There's a Heron Rookery near my home. When I took this photo in March 2020, this great blue heron pair was still in the nest-building stage. Another male had returned to a neighboring nest, which is what prompted this pose as they watched.
Curt Lundeen Mequon, Wisconsin
I made a mad dash to Brazos Bend State Park here in southeast Texas when it reopened after being closed due to COVID-19. As I was watching and photographing the many roosting birds in the trees, I noticed this cattle egret starting a flight path in front of me.
Jerry Hopman Richmond, Texas
I found this Great Egret in Morro Bay, California. I watched as it stole nesting material from cormorants and delicately balanced each piece just so. The nest was 30 feet up and constructed in a eucalyptus tree.
Kelly Bilu Atascadero, California
While visiting West Palm Beach in Florida, I got to see many white ibises, which are as common as sparrows there. I enjoy photographing them, especially in flight.
Debbie Parker Medina, Ohio
This photo of a spectacular Snowy Egret was taken on Sanibel Island, Florida. It's probably one of my all-time favorite photos. The bird was positioned perfectly, and its stunning speckled foot and matching yellow eye patch both pop. In order to get this shot, I had to lie down on the wet, sandy beach and hope that this beauty didn't fly the coop. The snowy was cooperative and ignored me, continuing to hunt for tiny fish and other ocean nibbles.
Denne historien er fra February/March 2022-utgaven av Birds & Blooms.
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Denne historien er fra February/March 2022-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.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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
