Author of Teen Paranormal Fiction

Tag: birds

Gone to the Birds

Call it global warming, call it climate change, call it fake news, call it whatever you want. This summer was not a summer at all. Cold temps, lots of rain and fog, and no heat: exactly the opposite of what a summer typically is this side of the Rocky Mountains. The plus, though, the unusual weather made for some great cloud shots.

The umpteenth storm approach-eth …

Oh, and excellent bird watching.

… acquiring birds …

In the green space behind our neighbourhood live many birds. To lure them out of the trees, I set out a bird bath and different types of feeders. I typically only get three kinds of birds, but that’s enough for me.

My panorama game is strong.

Most common of the visitors are the sparrows. Some may consider them pests, but I’m an equal-opportunity-crazy-bird-lady. I’ll feed anything except the magpies and cowbirds.

I especially like the tiny sparrows. Their calls sound like a frog croaking. It’s weird to hear a sound like that coming from a bird.

They come in flocks and wait patiently in the aspen trees for their turn at the feeder.

My favourites are the chickadees. They’re so tiny and fast, but they’re fearless little boogers.

Sometimes it’s hard to catch a good shot of them because they’re so fast.

This summer, The Boo had to stay inside unless they’re was someone out to watch over her. After spotting this raptor making a few fly-by’s of our porch when Boo was out, I kept a close eye on her.

And, of course, no pond is complete without the obligatory Canada Goose nearly taking your head off as it circles in for a landing.

And just like that, summer ended and Snow-tember hit. Mother Nature robbed us of summer, and she also took away our autumn. Before I knew it, snow blanketed the city and the bird bath froze over. I guess it’s time to pack in for the winter.

A red-winged black bird announcing his presence for all to hear

At least Mochi enjoyed the snow.

Here it is November, now, and the chinooks are bringing warm air. It’s 14C today. Too bad the colour didn’t stick around on the trees.

I guess their is always next year.

– Rissa

Snow and DSLR’s

Well, it snowed. Again. This side of the Rocky Mountains, I guess we should be used to it by now. It could also be why us Canadians are such a hardy bunch. The Great White North. It’s not just an SCTV sketch.

Mother Nature has been on a regular schedule lately. During the week, she’ll grace us with decent weather. A bit of a flip of the nose from the weather gods since we must enjoy those nice days stuck inside working. But when the weekend rolls around . . .

I’m making the best of it. Usually I keep my cellphone in my back pocket so I can snap pictures of the birds coming to the bird feeder. But since I was getting cabin fever, I decided to grab The Beast: my older-than-dirt Canon DSLR equipped with its “paparazzi lens”.

I camped out at the kitchen table with hopes of snapping shots of the local wildlife. I typically only get two species of birds: my favourites, the adorable black-capped chickadees . .

. . . and the annoying wetland birds I’ve dubbed “The Trolls”: the ear-splittingly-loud red-winged black birds. Not only do the RWBB’s make a mess out of the feeder as they search for sunflower seeds, their calls are like car horns when they get too close.

squAAAAAAAAAK!

I’m not sure if the RWBB we have in the foothills of Alberta are different than those I was used to seeing in Ohio. Back home, they had distinctly orange shoulder fluffies, even when perched. Here, they have a white stripe. Their shoulder fluffies aren’t visible unless they’re in flight, or screeching at the top of their little birdie lungs.

Apart from the Trolls, a pair of loons took up haven in the wetland pond. The loon is one of Canada’s national symbols as they’re meant to symbolize the rugged wilderness of Canada (or the fact that it can snow 12 months out of the year. You pick).

Between the loons and the Canadian geese, we’ll have a busy pond this year.

I wonder if the mooses (meese?) will come back this year.

Two juvenile moose from last spring.

And to round off the sightings, four deer caught my eye as they grazed on the hill.

Eventually they made their way down to the pond area before trotting off.

Well, at least the wildlife is enjoying the snow. I know they say we need the moisture, but maybe I’m a traditionalist and prefer my precipitation in the form of thunderstorms at bedtime.

Until then, I’ll just have to make sure the coffee is extra hot!

-Rissa


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