, they look vaguely creepy even under the best of…