Herring Gull – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern There are over twenty gull species in North America, but the herring gull is the most familiar to people We’ve heard about how ravens and crows are intelligent and can even fashion tools. However, most people are not aware that herring gulls have also displayed tool use. There is […]
Rock Pigeon – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Pigeons have a compact sturdy build Pigeons are a common sight in urban environments around the world. This particular bird is a rock dove, or rock pigeon. Despite their prevalence, few people understand the importance of this species to the ecosystem. Ruddy Turnstone Pigeons have a compact, […]
Canada Goose – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The Canada Goose can grow to be 43 inches in length and weigh 14 pounds! The Canada Goose, Branta canadensis is a fascinating bird species that has captivated people for centuries. It is a large waterbird that is native to North America and is recognized for its […]
Ruddy Turnstone – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern This ruddy turnstone is missing its right foot This small shorebird is called a ruddy turnstone. They are found on beaches across the world. In the United States, we can find them on both coasts, typically in the spring and fall. Despite sounding like a beach bum bird, these birds […]
Royal Tern – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern As the scientific name implies, royal terns are almost always found near the ocean and often on sandbars completely surrounded by water The scientific name for this bird is “Thalasseus maximus”. “Thalasseus” in ancient Greek means “sea”, and “maximus” translates to “greatest” in Latin. As the scientific name implies, […]
Osprey – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Osprey are apex predators and can be found along coastlines, rivers, and lakes This large raptor is built for fishing. So much so that it also goes by “fish hawk”, “sea hawk”, and “river hawk”. Not surprisingly, fish make up 99% of an osprey’s diet. These birds can be found across […]
Great Blue Heron – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Great blue herons have a wingspan of over six feet! This photo is of a great blue heron flying over Eagle Creek reservoir in Indiana. I was lucky enough to take this photo on a day that I had rented a super-telephoto lens. These types of […]
Common Loon – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Loons are often confused with ducks because they are about the same size and also swim like a duck. In the remote northwestern corner of Maine is a large lake with a large name, “Mooselookmeguntic”. The word comes from the Abnaki and means “moose feeding place”. It is technically […]
Snowy Owl – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable Snowy owls only head south once every 4 years or so In this photo, a snowy owl takes off from a tree at sunset. I had been watching it for over an hour. The moment is exciting. As the zoomed-in photo shows, these are heavy birds with big wingspans. Their abundance of […]
Mallards – IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN Mallards are the most common duck in North America I took this photo while kayaking on Eagle Creek Reservoir. You can often see mallards while at this park. On this day, I was on the far north end of the reservoir when I came across these two. This […]