Birding In May

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.

 

 

Osprey

 

Savanna Sparrow

 

Turkey Vulture

 

Wrentit

 

Cedar Waxwing

 

Great Blue Heron fishing at Fern Ridge Dam



 

Lazuli Bunting

 

Pelicans

Violet-green Swallow

Bewick's Wren

Northern Flicker

Song Sparrow



 

Eagle heading to nest with more building material as the two eaglets watch

 

 

Mallard Duck

 

 

There's often other nice creatures along the way,

 

Western Pond Turtle

 

 



and others you could do without.

 

 

Redspotted Garter Snake

 

 

 

Happy Birding!

 

Turkey Vulture

The Turkey Vulture is a large dark brown colored raptor (bird of prey), with a reddish head. They have up to a 6 foot wing span when measured tip to tip.  There are two birds larger than a Turkey Vulture; the Eagle (with a wing span up to 7 ½ feet), and the Condor (with a wing span up to almost 10 feet).

The Turkey Vulture does not have any feathers on his head.

They may not have the prettiest face, but they are quite an amazing bird.  They take care of the remains of recently decayed animals with their keen sense of sight and smell. 

This Turkey Vulture is soaring over a recently cut hay field looking for the remains of mice and other rodents. 

These Turkey Vultures are all perched to take care of the remains of a deer that was hit and killed by a car.

Next time you see one of these giant birds soaring high (or low) in the sky remember, they are keeping things cleaned up for all of us, and that's a good thing!