I defy anyone to gaze deeply at the feathers on this tiny jewel of Creation and come away unscathed. I think this is a young female black-chinned, but who cares what we call her? She could be running things a year from now if we’re not careful, which is why I just tied all my [...]
Birds
Telephoto macro shot from six feet away
Not just any black-chinned hummingbirds, these commandos from Oaxaca get the job done. After diving from a great height to build up speed, the bird first impales the prey, then tickles it to death with its teeny-tiny claws. »Buy This Photo!«
Telephoto shot from near my desk
Another whomp against the window. I jumped up, and there he was! This Cooper’s hawk must know a good thing when he sees it. Last night it snowed, and when I finally put out fresh birdseed in the morning, it attracted quite a crowd. You can’t tell from this picture, but that rock he’s resting [...]
Might be a juvie
This has never happened before: tanagers, orioles, and lazuli buntings at the feeders, often at the same time. I’ve only seen female Bullock’s orioles so far. They and the female tanagers are hitting the hummingbird feeders, of course. (Jesus, this is turning into a bird blog!) Meanwhile the goddamn squirrels are on a rampage. Running [...]
If he grabs you, better keep real still
A loud whomp against the window glass usually means a bird, so I got up to look outside. The trick is to find the unconscious feathered missile before the cat does and move it to a safe place; if its neck isn’t broken, the victim usually revives and flies away. That wasn’t the case with [...]
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