When I was a kid, one thing that I believed was that I would never be a bird watcher. I couldn’t think of anything that was a bigger waste of time than walking around and looking at birds, who flew away as soon as you pointed them out. I was very determined to ensure that I never fell into the bird watching trap until one day when I…
“Oh, is that a Baltimore Oriole?”
“Why, yes, it is. Good eye!”
It was then that I realized that I hd always been doomed to be a bird watcher, and I should just give in. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world. I had resisted other temptations, including joining a cult and becoming a smoker (maybe even simultaneously). I really have no idea of the day when I officially transitioned from, “I’m never falling into the bird watching trap” to “ooh, that goldfinch is so adorable. Can I take its picture?”
Since I am now a bird watcher (I don’t have the experience and knowledge for the upgrade to birder), I thought that I would share pictures of birds that I took at various times of the year. Also, today’s prompt involves the number four, and one of the suggestions was the four seasons.
Winter birdsin the Niagara River and Florida
Cardinals represent hope, love, renewal and spiritual messages. They are also interpreted as visits from deceased loved ones. These ducks don’t mind walking on snowy surfaces. You wouldn’t either if you had webbed feet!Traveling during the winter offers other opportunities to see different birds. When I went to Florida, I saw this grouping of birds sitting on rocks in the Gulf of Mexico. Happy birds on a Florida beachA cardinal enjoys perching on a snowy tree.This duck is, I think, a bufflehead or a merganser. I’m not sure which. It likes to spend its winter in the Niagara River and then travel north when spring starts. Mergansers are diving ducks that like eating fish that they catch.Swans can be seen in the Niagara River in the winter. These swans are mute swan, which is not native to the region. You can also see tundra swans, which are considered native swans. The difference between mute swans and tundra swans is the color of their bill. Tundra swans have solid black bills, and mute swans have orange bills with a black tip.
Spring time for birds
In the spring, the geese are busy raising their babies… teaching them how to swim and to walk and to forage for food. The last lesson is flying.It’s time for the swimming lesson!
Sweet summertime bird life
Purple martins are banded in the summer. The purpose is to track individual birds for conservation purposes. Purple martins are important for pest control, as they eat vast amounts of flying insects.Many people maintain housing for purple martins. This collection of purple martin houses is over at Beaver Island State Park. Many purple martin houses are located at private homes.
A birdy autumn
You can frequently see ospreys in New York in autumn.But you can also see them in March, along withbald eagles. This picture could have been taken in winter or in late autumn.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed seeing the birds. I know that you’re about to become bird watchers, too. It could happen when you least expect it!
Oh, I loved this! My husband is a bird enthusiast, and it’s contagious! I have become more familiar with different birds, and loved your approach to the number four! Great job!
Such a lovely way to see the world. This goes beyond seasons passing. It’s like feeling the seasons through the rhythms of nature. Thanks for sharing these, Alice.
Oh, I loved this! My husband is a bird enthusiast, and it’s contagious! I have become more familiar with different birds, and loved your approach to the number four! Great job!
Thank you so much!!!!
Such a lovely way to see the world. This goes beyond seasons passing. It’s like feeling the seasons through the rhythms of nature. Thanks for sharing these, Alice.
Thank you so much, Florence. I loved sharing this, and I am happy that you enjoyed it.