We always hoped to see the Sandhill Crane pair with their colts when we visited the refuge in recent months, but I never managed to catch them in good light conditions. This time, we did a double-take as soon as we drove in the entrance road. The two adult Cranes were strolling right alongside us by the […]
Author Archives: Birder's Journey
My beloved younger sister Connie passed away very suddenly 2 weeks ago. Things will never be the same without her smiling face and upbeat approach to life ♥️. After losing her husband to a tragic accident a decade ago, Connie took up photography, with the guidance of a great teacher/mentor and dear friend. As a […]
The White Ibis, with its brilliant blue eyes, is one of the most abundant wading birds in Florida. White Ibises frequent saltwater marshes, coastal swamps, freshwater wetlands, ponds, fields – and lawns. They probe in the mud for small prey such as insects, crustaceans, and worms (See All about Birds, White Ibis). . . . which explains why […]
The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of my favorite birding spots here in Florida. Located just north of Vero Beach, Pelican Island NWR, established in 1903, has the distinction of being the very first National Wildlife Refuge. Thanks to the efforts of some very committed citizen advocates and a conservation-minded President, a system was created […]
At first glance, this hawk sitting in a large tree near our home looked somewhat like a Red-shouldered, a species we see often here. But it surprised us that he just sat there and never moved a bit, even as we got very close. We soon realized why. . . . The hawk was being ‘buzzed’ mercilessly by at least four loud […]
An hour before sunset, we were just finishing our walk at the local wildlife refuge, one of the only places nearby that didn’t close during the coronavirus. Miles of trails make it possible for visitors to hike and enjoy over a thousand acres of marsh and fresh water wetlands without coming close to other people.This alert […]
It’s always exciting to spot a secretive American Bittern stalking around in the marsh. Unlike other herons who will often fly off when disturbed, the well-camouflaged Bittern will frequently stay right where it is, trying ever so hard to hide amongst the tall leaves. To enhance the effect of pretending to be part of the plant life, “alarmed birds ‘skypoint’, swaying […]
“Those who contemplate the beauty of Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains […]
BirdNote recently highlighted this quote from an opinion piece in the Washington Post by Wendy Paulson of the Bobolink Foundation. I couldn’t agree more: ‘My hope is that when we emerge from this troubling time, people around the globe will find themselves more keenly aware of how blessed we are by the gifts of the […]
