Recent Birds: Photos

Here are the birds that I have recently been writing about.



American White Pelicans at Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area




American Coots at C. Bottoms





Panorama of American Coot flock, C. Bottoms

 



The Ducks that visited our pond. Left are 3 Blue-winged teals (Female behind plant on far left), to the right is the pair of Mallards, and the 3rd male Teal behind them.

 


Mrs. Mallard in flight!



The female Teal, a little better view

The Little Blue heron, another visitor.



The Green Heron also a pond visitor, along with...




this Solitary Sandpiper (there are 2 this yr.)

These Canada geese visited the field in front of us a few months ago, but they can represent the lone goose that is usually found there right now.

 

The friendly pair





 Why the grin? Do I look THAT funny to you?

 



Looking off into the distance: I love this ridiculously dramatic pose!

 BTW I did pass the Nat. Sciences CLEP, though it was a low score of 53. No matter, that tells me I saved time!

Random Starling facts!

- Starling nesting season is from around April through Early August.
- Have 4-6, rarely 7 eggs at a time, 2 broods a yr.
- Incubation is 11-13 days, by both Male and Female.
- Young are dull brown, look very different from adults.
- Bill is yellow in spring, turns brown in Summer.

- Bill stronger for opening than closing, useful for prying open nuts (winter survival), finding insects in turf.
- Nests any where from 2-60 ft. above ground, in cavity, but typically 10-25 ft.
- Cannot fit through a hole less than 1 1/2" in diameter.
- BB pellets have been to bounce of Starlings, in weaker BB models.
- Can learn to talk, in same family as Mynas. (Crested Myna = only species in US).
- I found one man who eats the Starlings he shoots, but I would not recommend it! (Very dirty birds!).
- Fast flyers, at about 60 mph. (can't remember exact #, I may change it).

Commenter Request

          Johanna Kautt asked me to post a drawing I'm currently working on, so here it is!
This is Rena, a little girl from a family we know. They recently had their 15th child!

"Rena" (incomplete)

I can rarely take good pictures of people, though the photo I'm using  was not very good! (you'll see it when I finish Rena). I just recently took my sisters grad. photos, and got a few good ones. They will probably be on Mazzou's Mellifluos Memories soon. Speaking of that, I am also given much credit by my sister for a conference photo that is currently on the blog (a thoughtful little girl at the Pendragon table).