 This young Bald Eagle as seen entering the Redtail's territory and airspace  Momma Redtail was perched near her nest watching everything around her... When the young Eagle got close, she leapt into action! 
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 Momma Redtail does a lot of screaming.. and boy she is loud! Yesterday in addition to the camera guy in her area, she had to contend with Eagles who have been searching the fields for food opportunities after the grass was cut. She doesn't like people or large birds in her territory.    Heres the adult version of those two plump little chicks living in the ground nest. There were several people guessing a host of different birds, but Lorna came up with the correct answer. Turkey Vulture. This is likely the mother of those 2 chicks, as seen today circling a freshly cut hay field very close to that nest. She will be on the lookout for mice or small rabbits or any unfortunate creature that happened to be in the way of the cutting blades. Turkey Vultures are natures clean up crews and they do a fine job
Thanks to everyone for their entries.... Congrats again to Lorna and cheers.... TerryV  These sweet little Annas hummingbirds left the nest about 1 hour before I arrived, I was feeling deflated when I saw that empty little nest but nature doesn't wait around for photographs! or photographers! My pal Eric and I were discussing the missing tiny kids when mizz Ruby (mom) landed nearby. She was looking a tad anxious and for a few seconds wondered if a crow had discovered the nest!!! Then Ruby buzzed to a branch anout 6 feet above the nest and well, well.. Both kids were sitting together waiting the next meal!   During my hour or so observing these newly fledged kids, I saw them both take short hops(flights) to surrounding branches but stayed in that nest tree. Ofen one would wander only to fly back beside its sibling.   I understand that day the tiny fledglings stayed in that maple tree and received plenty of Mom care. I could see in their behaviour that they were preparing to explore the world and Eric's beautiful flower filled yard is the perfect place to explore!
Best of luck little winged wonders! Go forth and thrive! This little Dad (male Anna's) posed for me the other day... Life is rough defending your turf against rival males and of course the notorious Rufous. Baby hummingbirds are showing up daily at feeders now and its time for the moult and some relaxing of duties. Check his wing feathers As the annual moult continues various feathers fall out and are replaced... As this happens the birds sound different with those gaps in the wings.  Late late evening shot of Mr Rufous who vigilantly stands guard at the deck feeders right up till last light. During the last few minutes of light in the evening , he finally relents with his guard duties and everyone is allowed to have a long drink of nectar before bed (thus sustaining each bird through the night as the go into the torpor state (basically suspended animation)
 A package of high quality greeting cards awaits the first correct answer (3 guesses per person)
send entries to [email protected]  A scene from Jurassic Park??? Baby Herons in evening light  Starry eyed baby Redtail Hawk peers out from the sanctuary of its carefully planned nest high up in a Douglas Fir tree... While the every vigilant and sharp eyed Mom patrols from above.   Back at the Bushtit nest (a woven suspended wonder full of tiny kids) Momma BT poses with a bright green grub prior to delivering it to one of the hungry beaks inside Can anyone guess what nest this is and what kind of birds these are???? First correct answer will receive 3 quality greeting cards (subject of their choice) mailed or hand delivered.
please send entries to [email protected]  My dear friend "Hawkeye" has been saying the last few times we visited this Redtail nest she was seeing a second baby.... I said no it just nest material! Well, I was mistaken! Today without any doubt 2 young Redtail Hawks appeared. Awesome!!  Look closely here ... see the second hawklet??  I think Momma Redtail was telling me something here!
Above a 7 panel slideshow with baby Brown Creepers being fed by an adult. above ^^ Young Nuthatches being fed by a parent...  Yesterday (June 2) was very wet and it rained heavily all day. The hummingbird feeders were overwhelmed at times as the Hummy's needed extra food to keep warm. Among the clusters of birds I saw, a pair of newly minted baby Rufous were there a number of times. Above photo is a nice example of a freshly fledged male Rufous! The adult males will begin to disappear in 2-3 weeks (migration to S Mexico) and the females are gone by early July as I have observed, but the last few summers I have seen baby Rufous here up till September.  Female Rufous above sits quietly observing the deck feeders. Most hummingbirds land and watch carefully before feeding as there tends to be much mayhem and chaos (chasing by dominant birds) so when the coast was clear, she moved in.  Another female Rufous awaiting her turn at the feeder  Mr Rufous poses atop the same small maple and watches his kingdom.
The males are quite preoccupied with territory protection and mating, but occasionally they will check the flowers.     If you are a hummingbird fan then you likely know this but plant flowers in your gardens that produce nectar to attract and feed them ... Varieties of Salvia and Cuphea (Vermilionaire) are both excellent!
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December 2024
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Summer 2023.. I just received notice that my blog has been awarded a distinction of being one of the top 10 photography blogs in Canada.
* All images and content copyright Terry Venables and NaturalImagesCanada *
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