December 2008

The Striking Yellow Gingko Tree

December 30, 2008 Birds

It’s a tree you may not notice until it turns saffron yellow in the autumn months. You’ll see the natural blanket of fan-shaped leaves that unfolds beneath its trunk as the tree sheds. And you may stop in awe, not realizing how many times you’ve passed this tree without a glance and only now, see [...]

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Identifying Bird Songs

December 17, 2008 Birds

I helped a fellow volunteer with a class presentation this month — on the topic of birding by ear. I was asked to help, not because I can, in fact, identify birds by ear. But because I’m reasonably adept at editing sound files and attaching them to Keynote (or Powerpoint) slides. I can’t post any [...]

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The Waxwings Are Back

December 10, 2008 Perching Birds

Honestly, I don’t know how long they’ve been back. A serious birder or “twitcher” ** would be your source on that. I’m into the natural symbiosis of me and bird — not so much active pursuit. ** That link, by the way, takes you to an interesting NYT article on delineations between the serious and [...]

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A Quiet Nation of Shorebirds – San Francisco Bay Area

December 7, 2008 Shorebirds

I try to stop by Arrowhead Marsh when I’m in the vicinity of Oakland Airport . . . which is quite a lot, considering I’m with a guy who, essentially, commutes to work by plane. It’s my consolation in solitude to stroll through the marshes with my camera after I bid farewell to Southwest or [...]

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Our Adopted Turkey

December 4, 2008 Agriculture

I received the certificate below in the mail this week from Farm Sanctuary. It’s a tangible representation of “Faye,” our adopted Thanksgiving turkey. Farm Sanctuary offers a beautiful and alternative way to celebrate “turkey day” — by making a contribution toward the well-being of a rescued turkey on one of the sanctuary farms (New York [...]

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Bird and Windmill Collisions at Altamont

December 3, 2008 Raptors

One of the tragic patients we get at the wildlife hospital where I volunteer is raptors such as hawks, who’ve suffered an encounter with a windmill. Unlike Quixote’s imaginary foes, the windmills through Altamont Pass present a viable lethal threat to wildlife of the area. In fact, Altamont Pass has the highest bird kill rate [...]

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The Stillness of Night Herons

December 2, 2008 Birds

** Photo usage and restrictions Heron Photos ©ingrid You could argue that these birds are — well — sitting herons. They’re easy to photograph, as are many herons and egrets, owing to their stoic poses and their ability to stalk breakfast without moving a feather. Even the most moody auto focus can lock on a [...]

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