1. I played around with the Wall of Birds interactive for some time. I loved getting to see the long "eyebrows" on the King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise (I also enjoy its long name!). The Bird-of-Paradise family is one I hope to learn more about. Seeing proto-birds and closest-living-relatives was helpful in visualizing the place of birds in the global "family" (used colloquially) of species. I especially enjoy the depictions of what I would describe as dinosaurs. 2. After reviewing the lesson, I took my newly-acquired Sibley bird guide and stood in the yard for a bit. I saw a Steller's Jay, with its bright blue body and black hood, in a tree near our bird feeder. On the ground, I noticed a Junco and two Robins. We often have downy, hairy, and White-Headed (!!) Woodpeckers in our yard, too. I'm lucky to live in Eastern Washington, with such a diverse offering of birds. 3. My favorite neighborhood bird is either the Junco or the White-Headed Woodpecker. I think Juncos are adorable, with their little black heads and brown bodies. They're small and round, and look like they could just fit right in your hand! How darling! The White-Headed Woodpecker is (somewhat) common here in eastern Washington, but exceedingly rare in other parts of the country and the world. I always stop and stare in awe, grateful for my opportunity to so easily witness this creature.

Among the many species I see at my feeder, the Mourning Dove is a favorite of mine.  They are so laid back and gentle as they nibble on the seed or just resting in the sun!  As you can see in the first picture, they built a nest on top of our porch light and were not skittish as I came and went through the door.  I enjoyed watching at the time the eggs hatched and the little ones being fed!

I believe this is a Red-Shouldered Hawk, maybe a juvenile. We've watched it all winter. It catches crayfish and maybe fish and salamanders from out creek.

This is a Kingfisher. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo. I believe it is a female because of the rusty-colored belt. I'm not sure what group they belong to. I'd say either waterfowl or wading birds, but they don't have webbed feet or long legs! If anyone knows, I'd love to be informed.

Male and female house finch.  He is very fluffed up, but she is smooth.  I enjoy these birds because they like my feeder and their vocalizations are lovely.

I love woodpeckers! This was taken today 4/22/2020 in my yard in northeasy Ohio. He's been visiting every day for the past week.

1: The inclusion of the proto-birds and extinct birds in the bird wall was really cool! I'm glad that ostriches are still here, but I wish moas were too. I had no idea that a type of albatross has an 11+ foot wingspan. That's crazy! I thought eagles would have the longest wingspan. I'm a fan of the monkey-snatching Harpy eagle.   I was obliged to read more about the oilbird online. ...Is it oily? The parents make the chicks fat with fruit (a third heavier than the adults), and people would use the chicks to make oil. The parent birds probably feed the chicks out of guilt for raising them in a nest made of droppings.   ~~~   3: There is a bird in my neighborhood that I have never seen, but I sure can hear it. It is my favorite bird because it is my quest to classify it, and it has the prettiest song. It sounds most like a white-throated sparrow, but I haven't found a recording that sounds like it. Very long notes that sound like someone whistling. It is high in dense trees. There are multiple birds, and they take different notes. One will do two long, high whistles. The other will do the same whistle, but a perfect fourth lower. Later I'll hear three descending pitches, with the final one sometimes in the "Canada, Canada" rhythm. I could try to lure it to a feeder, but my neighbors have an outdoor cat and I don't want to put the birds in danger. I live in the non-breeding range of the white-throated sparrow, so it may disappear soon.

Activity 2. Woodpeckers: a Northern Flicker pair (female in front, male in back). I’ve also spotted a second female this spring who will “joust” with the other female. I’m assuming these belong to the “woodpecker” group, because they climb along tree trunks, but I see them more commonly pecking at the ground. Songbirds/Finches and buntings: a Northern Cardinal pair (female in front, male in back). Spring is truly in the air as a number of pairs seem to be competing for a “top spot” in the yard! Songbirds/Other: a Blue Jay pair (I’m not sure of the sex… but I like to imagine one of each). The Blue Jay didn’t fit nicely into the course’s Songbird categories, but I looked on AllAboutBirds and see that they belong to the crow family (Corvidae).

I believe this is an Indigo Bunting? It appeared at my feeder last summer.  I am fascinated by the variety of birds that come to my feeder throughout the year. I am taking this course to help myself to identify the birds that appear. Today so far a Yellow Finch and what I believe to be a Downy Woodpecker. I have a really nice Palliated Woodpecker that likes to visit as well.

Activity 2 1. Chicken-like Birds: This bird appears to be a California Quail and was a strange sighting for me. As a resident of Georgia, I've seen the occasional Bobwhite, but this location is entirely outside the usual range for the California Quail. 2. Songbirds/Other Songbirds? While the Brown Thrashers is definitely a Songbird, its appearance and habit of thrashing around in the underbrush for food didn't seem to fit with any of the other subcategories that we learned. 3. Songbird/ Finches and Buntings The Northern Cardinals stout, short bill and bright colors put it in the Finches and Buntings subcategory of the Passeriformes. Beautiful birds!