Marbled Godwit:Limosa fedoa

marbled_godwit_12

Marbled Godwits currently face pressure from habitat destruction in both their nesting grounds, the short grass prairies of the northern plains, and their wintering grounds, inter-tidal mudflats along the pacific coast. Prairies are being converted to crop land and mud flats being filled for development. It’s easy to forget birds sometimes need two intact ecosystems to thrive and protecting habitat is perhaps the single most important thing we can all do to protect the abundance and diversity of life on our planet. And who does not like both abundance and variety.

Canvasback

Canvasback_male_1

The other day we spotted a few Canvasbacks in the local pond. This guy just awoke from a nap on the edge of the ice. We don’t see many Canvasbacks around our area in the winter so watching a few napping and others diving into the pond for a meal was quite a treat.

Western Grebe

Western_grebbe_1

We usually do not see Grebes on the local pond during winter in our neck of the woods. However, last week, this Western Grebe was swimming in a small section of a local pond that remained unfrozen. Perhaps she if off course in migration and landed here to rest and refuel. Although it was a pleasure to see her, I hope she takes advantage of this weeks thaw to get back on track and is gone the next time I visit this pond.