images as thoughts
A Dusky Grouse keeping quiet while waiting for us to move along as we walked through the cottonwood trees in the creek bed. Seeing these birds move through the dry leaves and into the cottonwood trees with colors so similar to their own just makes a fall day feel…just like fall.
Quietly perched and giving us the 180 degree head turn like only an owl can give a Great Horned Owl waits in the early evening light for their day to begin.
Happy hunting to the owl and have a great weekend to all.
Looking not the least bit scruffy at all with clean beak and perfect feathers. This was one well kept Raven who was more than willing to pose for a a few photos as they enjoyed a sunny perch on a crisp autumn afternoon.
Working their way through a pile of sunflower seed one nut at a time. We love having the Red Breasted Nuthatches around as company. By mid-October most of the migrating species have flown the coop for warmer climates but these little guys stick around all year long. Everything about them from their song to their perky behavior helps to brighten even the cloudiest day.
October light brightens the morning as a Red Winged Blackbird perches in a bush of golden leaves. The leaves were falling just as fast as the colors were fading from the wings of this beautiful bird.
An American Robin Enjoying the fall light in a forest of mixed colors. We have tons of Robing in our area in the spring and early summer and as the young fledge they are absent until Autumn begins. Glad to see they have returned.
The findings of a study published yesterday in the Journal Science demonstrate that North America has lost 30% of it’s birds population since 1970. The authors of this study suggest that this loss of almost 3 billion birds is like a canary in the coal mine and conclude their abstract with the statement “This loss of bird abundance signals an urgent need to address threats to avert future avifaunal collapse and associated loss of ecosystem integrity, function and services.”
National Geographic summarizes the Science article well touching on the reasons why bird populations are in decline and why birds matter.
Habitat loss in the name of development another example of a fools progress.
Another strip mine, another strip mall. The human population is striping the planet bare. Time to take action and make sure your local governmental representatives at all levels work to protect habitat, the environment and the future of every species that inhabit the planet.
