White-throated sparrow

O Sweet Canada

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) It was an unusually cold, wet spring last May when the white-throated sparrows sailed through on their way to the Canadian woods. The clear whistled song calling “O sweet Canada Canada Canada” if you’re Canadian, or “Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody” if you’re not, rang through the trees, announcing their visit. They […]

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An iridescent green hummingbird flies away from the hummingbird feeder. The feeder looks like an upside down red medicine bottle with five little red flowers around the base.

Tiny Warriors

We are having a party, barbecuing in the yard, using the open garage as a staging area for the food and utensils. Suddenly something whizzes past into the garage, startling Bryan, a giant insect? No, it’s a hummingbird come to inspect the bright red handle on the rope that allows you to raise and lower […]

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Barred owl sitting on a tree branch at the edge of the woods on Owl Acres. The bird is looking directly at the viewer.

Who Cooks for You?

The barred owl is one of my favorites. I love to hear its easily recognizable call and its mate’s response. This year we’ve had at least one pair calling in the afternoons and evenings. They call and respond, and once in a while they have a more heated conversation and even a bit of squawking. […]

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