I love our migration season when the flocks of swans and Canada geese arrive.  In the early morning I would hear a slapping noise when a group of swans would take off that sounded like their wings slapping on the water.  When I was able to get a better look and capture them on film, I realized that it was not their wings hitting the water, but their powerful feet propelling them forward on the water.

I found the wall of birds really inspiring. I live in a bayside suburb of Melbourne and belong to the local birwatching club. We can't meet, but Tania who organises it, suggested this course. She sends out a bird of the week for us to identify. I'm heading out with my binnoculars to the beach right now.

Activity 1: My favorite bird in the Wall of Birds was the Marvelous Spatuletail because I love that it is so regal and so incredibly colorful and amazing! Activity 2: I opened my field guide to random pages, and the first bird was the Black Hawk-Eagle, which is in the Raptor group. I also opened my field guide to the page where the Limpkin is, which is in the Wader group, and to where the Slate-Colored Seedeater is, which is in the Finch and Bunting group. Activity 3: My favorite neighborhood bird is the hummingbird that quickly flitted past our backyard one day, and even though we have doves, flycatchers, sparrows and clay-colored thrushes, I feel like the hummingbird is so dainty and regal that it just surpasses all the other birds that we see here. We haven't identified this species of hummingbird yet, but from the quick glance I got before it flitted away, I saw dark green and maybe some white, although it could have had more colors that are only visible when the light shines on them. I didn't get the chance to take a photo of it, but last weekend, when we were outside of our neighborhood, I took a photo of a female Green-Crowned Brilliant, and I have to say that hummingbirds are just so extraordinary!

We live in Indianapolis, IN. This hawk (unidentified, to us) landed on our back deck and then in the yard. The picture was taken through a screened window. We welcome any identification ideas...Cooper's hawk? We've also seen American Goldfinch, American Robin, House Sparrow, Cardinal, House Wrens, and Canadian Geese!

I identified a Lincoln's Sparrow in my backyard this week. I was excited to identify it and have this course in part to credit with inspiring me. I have heard this bird's song many times, but wasn't sure what it was until it, and its apparent mate, landed within 2 feet of me in our cedars. I went to the All About Birds site, as well as my Birds of North America book, and confirmed its identity with visual and sound. The more common birds in our neighborhood are Cardinals, black-capped chickadees, white-throated sparrows, starlings, pigeons, crows, and a pair of Cooper's Hawks. I live in central Ottawa, in Ontario, Canada.

Activity #1: I found the Secretary bird interesting for a few reasons. First, I like the crest on it's head- it looks like a wild hairstyle. I also like the fact that it is a predator that uses its feet to attack mammals and reptiles. In addition, it is the only one in its family. Activity #2: The Black-necked Stilt is a bird I see often in ponds near my home, and I recently learned to identify it. I enjoy watching it walk in the shallow water with it's long, spindly red legs. I am impressed that the  non-nesting Black-necked stilts work together to fend off predators. I also like the snowy egret- especially it's black legs and yellow feet. Today I saw a Brown -headed Cowbird in my backyard. Once I figured out what type of bird it was, I read about its behavior and learned the females are "brood parasites". They lay eggs in other birds nests, and don't raise their own young. Brown-headed Cowbirds also eat eggs of smaller songbirds. I find the social lives of birds fascinating. Activity #3: My favorite birds in my yard are Anna's hummingbirds. There are at least three that frequent my feeder, and fly quite close to me. One is a male, one female and the other may be a juvenile or a smaller female.

Activity #1:  I like the American Oystercatcher because I'm a sucker for endangered animals, and this one's habitat is being lost and destroyed.  I think I may have seen one of these when I was at the Gulf last week at North Redington Beach.  The second one that caught my eye was the Prothonotary Warbler because it's yellow (yay!) and it was named after the papal clerks of the Roman Catholic Church (of which I am a member).  It also forms pair bonds for at least a season; which I always think is cool when animals choose long-term mates.  The last one I really like is the Atlantic Puffin.  My grandson got me hooked on this bird, and I got to go to the Project Puffin Visitor Center in Rockland, Maine on my trip there a couple of years ago.  They are doing tremendous work in getting the population numbers up again.

My favorite birds in the neighborhood right now are the ruby-throated hummingbird and the great blue heron.  They're favorites in our family because we waited a long time to see them.  It took a while for our feeder to attract the hummingbird and the heron wasn't always visible early in the spring at our local waterfowl preserve.  They're both unique and beautiful birds.

Activity #2: I've seen lots of song birds so far on my bird watching journey! I've seen lots of American robins, and I chased (at a distance, no birds were harmed!) a song sparrow around the lake shore a few weeks ago. I've also seen some different types of waterfowl; Canada geese and mallards, mostly, but I'm pretty sure I saw a family of common Mergansers the other day, which was cool. I love their spikey hair! I've also seen some woodpeckers and other tree-clinging birds. The other day, I walked out of my house to see three downy woodpeckers exploring a grove of trees between mine and my neighbor's houses! Very cool, can't wait to see more, I'd love to see a hummingbird soon!

Activity #3: Maybe not my absolute favorite backyard bird, but here is a picture of a bald eagle guarding his/her nest. It's a HUGE nest, and I could see at least 2 juveniles moving around inside. The first time I saw a bald eagle was when I was 18 on a canoeing trip down the Susquehanna River in central PA, and I was so fascinated because I always thought they were super rare for some reason. This eagle and nest are located on Sand Island on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the southern Adirondacks (NY). I like to visit them often and watch as mom and dad bring in fish and small animals for the young ones to eat!

Activity 3: I recently moved permanently to South Africa and have been loving getting to know the bird life around the area! My absolute favorite bird is the African Hoopoe, pictured below. It's the David Beckham-like hair that makes me love it!

Activity 1- One of my favorite birds from the Wall of Birds is the quetzal. I love the long tail, cute, round head and vibrant colours. I have also never seen one, so would love to see one! I also love all owls, hummingbirds and warblers. I saw a tropic bird for the first time in Kauai while hiking, and was so excited I photographed and watched for hours. Activity 2- I love swifts, I did not know one part of their brain can be asleep while flying! I was thrilled to see a Black-headed grosbeak AND Western Tanagers here, which are only visitors here for a very short time..they are so beautiful. I am learning to identify bird songs, that I do not know, so I watch out for the birds, as I know they are not common ones, as I know the common calls in my area. Activity 3- My favorite bird in my area is a tough decision, I would have to say the hummingbird, we have Anna's and Rufous.. I love their ability to flit around effortlessly and go up in the air and down, while chatting to each other, and especially their glistening colours..they are so sweet..

Activity #3: My favorite local bird is a blue heron.  It is so tall and majestic hanging out at the edge of a small pond near my house in Indiana.  I’ve had a bird feeder and hummingbird feeders for years, but didn’t pay much attention to the variety of birds that were showing up until I started working from home during the COVID crisis.  We always have cardinals, but in March there were dozens hanging out in the snow in the yard, beautiful!  And then I saw a rose breasted grosbeak (identified with the Audubon app) and now I’m hooked and want to identify all of them :)

We live in western New York and love the NYS Bluebird!  We have several houses and usually get at least one brood of babies.  But we are having problems with English sparrows who try to take over the bird houses.  How can we get "rid" of the sparrows?  Or discourage them from bothering the bluebirds?  Just asking!

I recently added three birdfeeders to my small yard in central NJ.  It has been fun to see new birds arrive to feast.  I find the starlings who fight for the suet cakes the most interesting to watch.  I have been lucky enough to see the fledglings arrive at the suet with their parents and/or other adults.  The adults can be quite aggressive toward the fledglings - I assume not their own young.  The blue jay who comes occasionally is also very aggressive. We've had three types of woodpecker and one flicker.  All birds that I had never seen growing up in the cities of NJ.

I enjoyed the Wall of Birds. I looked at birds that I am used to - cardinal, blue heron, and then ones that I have never heard of. I enjoyed hearing the calls as well.

Saw this amazing Coopers Hawk on my deck rail two mornings in a row.   So beautiful!   Atlanta GA,   Dana

Activity 1: I learned in this activity that albatrosses are my favorite birds! I think it's so so cool that they can fly for YEARS at a time, and that they live to be so old (80 years!!). It got me thinking about lifespans of other types of birds, like the ones in my neighborhood and that I see commonly. I'll have to do some more research on bird lifespans, as it's interesting to me that they can live as long as humans and I've never really considered it before!

Another cool picture of the Barn Swallow.  These were taken with an iPhone so not as crisp and sharp as one would like but still amazing.  I've never seen (or noticed) a Barn Swallow before.  In fact, never heard of one so this was incredible to see.  (Marlborough, CT).

This is a barn swallow feeding its young in my friend's barn.  We live in Connecticut and she has a horse barn and has barn swallows that return year over year.  She has well over a dozen active nests.

Activity 3. The Bobolink is a bird I don't get a chance to see often. However when I do, I excited. I usually see them sitting on an overhead wire or flying quickly from field to field where they land and hide in the grasses. I was fortunate the other day though to have this guy accommodate me by sitting up on several blades. I really enjoy the cream colored nape on that black head followed by the white areas on the back and wings.

The Hooded Merganser is my favourite duck or the ten different kinds of ducks that drop by in their spring migration on the river that I live on. What a wonderful view I have of these colourful and lively little divers.

Activity 3- I am fortunate to live only 1.5 hours away from the Pacific coast.  Yesterday I was able to take a socially distanced trip to the beach and observe birds living on a large haystack.  I enjoyed watching the Common Murres, Pelagic Cormorants, and Tufted Puffins.  I have always been enthralled with Puffins, but have never actually seen one (every time I went to the shore I tried to spot a few).  I also observed a Bald Eagle snatch a baby Seagull from the top of the haystack.  I was unable to take any decent photos, but I can't wait to go back and watch again!

Lately in my neighborhood I've seen House Finches, House Sparrows, Eurasian Collared Doves, Crows and Quail. I love seeing Quail because my grandfather loved Quail and it brings back sweet memories.