Birder’s Lounge

This young Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was intently staring into the brush when my parents and I came upon it. My parents have been trying to get me to go for a walk in their neighborhood park for quite some time. I’m always going here or there, looking for birds and other wildlife in parks, sanctuaries, and refuges. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be impressed with the birding - but I was. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever spent a few hours watching a flock of pelicans? I was fortunate enough to do just that recently, and want to share some of the really fun and surprising things I saw.

Playing “twister.” Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t know much about gulls, but I’ve learned a thing or two lately. They are handsome in flight, often soaring with wings outstretched. They can be seen just about anywhere in North America at some point during the year. You know what else? They are bullies and thieves! Read the rest of this entry »

Right? A pelican is probably one of the most widely recognized birds in the world. They are huge birds, with incredibly long bills and an expandable pouch. When they fly, they soar - and it is an awesome sight. These pelicans seemed so content. They were not rushed or hurried, nor stressed or bothered. They seemed to be enjoying a beautiful day with the fine company of others in their flock. Look - their necks are curled at angles that make a heart shape with their heads. I love stuff like this. Read the rest of this entry »

These Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) are not native to North America, but they have been around for close to 400 years.¹

These birds are incredibly common in urban areas, and are probably considered pests by some. I think they are beautiful - look at the colors! Read the rest of this entry »

I am so excited to announce a series on American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)! As you can probably tell from the Birder’s Lounge logo, I am pretty sweet on these magnificent birds. I saw my first “real-live” pelican on February 25, 2005. (No, I didn’t remember the date -  I had to look back at my pictures.)

As I have mentioned before, I actually credit squirrels with leading me into my love of birds. I credit my first sight of a flock of pelicans as the awe-inspiring clincher to my bird-lovingness . Have you ever seen a pelican in flight? Awesome! Huge! I’m talking, 9-foot wingspan huge.

Something else neat…this is my 100th post! How very fitting that it should be about pelicans. I didn’t even plan it that way!

I will be sharing lots of pictures and information about American White Pelicans in the coming weeks. Before you know it, you’ll adore them as much as I do!

This is the closest look I have ever had at a Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus). It got my attention first by its call - loud, piercing, and totally awesome. Read the rest of this entry »

I recently took over an Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) nest box route. The man who had tended to them for years took a job in another state, and heard about me from a mutual acquaintance. As luck would have it, I live about 5 minutes from the area. Since I ultimately determined that banding wasn’t for me, I was glad to have an opportunity to help birds in a less intrusive way. This was my first time to make the rounds. Read the rest of this entry »

This Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), is right at home on this Cactus apple (Opuntia engelmannii). If I had not looked this cactus up at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center database, I would have said it was a “prickly pear.” This also would be correct - all species in the Opuntia genus are called prickly pear. This cactus in native to the southwestern states of America. Read the rest of this entry »

I rebuilt my Bird Lounge and this is what it looks like now. I like the real branches much better than the 4×4, square posts that I originally used. The birds were on it right away, and no wonder - the branches are authentic perches. The squirrels like it too, but they have to work to get the black-oil sunflower seed. It slows them down enough so that everyone gets a snack. I have it precisely positioned in the best spot for viewing from my favorite kitchen window. Read the rest of this entry »