The show that you’ve all been waiting for has arrived: the 35th episode of
I and the Bird, chock-full of tales relating some of our most charismatic and inspiring avifauna.
People who watch a banded gray catbird outside their window all summer will find it hard not to wonder exactly where it’s spending the winter, or to marvel that science still doesn’t have the answer. And if the catbird doesn’t come back, they, too, will inevitably wonder why. (Miyoko Chu, author of Songbird Journeys)
And without beating around the bush any longer, the promised carnival:
First, the Aussies…
We have Brown Snakes and Woodswallows at Trevor’s Birding blog (South Australia).
There’s a Spring Surveys at the Swallow Lagoon Reserve, as retold on the Ben Cruachan blog (Victoria). Trillers, Cuckoos, and Whistlers were seen, among others.
Some Dapper Ducks were noticed from A Snail’s Eye View (Victoria).
And The Pigeon with Stars in its Hair was seen by the Wanderling on Search and Serendipity (Papua New Guinea). It would seem that this birder had an awe-inspiring sight.
Next, a Brit joins in,
Giving us the Ribble events for Autumn on the conservationist site Save the Ribble (Lancashire). It seems those chaps are pretty squared away for the season.
And from North America…
Some Gambel’s Quail were sited at the Tortoise Trail blog (Arizona). It’s nice to have such a decorative bird gracing one’s patio.
Birds in San Fransisco recounts a free afternoon in the city and at the art museum, and the birds seen, on The Greenbelt (normally Maryland).
Then, Eek! A Shriek! Apparently I’m not the only one who invents amusing but silly names for birds, if the tale on Rurality (Alabama) is true.
Do you like Peregrines and Predatory Bird Conservation? Then stop in to Bird DC (Washington DC) to see an interview with Brian Walton, the coordinator of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group.
While Turning Towards Winter, a walk along the National Arboretum yielded some nice observations of seasons changing and of birds on A DC Birding blog (Washington DC), including one late migrant: a Scarlet Tanager.
There’s a Fake Paper Fesigned for a Class on Birds Farting that’s quite entertaining on Science Creative Quarterly (British Columbia). Just remember to follow your nose.
It’s Old Photo Friday over at Coyote Mercury (Texas), with a very scenic shot of vultures in a tree.
Mike noticed some interesting Birds of Irving, Texas, as he tells it, over on 10,000 Birds - the highlight being a squadron of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.
You can go take a Walk on the Wild Basin Side over at Don’t Mess With Taxes (Texas). Black-capped Vireos, Monarch butterflies, and a review on the Wild Basin Preserve are the spectacles.
The Hermit Thrush is All A-Quiver over at Bootstrap Analysis, who comments on an interesting thrush foraging behavior.
Don’t forget the Bird(ing) Food - or that’s the advice over at the Hawk Owl’s Nest (New Jersey) anyway, because birdwatchers get hungry too.
Be sure to catch the Blog-erview with Kevin T. Karlson, author of The Shorebird Guide, on WildBird on the Fly (California). It’s a great post for bird photography enthusiasts.
If you’re Searching For a Woodpecker, stop by The Bird Nerd’s (California) avian adventures in Napa Valley for comments on various woodpecker’s one might come across. Included is a beautiful picture of a Nuttall’s Woodpecker!
I saw an Ivorybill! Well Okay, I didn’t really. But that’s the title of the post at The Birdchaser (Pennsylvania), who relates his thoughts and concerns about the Auburn and Cornell teams and the status of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, following a talk at the recent AOU conference in Veracruz.
And last, but not least, my own contribution on Yard Birds - resident and migratory songbirds that I’ve enjoyed watching as I write my dissertation recently.
Thanks
Thanks for reading, and many thanks to those who’ve contributed posts!
The next (36th) I and the Bird will be at Words and Pictures. To contribute to IATB #36, see here.
