Walking: Faster than Flying?

Early this morning--in between rain showers--I heard a few Sandhill Cranes announcing their arrival to the cornfield behind our treeline. Their return to the area reminded me of a photo I took a few years ago while visiting Orlando, Florida for a work conference.  This lone trooper was wandering the parking lot, apparently looking for his car!

Where Eagles Dare

I just came across these photos from one of our visits to La Crosse back in November.  The bluffs that line both the Wisconsin and Minnesota sides of the Mississippi River are home to a growing population of bald eagles.  It's always a thrill to see them soar over the wetlands and parks that surround La Crosse. This pair was taking a break high up in a tree in Pettibone Park.

Below is a close-up of the fellow on the left.  I sure wouldn't want to be the prey in his line of sight!

Hoo-Who?

While waiting at an intersection the other day, I had to do a double-take at the utility pole across the way.  Upon closer inspection, I realized it was merely an owl decoy placed to keep other birds from congregating in the area.  I'm not sure why there are no wires attached to the pole itself, unless it's just a throw-back to the "olden days."

When I'm Calling You....

During our recent visit to Arizona, we spent 3 days in chilly, but gorgeous Sedona. While taking a short hike around our hotel, we heard some gurgling and cooing and looked up to see this pitch-black raven bobbing and weaving, making a very unusual noise.  I know that ravens and crows can make dozens of different sounds, and they are notorious for mimicking other birds and animals as well, but I had never heard this variation before. It's sort of a cross between a mourning dove and a sand hill crane. Could it be a mating call of sorts? He kept it up for several minutes before flying off. I've also posted a video below which includes a short burst of it.  (Hope it works for you.)

UPDATE:  I think I've come close on this one... it almost sounds like he is mimicking the call of the Sand Hill Crane, which is making a very strong come-back around the US once again.  When they fly high over-head, their regular call is quite muted and is similar to this raven's 'churl'.  

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore

I was greeted by 3 large black ravens perched above my car in our parking lot at work the other day, and they were making quite a racket! Their endless chatter did sound at times like specific words.  To fit in with today's image, below are a few verses from an abridged version of Edgar Allan Poe's  poem of love and loss, "The Raven."

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door —

Only this, and nothing more."

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" —

Merely this, and nothing more.

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;

Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door —

Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door —

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,

By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.

Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,

Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore —

Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

(The complete version can be read here.)

Talking Turkey

I know these images are more appropriate for Thanksgiving rather than springtime, but it's mating season for the wild turkeys around here now.  While walking Nik the other day, I saw two Toms (above) putting on quite a show for the "ladies" - and the one below appears to have won.  (Sorry - I had to use my cell phone, and so these aren't as crisp as they could have been with a regular camera.)

Incoming!

There are several pairs of Sand Hill Cranes that frequent our rural neighborhood each year. This pair is fond of the fields located next to the farmette in yesterday's post. The image is a little blurry because I had to zoom in quickly once I heard their throaty, garbled warble above me as they came in for a landing. Highly entertaining birds!

You can see all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

Bill and Coo

We have a pair of mourning doves frequenting our yard this year. They especially like Bill's garden now that he's tilled it because the worms and little bugs are easier to get at. They are so sweet and each morning we can hear the familiar 'hoo-hoo-hooooo' as they sit on the perimeter of the garden.

As the song goes: "Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me..."

Loud Mouth!

Every spring the Robins build several nests around our yard. For the past few years they have decided to set up shop on the lower branches of a tall spruce near our patio. Noticing the Mama Robin's busy flight to and fro, we suspected the eggs had hatched. Yep! This little baby is hungry. Another photo below shows them just before the "squeaky wheel" opened her mouth!

Ruffled Feathers

While hiking on the Broken Hill trails, we spied this hawk perched high up in a tall tree. He was fluffing and preening his feathers in the cold, unfazed by the band of crows judiciously squawking at him from the grove of ash trees next door.

Turkey Hawk?

I'm not 100% certain - because my camera doesn't have a very good zoom - but I believe this was either a turkey vulture or turkey hawk circling high above the Ryan Road trails. Standing directly underneath, the wing span appeared quite spectacular, although it was hard to capture.

Nice Drumsticks!

Not the prettiest bird......but delicious! :-)

This family of turkeys has been wandering around our neighborhood all season. As long as they stay off the nearby game farm, they'll be safe.

SkyWatch Friday: Heron or Egret?

These photos were taken while on the Pewaukee River boardwalk in Simmons Park (see my 9/3/09 post.) Great white heron? or Great white egret? The white phase of the great blue heron is common down in Florida, but I have never seen one up here - although the great big blues are very common. While I have seen egrets around here before, none have been this huge, as evidenced by this guy's wing-span. The legs would be a good clue, but I never got a clear view. The egret has black spindly legs, which are almost visible in the tree shot, but the heron has gray legs. I've researched this, but I am still unsure.

See all SkyWatch Friday entries here.

House Guests

We're in a battle of wits with the robins who have been tenaciously trying to build nests in our garage - right on TOP of our garage door opener. We'll take one down, shut the door, and think that's the end of it. Nope. Next time we're working in the yard and have the door open, they take advantage & try it again. Haven't they heard of the great outdoors?

Meanwhile, this sweet mourning dove has built her nest in our front maple tree, completely un-fazed by the fact that the dog's tie-out is around the base of the tree.

Barn Swallows

I recently went into our local Kohl's department store. It's a new stucco and brick building, similar to others in the area that are encroaching upon the natural rural habitat of our wildlife. Without barns and large old trees, these swallows had to resort to the next best thing. It was dusk, and I wasn't able to get a super good shot of these active little birds with my dying camera, but you can still see the amazing architecture of their "adobe-like" mud nests.

Barn swallow colonies are made of mud pellets and fibrous material (bits of string, dust, etc.) and are often built under eaves, bridges, or other man-made structures. They prefer unpainted, untreated surfaces, and the nests must be protected from rain, which will compromise the mud dwellings.

Harriet & Humbert

Can you see her? Being so tiny, blending in is probably a good thing. That and being quick! We've named this little female hummingbird Harriet. She sat perched on top of the Linden tree surveying her surroundings for a very long time. At least we think she's a female because she is not as bright as Humbert, the male, seen below at the feeder.

They are not shy, either. If we are sitting on the patio & the feeder is nearly empty, they will buzz around, chirp loudly and complain. Just like kids... so maybe we're really not empty-nesters after all.

I Only Have "Eyes" For You

This splendid peacock was strutting his stuff during our visit to the Milwaukee County Zoo last weekend. The jewel-like colors of his emerald and sapphire "eyes" were just spectacular - and the full display reminded me of the NBC mascot!

They're Baaaaack!

The Baltimore Orioles, that is. Unfortunately the only shots I could get were through our kitchen window, so these are a bit on the cloudy side. Still, you can get a general idea of their bright orange color. The Orioles are only around here (upper Midwest) for a few short months to breed before migrating back to greener pastures. They love the oranges we set out for them -- notice him steadying the orange with his little foot below? And some lucky birds also get grape jelly from the neighbors.