Birds are found everywhere in Torah!! This past week’s Torah reading includes important references to birds, including the name of Zipporah (which means ‘bird‘, in Hebrew), who is the wife of the great leader Moshe (Moses). There are numerous references to Zipporah’s swift actions, comparing her behavior to the swiftness of a little bird. This week marked […]
Just paying a little tribute to some OTHER, delightful friends I see every day in the Wetland preserves ~!Red-bellied Turtle baby trying to keep up with Mama! This Raccoon forgot to go back to bed! Scurrying off for one last taste of breakfast this morning. “Even though I admit to looking quite intimidating, I swear, […]
It’s such a joy to watch and listen to adults walking with their young children in the nature preserves I frequent. Some months ago, I overheard a mother say to her little boy, as they set out on their walk, “Look! All the birds are so happy – they’re singing their morning song!”I LOVE that! I […]
I recently saw this American Bittern strolling through the marsh. American Bitterns are fun to spot, since they are usually very well-camouflaged – they blend right into their surroundings. Variously described as stealthy, secretive, and solitary, the American Bittern reacts to intruders by stopping in his tracks, stretching out his neck, and pointing his nose upward, trying ever so hard […]
This beauty above is one of the magnificent Great Blue Herons who court and mate and raise their young in our local Wetlands. “He flies through the air, with the greatest of ease . . .” Bringing yet another branch to the nest. . . . This gigantic male Great Blue Heron was en route back to […]
The Red-winged Blackbird featured above definitely is at home here in the south Florida marshes. But this Yellow-headed Blackbird is definitely out of place! I never even knew there was such a bird as the Yellow-headed Blackbird until a few days ago, but lately, a couple of them have been spotted among the scores of RWBB’s flitting […]
The American Bittern featured above is one of those special, elusive birds that we don’t see out in the open very often. Several birders stood watching him for the longest time . . . waiting for him to just DO something! Meantime, he was very accommodating to stand in this little clearing and be […]
The Purple Gallinule is one of my favorite wetland birds. I loved how this one looked, surrounded by the dark green plants and dark blues of the water on a late afternoon December walk. We see them frequently here, all throughout the year. Their colors are just glorious in the sun, as their feathers truly […]
We were visiting our daughter in New York for Thanksgiving, and she suggested we take the subway up to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. What a serene and beautiful place~! The Garden’s 250 acres are varied and beautifully kept, and there are many special exhibits and collections on the grounds. Definitely a […]
Exciting news!! They have arrived! The Great Blue Herons are coming back and are beginning to settle in at the wetlands rookery. Today was the first time this fall that I saw them ‘displaying’, as in this arched neck posture, and jockeying for the best nesting sites on the tree island. They looked just magical in […]
Birder's Journey 