I always like getting in some sketching when I go to natural history museums. This Andean Cock of the Rock was in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. I question the realism of the display having a grape vine as … Continued
Its hard not to like these beautiful birds. They aren’t terribly showy or colorful, but they have an attractive mix of browns, whites and blacks with a perfect touch of brilliant yellow in front of their eyes. This one is … Continued
The warm weather has finally arrived in Michigan. That means that the damselfly and dragonfly season is finally here! Unfortunately we are also up to our armpits in mosquitoes. Speaking of unwanted arthropods,we are being overrun by ticks. Up until … Continued
It seems to me that the American Robin could use better PR. Its true that they aren’t as flashy as the European Robins and they lack the spectacular calls of some of the other thrushes. Robins are in virtually every … Continued
Few things are as cheery as the American goldfinch. Their friendly call and rollercoaster-like flight add to their obvious visual appeal. We have an almost constant stream of them at the thistle feeders. They like to nest in the blackberry … Continued
I always love seeing these attractive birds in the our yard. They arrive after a long Michigan winter, bringing the promise of nice spring weather.
Every spring the kids and I like to search around the lawn for bird nests. The robin nests are easy to find. You can watch the female collect and carry grasses and mud, then follow her to see where the … Continued
Spring is a great time for many reasons. The choruses of singing frogs are one of best. Hearing the mating frogs calling from the vernal ponds near our house is a welcome sign that the warm weather is on its … Continued
It’s spring in Michigan, and the chipmunks are busy. Okay, these guys destroy our gardens, raid our bird feeders, and dig in my wife’s potted plants all the time. They are undeniably full of trouble. Pound for pound they probably … Continued
Common grackles are interesting birds. They are icterids, related to the blackbirds and orioles. Male birds have a beautiful iridescence to their feathers. These intelligent birds are capable of mimicry and have been known to even copy the human voice.