Two birds

Grackles I think. Sitting on the Jacksonville Beach pier admiring the skyline I suppose. 

Crow gets lunch

Limpkin

Birds on a wire

I find it curious that birds that come to rest on a wire seem to find a way to evenly space out. It is almost like they carry a ruler to measure the distance that they can be from their neighbor. Of course there are always exceptions... those crazy nonconformists that break the rule.

Gull

Right side-up, and upside down

Can you spot the bird in the photo? If you click to enlarge the picture you will see it hidden on the pond edge near the center. I did not see the bird either until it took flight. The quick shot below caught what I think is a heron, but my lens was too short. The detail is a 100% crop, but still it is fairly sharp.

The bird

These geese can't read

On second thought, maybe they are the ones that posted the sign.

In which case, I hope their team wins.

Flamingos

I never knew that flamingos built tree nests. May it is only the plastic species.

Canadian geese

These large birds are a common site in our area. In recent years they have become so populous that many consider them a pest. They congregate in parks and anywhere there is sufficient water... even retention ponds in office complexes. They can be aggressive, especially when protecting their young.

Our robins

We have been very lucky this year with a robins nest just outside our window. The three babies are almost ready to leave the nest but still depend on mom for food, and shelter from the rain we have been having. It has been very interesting watching the progress over the last few weeks.

I guess you could say we have had a birds-eye view.

Babies above... mom and babies below.

Cute

Babies and mother... what could be cuter?

From what I have read this is a response that is programmed into us... a way of compelling us to protect and nurture the young so they can grow to be strong and self-sufficient.

Well, at least that is the way it is supposed to work with-in our own species, but you would have to be a pretty mean person to not respect mother and baby in this group.

Swan

Ken, I finally found your swans... but at the south end of the bay.

Honking above

The last few days we have heard the geese making a lot of noise overhead. It seems we are on the flight path of their return to the north. But perhaps they may be a bit early... today is indeed a wonderful spring day, but no doubt there will be more winter soon.

The picture on close inspection (See those tiny dots? Click to make it bigger!) shows quite a number of birds flying in V formations. Perhaps it is well known, but the V provides a dramatic increase in efficiency, providing a reduction in drag by nearly 65% according to Wikipedia. That makes a big difference when you are flying many hundreds of miles.

Pretty smart... no bird brains up there. Something to honk about I guess.

Busy day at the birdfeeder

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful this year for the millions of turkeys that have made the ultimate sacrifice, that we might overeat.

Enjoy.

For the birds

Not my normal type of photo I realize.  We just put up a bird feeder in the backyard and have been amazed at how popular it has become... must have gotten good reviews.