What Next?   After a rapid drop in temperature combined with gusty winds, the wind chill factors ranged from -15 to -20 degrees.  Needless to say it was COLD! When the temperature rose to the teens, the snowfall began making for a a barren landscape for the birds and making it more difficult to access food sources.   After shoveling a path on the deck and preparing a small sheltered feeding full of Safflower seed, we have been blessed with a variety of birds refueling to stay warm and energized.   ..read more

Open Wide   After a successful catch, this brown pelican was working hard to get it through its gular pouch.   Look closely and you can see the outline of the fish near the bottom of the pouch.   ..read more

In the Snow   While I have no love of snow and freezing temperatures, I must admit that it provides a great backdrop for some bird photography.  This male cardinal is a great subject to show off against the white background. Must admit, however, That I took this through the window as I was not as brave as the bird in facing the elements.   ..read more

Easy Pickin's   Red-bellied woodpeckers are pretty common here in Southeast Michigan.  They inhabit a variety of wooded areas including forests and wetlands. They are attracted to feeders with suet and seeds which gives us the opportunity to see them up close.   ..read more

Many Facets of Bathing   Of the various rituals that swans engage in, bathing serves several purposes: - Feather maintenance -Social bonding as the pen and cob often bathe together -Territorial Marking which they accomplish through displays of splashing and sound/vocalization. As they perform this ritual several times a day, it provides us with the opportunity to observe their elegant and graceful movements while in the water.   ..read more

Shaking It Off   Bathing helps the mute swans maintain  cleanliness and waterproofing of their feathers.  As part of the bathing process, there is a gland at the base of their tails which contains oil which they spread to make their feathers water resistant.   ..read more

Daily Ritual   Mute swans engage in a variety of interesting rituals including bathing. This daily ritual, which oftentimes occurs multiple times a day, is a crucial aspect of their grooming behavior.   ..read more

Back to the Feeder   This Red-bellied Woodpecker has a diverse diet including insects, fruits and seeds.  Here in southeast Michigan during the winter month it is a lot easier to feast on seeds, especially those provided in feeders near to its home in a tree cavity. This one spends the day here flying between the large oak tree and the feeder.  Its ritual is take fly about 30 feet from the large oak tree, eat a few safflower seeds at the feeder and carry some back to the fork in the tree.  Once done, it begins the round trip continually throughout the daylight hours or unti ..read more

Up and Away   A seen here, the male cardinal is known for is vibrant red plumage which covers most of their body.  Other prominent features are a black mask around their eyes and a conspicuous crest on their heads.  Their beaks are either red or orange. In comparison to the female of the species, the male is larger overall which plays a role in its behavior within its habitat.     ..read more

Leap of Faith   In spite of their name - - "Red-bellied Woodpecker" - - the red belly of it is rarely seen.  They are more easily recognizable by the vibrant red cap they wear on the back of their heads   ..read more