I’ve been away from Birder’s Lounge for a couple of weeks, and I am glad to return with the next Challenge for Charity contest. The first person with the most correct answers will win a $10 donation in their name,  to the wildlife/nature/conservation charity of their choice. If the winner correctly answers the Bonus question, the donation increases to $15. If this is your first visit, please see the Challenge for Charity page for a history of winners and their charities, along with “official rules.” Good Luck!

Picture 1 | Plano, TX

Picture 1 Question: Name this bird and which of  the two forms it represents. Read the rest of this entry »

Winner - Zeb Acuff, for Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research

We had another lively contest with seven participants vying for the $10 prize for their favorite wildlife/conservation/nature charity. Zeb Acuff has won the contest, answering all of the questions correctly – though I stumped everyone on the bonus question. ;-0 Zeb has chosen Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research to receive the $10 donation in his name.  I have just enough time to put this up before heading to Austin, TX for the weekend – will see what the birds are doing a little further south! Read the rest of this entry »

I had some time a couple of weeks ago to shoot some pictures of the activity in my back yard on a highly unusual snow day. I always put out a scoop of peanuts-in-the-shell each day, and I hang a thistle/nyjer feeder in the winter. Needless to say, my back yard was busy!

This photo is one side of my back yard – where my Bird Lounge is located, next to my pile of “cover” branches. I’ve labeled a few other items – I know it may be hard to read, but you get the idea. Now for the birds… Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to the second offering of my new series, “What I Love About Nature.” If this is the first you have heard about this series, please see my introduction in the series debut. I hope you enjoy the pictures and thoughts.
I love that I can always find a mockingbird to soothe my soul. I love that mockingbirds can be full of attitude, quietly stoic, or busy-bodies. Reminds me of myself at times.

~ Read the rest of this entry »

I have decided to offer up my very own virtual beetle collection in honor of the first edition of the carnival created just for beetles. An Inordinate Fondness is the name that Ted MacRae has given to this new blog carnival, dedicated to his beloved beetles. My method of observing and contemplating beetles (as well as just about every wild thing) is to walk around and see what I see. Maybe scratch in the dirt with a stick, ruffle some leaves on the ground. This method of beetle-hunting has not rewarded me with any beetles lately, but I have a virtual collection to share:

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Just days before all of the snow fell in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area, we had tons of rain. The picture above was taken February 8 at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Plano, TX. This pedestrian bridge stretches over Rowlett Creek, off the Jupiter entry. I have never seen the creek this high! The water was rushing so fast that big limbs kept thudding on the underside of the bridge, only to quickly be sucked under and shoot out the other side. Read the rest of this entry »

Hundreds of sick and starving Brown Pelicans have been admitted to the IBRRC’s two clinics in California since January 1. This huge influx of Brown Pelicans in need of care is a direct result of the polluted runoff from storms that have been battering the California coast. Pollutants int he water strip the pelicans of their natural water-proofing oils, leaving the birds defenseless against the elements. The following video is a recent news video from KTLA-TV, in California:

The International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) and three other area wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities have issued this joint NEWS RELEASE: Pelican Crisis Pushes California Wildlife Groups to Breaking Point (PDF)

If you would like to contribute toward the effort to help these pelicans, please see the donations page at IBRRC.

With the 3rd edition of House of Herps right around the corner, I made it a priority to go outside to see if I could find any herp-life around my backyard pond. Thanks to one of my dogs, I found a herp – but alas, it was not alive. The really interesting discovery was that this lifeless snake was tied in a knot! Read the rest of this entry »

Yep, that’s right – squirrels ruined my truck. Granted, it was an old truck (1995 F150), but it was MY old truck, and I really liked it. I bought it several years ago so that I could use it for hauling rock, dirt, mulch, and building materials. The truck has helped me turn my suburban yard into a wildlife-friendly space. I used it to take the boat to the lake and make wonderful memories with family and friends. My S.O. and I have loaded our two beagles into the truck on many a summer night for a trip to Sonic for a diet cherry limeade and a bite to eat. Good times.

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