Northern Flicker
Here is the species that started everything for Roger Tory Peterson – the Northern Flicker. It and all birds came to represent to Roger all the freedom, beauty and vitality of the natural world. This Northern Flicker is a male as you can see by the black mustache. The bird is feeding on the ground, as many flickers do, searching for ants, beetles and other insect life. This winter is a good example of how a warmer than usual stretch of weather can impact a certain species as these strongly migratory birds might not have to fly so far to find uncovered, unfrozen earth. Climate change...
Read MoreAmerican Tree Sparrow
Hello, winter! This little blast of frozen precipitation and cold is not going to last for long, but it is a big reminder of what season we are actually in. I thought this American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) looked like a classic winter photo, with low light and a chilly feeling on appropriately bare branches for a wintering species. Do you have any in your yard or at your bird feeders? We are nearly to the New Year when those birding lists will be starting over once again… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreWinter “Bird” Forecast #4 – Foxes!
Here are Stratford Point’s Red Foxes featured in last week’s winter “bird” forecast with Audubon Connecticut: http://wxedge.com/2015/12/14/foxes/
Read MoreDowny Woodpecker
This is not where you typically spot your Downy Woodpeckers! Usually we see them living up to their names and bills on trees or even on suet at home feeders. However, this has been such a terrific year for natural food that I have spotted plenty of them on the ground enjoying various acorns, nuts and other seeds. This cute fella looked happy with such a deep menu to select from on a warm afternoon. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreWhite-breasted Nuthatch
This female White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was having a snack in the park, but she and others of her species may be visiting your yard for some sunflower seeds, suet and more this season. How many do you have at your home? I seem to be spotting a few more White-breasted Nuthatches than average so far this “winter”, though unfortunately I do not have any of their Red-breasted cousins around. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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