Birder’s Lounge

It is time for the first monthly ID Challenge! contest for 2009. I hope to spark your curiosity and provide you with a fun way to learn about nature. The prize for this month’s contest is AWESOME. I chose this prize because I want one too!

A photographic showcase of 150 birds at the extremes of nature.

Extreme Birds reveals nature’s ingenuity and sometimes its sense of humor. The species showcased in this book are chosen for their extraordinary characteristics and for behaviors far beyond the typical. They are the biggest, the fastest, the meanest, the smartest. They build the most intricate nests, they have the most peculiar mating rituals, and they dive the deepest or fly the highest. These are the overachievers of the avian world.

About the Author

Dominic Couzens has written many books on birds and birding, leads specialized bird tours, and is a regular contributor to Birdwatch and BBC Wildlife magazines. ¹

Allright, time to announce this month’s ID Challenge! winner. First, the answers:

Picture 1; Dallas, TX

Picture 1 is a Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), photographed at White Rock Lake, in Dallas, Texas. This one and several others were hanging out with the pelicans.

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Picture 2; Dallas, TX

Picture 2 is a Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). This photo was also taken at White Rock Lake - in November! It seemed extraordinary to me to see such a big, pretty butterfly so late in the year.

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Picture 3; Richardson, TX

The growths in Picture 3 are commonly known as Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus). Yes, they are edible! No, I didn’t eat any of them.

The winner of this month’s ID Challenge is AJ - the second win for AJ! The prize for this month’s contest is one of the two 2009 Birder’s Lounge Calendars. AJ has requested that instead of the prize, I contribute the value of the calendar to Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. If you have not heard about WRR, please read this post about my visit with the founder, Lynn Cuny.

Please also remember that I have pledged to match one dollar to your one (or more) dollars as a year-end donation to this non-profit organization. If you decide to donate, please let me know via the pledge form below, so that I can keep a talley of the amount of my matching check!

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I am going to adjust the timing of the monthly ID Challenge contest slightly, by posting it on or about the first day of every month, instead of the last day of the month. The contest will always feature pictures of birds, plants, bugs,  and/or animals who were photographed in the previous month.

Next ID Challenge! Contest - January 1, 2009!

Today is the last day to submit your answers for this month’s ID Challenge! The winner will be announced on December 26 28, and the prize is your choice of a Birder’s Lounge 2009 calendar.

Happy Holidays!

The third official Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge is here!

In short, the first person to submit the correct identification of the three images in this post is the winner. If no-one gets them all correct, then the first person who gets the most number correct wins. Multiple entries are welcome. The complete rules are on the ID Challenge! page.

The PRIZE for this month’s contest is your choice of one of the 2009 calendars at the Birder’s Lounge Online Store. Perfect for enjoying each and every month of the coming year!

Remember, 10% of all proceeds from sales at the online store are split between the two Birder’s Lounge charities:

1. Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
2. International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC)

Christmas is a great time to browse for the perfect gift for your bird and nature-loving friends and family.

Please use this post to submit your entry/entries. When you submit, a private email is sent to Birder’s Lounge along with your name and email address. If you win, your name will be posted as the winner, and you will be notified via the email address that you submit. (email will not be shared/posted). This ID Challenge! is open until midnight, December 24, 2008.

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The Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge! contest for October, 2008 has ended, and we have a winner!

First, I will reveal the correct answers and tell you a little bit about each of them.

Picture 1; Plano, TX

Picture 1 is better known as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). Where’s the “ruby crown?” Hidden, of course. The females have no ruby crown at all! About the only time you will actually see the ruby crown is when the male is showing off for the ladies, or when he defends his territory. ¹

Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to submit your answers for the October, 2008 ID Challenge! contest. To give it a go, click here. For full contest rules, visit the ID Challenge! page, or click here. Good Luck and have fun!

The second official Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge is here!

In short, the first person to submit the correct identification of the three images in this post is the winner. If no-one gets them all correct, then the first person who gets the most number correct wins. Multiple entries are welcome. The complete rules are on the ID Challenge! page.

One hint for Photo 2 regarding size/scale - the subject of the photo is about the size of quarter.

The PRIZE for this month’s contest is your choice of a bird-themed coffee mug from the Birder’s Lounge Online Store. Perfect for sipping your coffee from Grounds for Change roastery! If you didn’t see my post about the importance of choosing shade-grown, organic, and fair-trade coffees, you can find it here.

Please use this post to submit your entry/entries. When you submit, a private email is sent to Birder’s Lounge along with your name and email address. If you win, your name will be posted as the winner, and you will be notified via the email address that you submit. (email will not be shared/posted). This ID Challenge! is open until midnight, November 21, 2008. Good Luck!

The Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge! contest for September, 2008 has ended, and we have a winner!

First, I will reveal the correct answers and tell you a little bit about each of them.

1. Plano, TX

Picture 1 is better known as a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). This feisty little bird is a welcome sight at many feeders. I often see them in my walks through nearby riparian forest areas as well, sweeping through the trees in mixed flocks with chickadees. I remember my first “scolding” by one of  these cuties. He/she was perched in a tree, but close enough that we were looking each other right in the eye. I was smiling and he/she was very definitely telling me to move on! If you live in the eastern half of the US, then you’ve probably been scolded too! Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to submit your answers for the September, 2008 ID Challenge! contest. To give it a go, click here. For full contest rules, visit the ID Challenge! page, or click here. Good Luck and have fun!

Ok, the first official Birder’s Lounge ID Challenge is here!

In short, the first person to submit the correct identification of the three images in this post is the winner. If no-one gets them all correct, then the first person who gets the most number correct wins. Multiple entries are welcome. The complete rules are on the ID Challenge! page.

The PRIZE for this month’s contest is an 8 oz. bag of whole coffee beans from Grounds for Change roastery. I have selected Ethiopian “Yirgacheffe” - if you like coffee, you will LOVE this! If you didn’t see my post about the importance of choosing shade-grown, organic, and fair-trade coffees, you can find it here.

Please use this post to submit your entry/entries. When you submit, a private email is sent to Birder’s Lounge along with your name and email address. If you win, your name will be posted as the winner, and you will be notified via the email address that you submit. (email will not be shared/posted). This ID Challenge! is open until midnight, October 21, 2008. Good Luck!