crow feathers

Hi there. I have been birding most of my life and am currently a grad student working on a bird migration study. "A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."

[wigmund]

From Canadian Wildlife Federation Photo of the Day; December 4, 2016:

A trio of Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in Elliston, Newfoundland having a lively discussion

Photographer: Christopher MacDonald

[wigmund]

From Australian Geographic Image of the Week; February 5, 2016:

High and Dry: Australasian Darter Chris Reeves

This week’s reader photo was taken on the New South Wales Central Coast by AG reader, Chris Reeves.

“After a few days of rain the sun finally came out on the second last day of 2015. My sister and I went for a walk to the beach and it’s a good thing we did, otherwise I would not have seen the Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) drying its wings out after a morning’s fishing. This photo was shot on a 7D Mark II and Canon 100-400 L version II.”

Chris took up photography a couple of years ago, beginning with flower macro photography and soon switching to birds.

Share your own photography and it could be featured on Australian Geographic online! You can submit your images to us directly HERE.

[lab-brot-blog]

[dendroica]

Myrtle Warbler (by me)

[sensationsart]

[riceli]

we meet again!

[feathersandbeaks]

Migratory birds that are 'set in their ways' could be more vulnerable to environmental impacts -- according to new research from the University of East Anglia. Many species of migratory birds are in decline as a result of human impacts such as climate change and habitat loss. New research published today reveals why some species are more vulnerable than others.

The study found that species with a broader and more diverse range of wintering locations are less likely to be negatively affected by environmental impacts; conversely, species with a narrow wintering range are more vulnerable. This is of particular importance given the rate of habitat destruction in critical tropical wintering areas.

[otterpillow]

Black-and-white warbler in Crystal River, FL

Just outside the condo rental where we stayed in November

[keithcurrypochy]

Hundred of migratory Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) flock to the  University of Florida Beef Teaching Unit each winter.

Gainesville, FL

[typhlonectes]

A Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) perches on a boundary post at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, WY, USA.

photo via: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region

[feathersandbeaks]

Pelicans by Dave King

[emuwren]

White-tailed Eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla; This species requires large and open expanses of lake, coast or river valley, within the boreal, temperate and tundra zones, nearby to undisturbed cliffs or open stands of large, old-growth trees for nesting. Its food is vertebrates (fish, mammals and especially birds), from marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. It is considered a close cousin of the bald eagle and occupies the same ecological niche, but in Eurasia.

Photo by Kai Roster 35photo.

[wingedjewels]

IMG_7062 Black-throated Blue Warbler. by Ahmad Shah

[falseredstart]

The Birds of 2015 #14: Pacific Loon

Yet another example of genera present on both the east and west coasts of the United States, but with more species around in the west, the Pacific loon (Gavia pacifica) is one of five loon species you can catch sight of on the other side of the states! 

On the east coast, you can get both common (G. immer) and red-throated loons (G. stellata); if you make it up to the far northern and western reaches of the continent, you can add Pacific to that list, plus yellow-billed (G. adamsii) and Arctic (G. arctica) loons. Pretty neat, and an interesting biogeographical phenomenon! This same situation happens with other birds like grouse and alcids, to name a couple.

About the photograph

I actually took this photo while standing waist-deep in water. I was checking out an island in this pond on nest-search because it seemed like a good spot for a loon to nest; lo and behold, this highly-defensive parent surfaced from seemingly nowhere and gave me the good ol’ stink eye! It turns out one of the best ways to find loon nests is to watch the sketchy behavior of the highly-defensive parents.

[thalassarche]

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena), male, Cupertino, CA, USA

photograph by John Fox

[feathersandbeaks]

Really need to bird California. 

[feathersandbeaks]

White-breated Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenecucus)

[feathersandbeaks]

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris)

[emuwren]

Singing Honeyeater - Lichenostomus virescens; is one of Australia’s most widespread species of honeyeater. This species is found mostly in open shrublands and low woodlands, especially dominated by Acacias. The open, often flimsy cup-nest is formed from matted grasses and lined with roots, wool and other mammal hairs.

Photo source unknown.