I recently joined a birding group in my area. It has been an extremely fun and educational experience. As I watch and learn from the experts who have been birding for many, many years, I am amazed at how many birds they can identify by their call or song. It's like learning a second language!
In 2011, "The Big Year" the movie was released. It's a comedy (which was based on a true story) about three birders trying to see and identify the most birds in North America in a single year. Birders who plan to be a competitor in this informal competition in North America, must plan to see and identify over 700 birds. The competition begins on January 1 at 12:00 A.M. each year and ends on December 31st at 11:59 P.M. as defined in the American Birding Association Big Year rules. When I watched the movie a few years ago, I never dreamed that bird-watching would be in my future!
Here's are some of the birds I photographed this month.
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| Osprey |
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| Savanna Sparrow |
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| Turkey Vulture |
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| Wrentit |
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| Cedar Waxwing |
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| Great Blue Heron fishing at Fern Ridge Dam |
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| Lazuli Bunting |
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| Pelicans |
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| Violet-green Swallow |
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| Bewick's Wren |
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| Northern Flicker |
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| Song Sparrow |
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| Eagle heading to nest with more building material as the two eaglets watch |
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| Mallard Duck |
There's often other nice creatures along the way,
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| Western Pond Turtle |
and others you could do without.
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| Redspotted Garter Snake |
Happy Birding!
