Category: Birds

What a fun experience to watch two Great Blue Herons tantalizing the Snow Geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.  I did a little research today and learned that most Great Blue Herons migrate south in Fall.  They are a hardy bird, however, and some will stay north in areas where the water is not frozen, thus they are listed as year-round residents in Pennsylvania.  Since we have had a mild winter (by Pennsylvania standards), these birds may have been here all season.  Every time they flew overhead, the Snow Geese would take off in a flurry of activity, only to settle back down on the water … until the Herons flew by again.  These are two of my most favorite birds in the same photo – the Great Blue Heron and the Snow Goose.

Okay guys, it’s time for your group photo!  Everybody line up and look at me!  No, don’t look to the right, look at ME!  Over here!  Okay, a few of you are catching on, but hey, who is that one rebel in the middle who is flapping his wings?!!  Show off!!!

They all got the message from the tower …. wing flaps down and prepare to land!  (Snow Geese migration at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area – 2017)

One of my favorite quotes is this:  “Nature is the art of God”, by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  How often have we come upon a female Mallard duck like the one photographed and not stopped to appreciate it’s beauty?  The male Mallard is the more colorful, but the feather patterns on the female are a work of art.  Take time to find beauty and peace in the natural world that surrounds us!

 

 

Meet 21 year old Golden Eagle, Julia.  Julia is another of the beautiful birds of prey that I had the privilege of seeing at the presentation by Bill Streeter of Delaware Valley Raptor Center earlier this month.  Julia was hit by a car and, as a result, is blind in her right eye and unable to fly.  Julia weighs 14 pounds and has feathers from the top of her head right to her toes, which is why Golden Eagles are also called Booted Eagles.  They are one of the most powerful eagles in the world and Julia is an exceptional ambassador of her species.