While birding at one of my local state wildlife areas, I stopped at a large grassland section that was ringing with the songs of eastern meadowlarks. I took this photo from the parking lot as one flew right by me. Andy Raupp MONTELLO, WI
I spotted a common redpoll in a sunflower field in Garrettsville, Ohio. The field owner had put up a small wooden sign that said "Birders Welcome." I was really excited to see this little bird because it is an infrequent visitor to northeastern Ohio and was a "lifer" for me. I like the subtle color palette created by the bird, dried sunflower and background.
David Ciborek MUNROE FALLS, OH
Last March was birding in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and saw a yellow-crowned night-heron showing off for females by extending his striking full-feather mating display. The dance was over in seconds, but I readied my camera just in case he would repeat it. I observed him for about 40 long minutes, and just when I had almost given up, he once again raised his head high in the air, extended his back feathers and then, as he slowly lowered his head, deployed all his feathers in the most magnificent mating bow I have ever witnessed. He had the complete attention of all the nearby females, including me! For wildlife photographers, this moment makes all the hours you put in getting that perfect shot worthwhile. I'm sure he won the most worthy mate for his grand performance, and they happily had a successful breeding season.
Mary Alice Tartler HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC
A pair of northern flickers mirrored each other on an old tree. This photo was the first time I ever captured two flickers in one frame! I took it with a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 500 mm lens on a tripod.
William McMullen ROCKLAND, ON
Denne historien er fra February/March 2024-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra February/March 2024-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
Learn how to cultivate an oasis of grassland flora in your backyard
ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
