Category Archives: birds

Flocks: Guest Photographer Diane Hale Smith

Posted on April 1, 2013 by unmowed

Thanks to Diane Hale Smith for these beautiful photographs! It’s spring. Really it is, in spite of the weather. The birds know. They can tell because there’s more light in the world. The days are longer, the nights are shrinking, … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptations, birds, photos, spring, wildlife | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Crows: Science and Fiction

Posted on March 25, 2013 by unmowed

More and more, cities across the US are being discovered by crows as the perfect place for a slumber party. Crows love to roost in cities on winter nights. And the crows congregate in vast numbers–some roosts are made up of hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, wildlife | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Burdock: Hooked Like Velcro

Posted on March 23, 2013 by unmowed

One day in 1941, a Swiss scientist was walking his dog, and noticed with annoyance, like so many other dog-walkers before and since, that his pet had blundered into the tall prickly plant called burdock. And as he was picking the … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptations, birds, edible, great ideas, plant parts, seeds, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Crow Show

Posted on March 20, 2013 by unmowed

They start moving as the sun begins to go down. The first birds are so far away they look like grains of pepper against the gray sky. The crows are heading into Amsterdam for their nightly jamboree. Amsterdam, NY, like … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, environment, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

To Feed a Mockingbird

Posted on February 5, 2013 by unmowed

Another day, another parking lot. Now this might not look like a National Park or anything. But I drove into this parking lot in Guilderland, NY the other day, parked, and sat there thinking about nothing in particular for a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, environment, great ideas, plant parts, seeds, wildlife, winter | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Cold Winter Day

Posted on February 4, 2013 by unmowed

A cold day today. Snow, and then sunshine that seems colder than the snow. A hard day for chickadees and goldfinches and redpolls and nuthatches and such to keep warm. Good thing my backyard has a lot of birdfeeders in it. … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, wildlife, winter | Tagged | 3 Comments

Touch of Spring: Guest Photographer Frank Knight

Posted on January 27, 2013 by unmowed

Thanks to Frank Knight for this stunning photograph. Frank specializes in close-up photographs of flowers. I love this beautiful shot of a delicate cluster of poison ivy flowers. Yes. Poison ivy has flowers. Dainty and delicate, lovely flowers that, yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptations, birds, edible, photos, plant parts, seeds, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Poison Ivy: A Good Thing

Posted on January 20, 2013 by unmowed

“For many years I was a self-appointed inspector of snowstorms and rainstorms and did my duty faithfully, though I never received payment for it.” Henry David Thoreau You have to love Thoreau. He’s so quotable. And so energetic—no armchair nature … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, edible, plant parts, seeds, wildlife, winter | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Avian Weeds

Posted on January 12, 2013 by unmowed

No, it’s not the Parthenon. Or something built by spendthrift emperors in Ancient Rome. This is the State Education Department building in Albany, NY. It’s really a magnificent building. Based on the greatest traditions of Western architecture, only on a huge … Continue reading →

Posted in adaptations, birds, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tagged | 2 Comments