4 ms·
To me, blue jays are the natural counterpart of the cardinal. They are like two different varieties of chromatic dragon. I love the sound and color of red-wing
by allturtles 2y ago
To me, blue jays are the natural counterpart of the cardinal. They are like two different varieties of chromatic dragon.
I love the sound and color of red-winged blackbirds flashing among the cattails. But stay away from their nests at breeding time, they will dive-bomb you without hesitation.
There is a lone pied-billed grebe that visits our pond every fall. It looks like a miniature duck that is overloaded with cargo, making it sit too low in the water. Then it will suddenly disappear like a submersible if it spots you approaching.
This time of year, sandhill cranes start passing over our house by companies and batallions, heading northward and filling the air with strange warbling cries. I always wonder why they return so early, as if they are in a rush to get back home to Canada despite the chill that remains in the air even here, hundreds of miles to the south.
- moultano 2y agoI love Charley Harper's depiction of all the colors in a winter bird feeder. https://charleyharperprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Winter-Cards1.jpg https://charleyharperprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/W... Red winged blackbirds are another all time favorite of mine. It is so startling when you see their wing colors flare, and hear their strange polyphonic song. I wish I got to see them more.
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- oddsockmachine 2y agoYour writing is very reminiscent of Aldo Leopold's in 'A Sand County Almanac' (which is an equal delight to read)
- allturtles 2y agoThanks! It's not my usual writing style, but I read that book years ago and am probably channeling some bits of Leopold today. :-)
- moultano 2y agoI love that book. It's an all time favorite, and an inspiration.
- lenzm 2y ago> to get back home to Canada Many now return to the area near Necedah Wildlife Refuge in Juneau County, WI - adjacent to Leopold's Sand (Sauk) County.
- allturtles 2y agoThanks, I didn't realize that! Not necessarily so far north as I thought then. I assumed they were all going up to the tundra.