Birding for Everyone!

 

Caught this interesting segment about birding on CBS Sunday Morning this past weekend. Birding has become a very popular pastime and is no longer confined to esoteric circles. Ordinary people are finding that it doesn't require any rigorous training, equipment, or even physical effort to watch and learn about our avian neighbors. Just look out the window!

228th Birth Anniversary of John James Audubon

John James Audubon by John Syme - portrait
located at the White House (public domain)

One of the world's greatest ornithologists, Audubon was also a leading naturalist and artist. He painted over 400 true to life works of art depicting the birds he encountered. His body of work forms a significant contribution to the field of ornithology, which was made possible by shooting the birds first and then painting them. It seems harsh today, since we shoot birds with cameras now, but in earlier times, when cameras couldn't zoom or display color, it was the only way to create an accurate portrait. Many naturalists of his time adhered to the maxim, “What's hit's history: what's missed's mystery.” The University of Pittsburgh is one of the few institutions to own a rare and complete set of Audubon's Birds of America plates. The entire collection has been digitized and can be viewed online; the images are of very high resolution and quality. Wikimedia Commons also displays Audubon images, and they are also very hi-res. Audubon painted his birds not only in great detail, but also with some feeling for the character of each breed. He did observe how dedicated birds were to their offspring and portrayed them beautifully in their natural setting.

 

Audubon's Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Google doodle for Audubon's 226th anniversary

Audubon's Goosander

Calling All Birders - it's the Annual Christmas Bird Count!

Cedar Waxwing - public domain image by Ken Thomas

Cedar Waxwing - public domain image by Ken Thomas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time to commence the annual Christmas Bird Count; it's been 113 years since the first one took place on Christmas Day 1900. That's the year ornithologist Frank Chapman began the count after proposing to conserve birds rather than shoot them. The Audubon Society's website has a wealth of information not only on the Christmas Bird Count, but also the history of bird conservation and science. Anyone can take part in the bird count and it promotes not only conservation, but helps us understand bird behavior and migration patterns, as well as providing bird census data. Birds have tremendous appeal to humans; their ability to fly and devoted nesting behavior have powerfully touched our sensibility ever since we first witnessed them. I've posted images of the Cedar Waxwing here because they're among the sleekest and dare I say coolest looking birds I've ever seen. There are many other beautiful and elegant birds, but the Waxwings have a modern, futuristic look that almost makes them seem space-age! Their dark eye bands, sleek crests, and smooth feathers give them a trendy appearance. And they're known to be very affectionate, often passing a berry down along a row of their compatriots!

Rockport Hummerbird Celebration, September 13 - 16

 

This has got to be the most hummingbirds ever to congregate in one place! Rockport, TX residents are very lucky to have these visitors to their feeders - no wonder they hold their annual Hummerbird Celebration there. During the Fall migration, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds gather along the Texas coast on their way to Mexico and Central America where they winter.