How to Save Birds From Residential Window Strikes

http://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-glass/

The Birds are Calling You

                                                              Great Blue Heron

Red-w

                                                                  Male Redhead

                                                           Male Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                    Mallard Hen

                                                                      Mallard Pair

                                                          Male Downy Woodpecker

                                                              Male Northern Cardinal

                                                            Female Northern Cardinal


0715-0955 hrs./39-59 degrees F/sunny/light and variable winds

Birds were everywhere this morning, and their mating calls resounded.  They are already
gathering nesting materials and some are even nesting.  I have seen the commonest House
Sparrow carrying feathers for inside the nest cup which will be closest to the eggs.  American Robins already have a brood patch, which is exposed skin that will be warmest up against the egg.  The
Killdeer are everywhere, mostly on the jetties, and life is good on Boomer Lake.  I think you'll
agree with me.

Owl Be Seeing You

                                                                  Rusty Blackbird

                                                                         Redheads

                                                         Northern Flicker(yellow shafted)

                                                               Great Horned Owl

                                                                  Song Sparrow

The Rusty Blackbird surprised me a little, since it rarely ventures out at the lake, but the calm day must have had something to do with it.  These photos were taken over the past two days; yesterday was a bright and windless day, and today had gusting winds at 20 mph.  Each day had its good points, so I chose the best photos between the two.  This is what I came up with, and tomorrow is another day.

022816 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-birds-are-the-real-sign-of/article_79099cc2-dd95-11e5-a380-6fc45be613ff.html

The World According to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Indiahoma, OK

                                                                   Western Fence Lizard
                                                                   (Blue Bellied Lizard)

                                                                    Prairie Dog

                                                                 American Bison

                                                              Wild Longhorn Steer

022016 -  We made a pitstop at the refuge on the way home from Aransas NWR.  The Wichita
Mountains is a haven for wildlife, and also is home to a beautiful herd of elk, which happened to appear.  It was shortly after noon and the animals were in the wrong place at the wrong time, so
the photos will not be shown.

Cruising around Camp Doris showed a number of birds, which included several woodpeckers,
the Eastern Bluebird, and some of the Sandhill Cranes that we just left were on their way home
north for breeding purposed.  All eighteen of them were overhead, so there are no photos for that, since they were a mere speck.

Here's a small sampling of the beautiful animals that we encountered.  Keep Mount Scott in the
back of your mind for hawk watching ventures, and tell them that I sent you, as they pass by.

See the Greater Roadrunner in Action on the Chaparral

See the ground cuckoo in action.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge/Laguna Atascosa in Texas

                                                            Blue-winged Teal Pair

                                                               Male Green-winged Teal

                                                               Male Blue-winged Teal

                                                                       Least Grebe

                                                                    Pied-billed Grebe
                                                           Breeding Plumage, Foreground

                                                                   Greater Yellowlegs

                                                                    American Wigeon

                                                                      Crested Caracara

                                                                   Greater Roadrunner

                                                                    White-tipped Dove

                                                            Golden-fronted Woodpecker

                                                                       Olive Sparrow


02-18/02-20-16

Photos were taken at Jones Lake and Heron Flats in Aransas NWR and Laguna Atascosa just
prior to darkness.

Jones Lake was observed over two days, where the both teals, the Least Grebe, and American
Wigeon were found.

The real gems were located at Laguna Atascosa, which was worth the drive via a seven-mile detour over very rough terrain.  The birds photographed were the Crested Caracara, Greater Roadrunner, White-tipped Dove, Green Jay, Golden-crowned Woodpecker,  Gray Catbirds and the very regional Olive Sparrow.  The Aplomondo Falcon was seen attempting to apprehend a Gray Catbird, as was the Long-billed Thrasher.  Darkness
nearly enveloped us, and I ran out of time trying to get a decent shot of the Long-billed Thrasher.  Perhaps next time will yield additional results.