October Merlin
October is a terrific month to spot some falcons flying by in migration, and like with our winter friends the Snowy Owls, sometimes a pole is the best place to look! If you’re lucky enough you might be able to get an American Kestrel, a Peregrine Falcon, and a Merlin like this all on one day. I would suggest waiting and watching because seeing them soar back into the sky is worth it. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreOsprey Pole
Kind of like Snowy Owls in the winter, one could spend their summer wandering around and photographing Ospreys on all types of poles – the classic utility, the specialized power structure, the flag, the lamp or streetlight as seen here…hey, whether it’s for a meal or a nap, these poles are darn comfy! Maybe we are missing out on something…pass the fish, please. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreTree Swallows Pairing Up
I hope you have your nest boxes ready because the Tree Swallows have arrived. They are getting right to business with the recent warmth, pairing up and having territorial squabbles over real estate. The birds on the bars in these photos were at the top of a Purple Martin gourd tree, hoping to find a gourd for themselves. Sometimes this happens and both species can still be successful in nesting. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MorePower lines and birds
Earlier this week I read a story about a bird rescue by the fire department from my hometown. It seems a gull had gotten tangled in fishing line – an unfortunately common occurrence easily avoided if everyone fishing would clean up after themselves – and then compounded the problem by getting stuck on power lines! I thought to myself, you know what? This must happen on a relatively frequent basis to various birds, especially the large ones that would perch on them. We discuss cats, buildings, pollution, and many other sources of avian mortality, but power systems are everywhere,...
Read More
