Author Archives: JK

White-throated Sparrow At Avalon

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Sunday, June 2, 2013,

Here’s a shot of a White-throated Sparrow I saw at Avalon Preserve This is the same bird I mentioned in my Bobwhite post. These little guys have always been a favorite of mine. One often expects a sparrow to be rather drably decorated but click on the pic and check out that bright white bib and those canary yellow patches between the eyes and bill. This is one good-looking bird.

This was this species that first got me involved with Audubon. I had taken a shot of a bird braving a snowstorm back in February of 2008. I loved the shot but I didn’t know what I had so I sent the pic to my friend Sue at Four Harbors Audubon Society. Sue introduced me to several folks, via email at first, who could help me identify the birds I’d been capturing with my camera. Whenever I couldn’t determine a species, which was pretty much darn near all the time, I would send a pic out to these folks and they would ID it for me. Eventually, Four Harbors asked me to become their photographer. Either they were very happy with my pics – it’s a possibility – or they had grown tired of my incessant questioning and were hoping to shut me up. I tend to believe that the latter hypothesis is closer to the mark. Either way, it has never stopped my questions. In similar fashion to the Energizer Bunny, I keep asking and asking and asking. JK

Jet

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013,

Yeah, I know. This pic is off topic. Get over it. This is Jet. She’s been with me since November 2004. You’ll have to do the math on your own ’cause you know how ladies hate having their ages discussed. Jet was already seven or eight months old when I ‘rescued’ her. There is some discrepancy in the accounts of the participants. I say I rescued this feral kitten from a certainly short and uncomfortable life, and she claims I kidnapped her and have kept her a prisoner ever since. She misses the taste of fresh sparrow and while I try to point out that I offer her a great variety of flavors throughout the day she only gives me that cold stare – you cat owners/slaves know the one – and asks why doesn’t Friskies offer up a Chunky Chipmunk Stew? I don’t have these answers and I try to explain as much but she doesn’t believe me. Trust can be a hard thing to win when you’re dealing with cats. Despite this obvious clash of opinions, Jet still sleeps on my chest on a daily basis. So maybe I’m not all bad. Jet isn’t quite buying it, even after all this time, but there’s hope yet. JK
 

Bluebirds Nesting At Avalon!

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Friday, May 24, 2013,

Bluebirds are nesting at Avalon!

For the first time in Avalon’s eleven-year history a pair of Bluebirds have taken up residence in one of the several bluebird boxes that dot the farm fields. The boxes were donated by Four Harbors Audubon Society about ten years ago and while Tree Swallows, wrens, and numerous other species make good use of them, it’s taken ten long years for a pair of Bluebirds to stake a claim. And stake a claim they have. One of my fellow birders reports seeing Mr. Bluebird pulling a wren out of the nest. You go Mister B!

Bluebirds have been seen at Avalon but this is the first time that a pair has been observed preparing a nest. Our fingers are crossed for the new neighbors. If they’re successful, maybe we’ll see more of them next year.