A pretty beautiful evening

I blogged last week about the Cattle Egret’s colorful transformation – here’s another look, above.  This post includes a few more examples of how striking some of the other wetland birds look in March.  This young Roseate Spoonbill is one of the all-time favorites.  Although I’m not sure they are nesting in our area now, […]

Shabbat Shira~!

In this week’s Torah portion, we read the story of the Jewish people crossing the Red Sea, following the Exodus from Egypt.  After the splitting of the Sea and their miraculous rescue across on dry land, the people sang a beautiful song of thanks and praise to G-d, the Song of the Sea, when they reached the opposite […]

More Torah connections~

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 […]

Thoughts on Parashat Noah . . .

This week we chant the second portion (parashah) in the Torah, the well-known story of Noah, the Ark, the Flood, and the Covenant of the Rainbow.  According to our story, Noah sent both a Raven and a Dove from the Ark after the flood waters receded, to determine if the waters had subsided sufficiently so […]

Getting ready . . .

Today is Erev Rosh HaShanah, the eve of the Jewish New Year.  We’ve spent the past month turning our attention inward, toward the deepest part of our souls, in preparation for the Days of Awe that begin with Rosh HaShana.  This evening begins a season of holidays, remembrances, and reflection for Jewish people all over the world.   At […]

August in the Wetland Preserves

Every once in a blue moon, I take only my binoculars when I go birding these days.  But then, I miss the opportunity to capture a lasting image of the creatures who are out and about, like the noisy Tri-colored Heron above, or this beautiful White Ibis. Every time I leave my camera at home, […]