Fanned Feathers

I believe this is a Cooper's Hawk. If I am misidentifying this raptor, drop me a note. He was caught watching the activity in the yard and remained on the pine tree branch, no more than fifteen feet away, for over forty-five minutes.

As soon as the camera was retrieved to photograph him, he got ready fly. . . 

 . . . slowly spreading his tail with this wonderful display of fanned feathers.

Smiles in the New Year

I found this cute fish in a large tank aquarium at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and was able to capture his image through the glass. He kept passing back and forth in front of me with, it seemed, a smile on his face. In doing so, he made me smile.

I hope when you saw the image it made you smile too.

On this new day of the new year I wish you a wonderful, nature filled year with many smiles for the immense beauty that surrounds us on our beautiful blue planet.

Croatan National Forest Delight

I had the delight over Christmas to discover two new birds that I had not seen before and another that caught me by surprise while camping at Flanners Beach on the Neuse River at the Croatan National Forest in North Carolina.

First up is a Wood Thrush. They don't winter here but head to the warmer climates of Mexico, Central or South America or the Caribbean. But in my readings of the Wood Thrush, some will linger in the Southeast US and this one surely is a lingerer and a surprise.

Then this bird who was foraging in the bushes right next to where I was sitting.

I was able to identify him as a Ruby-crowned Kinglet so named because of the red dot on its head. And boy did I have a hard time photographing him as he was quick of foot with lots of chattering thrown in.

I learned the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is an insectivore and the reason he was spending so much time quickly moving from branch to branch in the bushes. He was small and plump and cute as a button.

Here's another new sighting and he took a bit to identify. It's a Yellow-Rumped Warbler specifically a Myrtle Warbler.

There are four closely related Warblers lumped under "Yellow-Rumped Warbler," the eastern Myrtle Warbler, the Audubon's Warbler of the Western US, the northwest Mexican Black-fronted Warbler, and the Guatemalan Goldman's Warbler.

All of the birds foraged in close range and it was easy to observe their behavior. The Wood Thrush was on the ground picking through the soil, the Myrtle Warbler who stayed up high in the trees while flying here and there, and the little Ruby-crowned Kinglet who was in arms reach while it hunted for tiny insects in the bushes.

Their songs were sweet but not nearly as sweet as the satisfaction in discovery of new wildlife to observe.

Just think about it . . .

 . . .that's all I ask this Thanksgiving.

Turkey. Often, if you just say the word, it will illicit a snicker or a guffaw. It's a derogatory term in our language, used as a put-down, uttered with disdain. He's a turkey. What a turkey. Or simply, Turkey.

To discuss this magnificent bird and to move past the prejudice, I am not going to use the common name Turkey, but instead use the genus and species name, Meleagris gallopavo. And perhaps we will see this bird in a different light rather than a species we've been taught to marginalize.

Meleagris gallopavo is one of two species native to the Americas. The other living species, Melagris occelata is native to the forest of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Meleagis gallopavo still roams the forests of North America and you may catch a glimpse of one or more from time to time at the edge of the treeline. They are a success story in conservation as they nearly met with extinction in the 40s from over exploitation. But careful re-population measures have led to a healthy population.

In the Southeast, though, they are under threat again with scientists seeing puzzling population declines. Studies are underway but it is suspected predators and loss of habitat could be the cause.

Male Wild Meleagris gallopavo

Just look at the photo! How darn beautiful is that? And noble. 

What a magnificent native American bird.

Here's some things to consider about this fascinating and intelligent bird:

• The distinctive gobble of the male can be heard a mile away
• Males display beautiful tail feathers and puff themselves out during courtship as seen in the image
• The male head is colored a bright red, blue and white. An all-American bird!

Female Wild Meleagris gallopavo

• Only males have the fleshy protuberance, the snood, that extends over the beak and down the neck
• The snood changes colors according to mood
• The feathers, 5000-6000 in number, have beautiful bronze-green iridescence (females a little duller) and if you've not seen them in person you are missing something
• They are curious and intelligent and, some people say, affectionate

This wonderful bird, 23-million years of evolution behind it, had the misfortune of becoming the domesticated Meleagris gallopavo that graces the Thanksgiving table every year. They are raised in stressful conditions and about 45 million are slaughtered for the feast.

Forty-five million. 

They suffer terribly having their beaks partially clipped off and, because of crowding conditions, will peck at each others heads. If a wound ensues, the wounded bird is pecked to death.

Factory farmed Meleagris gallopavo

The magnificent Meleagris gallopavo reduced to the indignity you see above. And the indignity you see on your Thanksgiving plate. Reduced to a mere centerpiece. Reduced to a Turkey.

Domesticated Meleagris gallopavo did not live a normal life in the wild as it is meant to be. Domesticated Meleagris gallopavo lived a short, unnatural and tortured life.

Just think about it. That is all I ask this Thanksgiving.

And, if after reading this you think of me, "What a turkey!" I will be honored, my friend.

My life as a Turkey is a wonderful documentary about Meleagris gallopavo.

An American 'American' success story

The mailman came to my door a week ago, not with a package in hand, but to alert me to something to see right then. He was excited and I could tell something was seriously up.

Despite still being in pajamas - yep, still in pajamas at mid-day, oh well, what can I say, I get engrossed in stuff - I hurried outside to have a look.

Imagine my utter surprise to find an American Bald Eagle riding the air currents way high up. I was truly astonished as was, James, the mailman to see this Bald Eagle in a residential area. They are nearly always found near water. The closest body of water, Jordan Lake, was four miles away where they are flourishing.

Something here had his interest and he remained for awhile while we watched transfixed and, eventually, he broke from the rising air currents and headed west in the direction of the lake.

To witness this eagle soaring above my home on that cloudless, crisp fall afternoon is an affirmation to the success of the Endangered Species Act. The act saved the Bald Eagle from extinction and to see it in a developed area is confirmation of its increasing population. This is good.

It is truly an American 'American' success story.

 *The Endangered Species Act celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Wake up

I found this spider tucked away in the corner of my yard. He's no bigger than half the size of my pinky finger nail. Looking at him, I thought part of the coloring on him was metallic but the close-up of the camera revealed it to be a sharp yellow.

What delights nature holds. Look at these lovely colors of soft green with whites, yellow and black. How magnificent nature is in her creating.

Nature and life hold so hold many wonderful moments if we only open our eyes. Wake up people. Wake up and open your eyes to the beauty of the world around you. It is disappearing at an phenomenal rate.

What is truly important? The Earth and all of its inhabitants who are intertwined in a myriad of webs or our insatiable desire of consumption.

Wake up.

An early morning spider silhouette

An orb spider silhouetted against the early morning sky with her quarry. You can see the curves of the web where the insects were caught.

While the spider begins her day, flying above, high in the sky, is the contrail of a jet that's carrying passengers somewhere north.