In my blog on 3/19, I posted photos of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers in mating rituals. Many creatures are just like us – there is courting before mating. For Downys, this involves looking at each other, fluttering around each other, and chasing each other. All this happened in the trees on the north shore […]
These photos came from Matt F. in Cottage Grove, MN. He and his wife live in a neighborhood that is close to a good-sized pond and natural area that is full of wildlife. Each spring, Mallards can be found in their neighborhood. Many of these ducks are looking for nest sites – and they do […]
Yesterday I added 6 new videos to this website – I hope you enjoy them! My main purpose with these videos is for you to be able to see these birds in action – a slice of their lives. You can watch their interactions, their movements. Get acquainted. Our weather here in Illinois has been […]
Hope Rupp sent me these photos of a female Pileated Woodpecker – these were taken near Harrisburg, PA. She also sent videos – click on Videos in the website menu to view all 3. She told me this woodpecker has been at her boss’s window every spring for 3 years and does rap on the […]
For the past two years, we have had an American Robin right at this time of year (late March-early April) eating seed at the feeders. Last year, the robin was on the ground underneath the feeders. This year it has been up on the platform feeder most days for the last three weeks. And I […]
Yesterday, I posted a longer video (about 8 minutes). Killdeer interacting with each other. And today I posted a video with several Turkey Vultures. Take a look and enjoy!
Odd behavior for a robin! Again! Last year we had a robin at this same time of year – coming to the feeders. Both to the platform feeder and on the ground underneath. And Cleon and I swore the bird was eating seed. Robins don’t eat seed – they eat worms, insects, and fruit. We […]
Cleon and I were sitting on our patio – sprawled out in our Adirondack chairs after working in our yard and gardens. This patio is on the side of the house and some distance from the feeders, but the edge of trees along this part of the lake is a haven for birds – particularly […]
Yesterday, I posted a video. Sandhill Crane. Cleon and I took a drive on rural roads through farmland. Some of these fields have not had changes and so still have low areas where water collects – generally no more than a foot deep and most often, only several inches deep. These low areas are havens […]
Here in central Illinois, spring migration has started. And that means the arrival of the blackbirds. We are fortunate in that most are with us only for a few weeks and then disperse to find nesting territories, mate, and raise their young. But some blackbirds can be persistent and stay right here in our yard. […]