Seen in my neighborhood near Boston. Great blue heron? Didn't get to hear him. Love the wall!

Activity 1: Going on the wall for all North America I was drawn to the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Its apparently a common bird here but I have never seen one… yet! Its tail is what I’m so intrigued by.

Activity 2: The backyard birds I get that got me started in all of this is the Great Fliers (I have a barn swallow nest on my porch), Sparrows (An army of house sparrows), and Black Birds (Great-Tailed Grackles)

Activity 3: My current obsession is Hummingbirds. I have had a feeder out for about a month and some change and when sitting at my computer on Sunday saw my first one (crappy picture of excitement below) I want to see them again after learning from this course they can’t go sideways, I refuse to believe that.

Activity 1:

I revisited the bird wall to write this post, and discovered one I hadn't clicked before, one that I immediate was drawn to because it looks like a sleek, all black Cardinal. The Phainopepla! I love their little mohawk.

Activity 2:

Three birds that I can classify into different groups from what I've seen in the wild would be the Mourning Dove, Green Heron, and Ring Billed Gull. Mourning doves fall under pigeons and doves, Green Herons under wading birds, and Ring Billed Gull with seabirds.

Activity 3:

I've recently been fascinated by White-Breasted Nuthatches. I love their behavior of skittering along trees parallel to the trunk. Very adorable birds!



Image pulled from google search. But I often see them making this exact pose!

First of all, I want to say how much fun it is reading everyone's comments here!  Activity 1:  The Wall of Birds is so delightful.  I want to do a lot more exploring there!  For now I'll choose the Blue-Footed Booby because it's such a marvel and always makes me smile.  Those feet!  Activity 2:  A few of the favorite birds I've seen this year are the Snowy Egret (colorful feet again; this time yellow!); Green-Winged Teal (so colorful); and Red-Shouldered Hawk.   Activity 3:  It's late August, and the hummingbirds are about to leave for the winter.  I think we've already seen the last of this year's Black Chinned Hummingbirds, so this one (photo snapped a couple of days ago) must be a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.  Although its throat isn't ruby-colored.  So is it a female?  Or is there another reason?  So much to learn!

Activity 1: The Carolina Wren is one of my favorites, because its song is distinctly memorable from earlier childhood even though I was not especially interested in birds at the time.

Activity 2: I am fortunate to live close to a lake with some parks lining the shore, which attracts many different bird families (waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds, warblers, sparrows, finches, wading birds...).

Activity 3: Seeing a variety of birds is fun, but I will always appreciate the ubiquitous Canada Goose for being easy to find and letting you observe its behavior quite closely; this parent goose successfully chased off 11 other adult geese so that its 3 goslings could monopolize a food source.

I am currently visiting Colombia and so far my favorite bird is the Saffron Finch. They are small, bright yellow birds with bright heads. Adorable and have a cute little song. I have yet to capture a photo. They move quickly!

For activity 1, my favorite bird was the Tropicbird. Even though this is the Red-tailed, it reminds me of the "Longtail," the White-Tailed Tropicbird from my recent trip to Bermuda.  I was there as the young were fledging and it was magical to watch the groups of three flying around but never landing.

For activity 2, I am surprised how many bird species I see given that I live in a fairly urban environment.  We have Ruby-throated hummingbirds (which are quickly becoming my favorite), wild turkeys, Red-tailed Hawks, and a myriad of seed eating birds.

For activity 3, my favorites are the Ruby-throated hummingbird because they move unlike any other birds around my neighborhood, the Red-bellied Woodpecker who has nested in our backyard this year and we've affectionately named Spencer; and the Dark eyed Junco, which is just adorable in the winter.  We don't have a lot of species in the winter, and this one comes south from Canada and hangs out in the snow.

Activity 3: A true novice, I have begun trying to identify the birds that visit my yard armed with the Merlin app and a pair of binoculars. I was rewarded almost immediately by seeing what the tiny hummingbirds (think they are Allen or Rufous) were up to in the early morning. I don't have hummingbird feeders, but many fruit trees. I could see the hummingbirds zipping around and perched on top of the uppermost branches, but I was charmed to discover another behavior. They were not just sitting on my apple tree, but were bathing in the dew on the leaves, quickly rolling around several times before flying off. It was a delight to observe their behavior.

Activity 3: My favorite bird in my neighborhood (with a pond) is the Belted Kingfisher, which also happens to be one of my top birds of all time, so that's pretty cool. They are actually quite rare to spot around my area, but I was lucky to be able to catch a few glimpses with my binoculars, mainly because one or two lives near the pond I think. I just love the contrasting color palette of its feathers, that gorgeous blue head and back (like a cape almost) paired with the radiant orange chest stripes that pops from the surrounding white feathers. Moreover, I have seen many photographs (including the one below) of them, and also videos of them diving to catch fish, so cool!!!



Photo from the All About Birds website.

Back in the spring right at the end of the great Migration, we were out on the lake in western NC. The sun was setting and I kept seeing this bird on the lake disappear for minutes at a time then emerge. I remember thinking, “that’s not a duck,” as it joined three others. Then it spread its wings and let out a haunting call right as I focused my binoculars. I still think of that evening often - a highlight of my birding recently. I love love love a Common Loon more than I ever expected to.

my favourate bird on the bird of walls definetly has to be King of Saxoony Bird of Paradise, This lil guy is so unique and foriegn from what im used to seeing out in western canada that it makes me excited at the prospect of exploring the world some more some day.  What other unique situation has created some unique little buddies.

My favourate local bird has to be the American Gildfinch because I get to see families of them feeding on the seed my mom likes to throw out.  The small ones look the size of my thumb and will stay and eat seeds even as I walk up to them, so cute and fluffy.  They are a small yellow bird with a short-wide beak, a black or darker forehead depending on plumage and gender with black wings with a white bar or 2.

I enjoy the wall of birds thoroughly! hard to pick a favorite!!..really like the red breasted nuthatch

 

Activity 2: A few weeks back I was able to identify a pygmy nuthatch, which was really cool as they are very small and cute! Anytime I go out birding I see wonderful examples of cormorants and Great blue herons.

 

Activity 3: my favorite bird and the one that has gotten me into birding is the American robin. I hear them most mornings in my neighborhood and love the sweet song,  Tonight I was at a local natural area, and it was delightful having the opportunity to watch a robin perform its song. I love watching robins hop around, and find them to be friendly and familiar, and wonderful!

Activity 3: I have been enjoying the Wood Thrush this summer. I was first drawn to its cheery song! Then, I finally identified the bird that was singing this delightful song. The Wood Thrush's belly is spotted, and the spots look like little leaves.  Photo from The Cornell Lab All About Birds.

Activity #2
I was able to use the Merlin app on my iPhone with my own photos to get an initial ID of a Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay. I then used the Sibley app on the phone to look at descriptions and details to confirm the Merlin ID (also using the Sibley app it looked like a juvenile of the species). I then was able to post my photos and initial ID to a local Facebook group and they kindly provided feedback and confirmed my ID as correct. Was a fun process and I feel confident in the identification of this bird. It was so nice to have those guides and resources with me out in the field at my fingertips. 😎

Activity 2 - There is a Great Blue Heron rookery very near my home.  They return in late February/early March, and it is fascinating to watch them as they build new nests and return to the existing ones.  There are usually 8-10 nests, and and about twice as many herons.

Activity 3 - My favorite local bird is the American Goldfinch. They visit my goldfinch feeder many times each day, and I love to see them in early to mid summer when the males are sporting their vibrant yellow colors.

Activity 1: I enjoyed exploring some unique birds on the Wall of Birds interactive. Three of my favorite birds were:

• The Atlantic Puffin because these clown-like birds crack me up.


• The Superb Lyrebird because they have such a distinctive breeding ritual.


• The Hartlaub's Turaco because they have beautiful plumage and because the vocal sounds they make are similar to a jungle monkey's calls.

Activity 2: 

• One evening a couple of weeks ago, I heard a distinctive bird song in my northeastern Ohio neighborhood. The song sounded somewhat like a frog's croak. I analyzed the bird song on the Merlin app and found out it was most likely made by a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. I have yet to actually see one.


• I see a lot of species of woodpecker in my backyard. By far the largest species I've seen is the Pileated Woodpecker.


• I saw a hawk near my house last night. I used Merlin to identify the species of hawk I saw. It was most likely a Red Shouldered Hawk.

Activity 3: 

My favorite neighborhood birds are wild turkeys. I saw two female turkeys with their poults foraging in my yard the other morning. I was surprised at the number of offspring they were caring for. I counted sixteen tiny poults following their mothers around.

Activity 3- I’m sharing a favorite bird that I see frequently in my backyard. I think it’s an oak titmouse or plain titmouse which is a songbird. Specifically, I’m not sure if it’s a small flycatcher. I love the tuft of feathers on top of its head. Makes me happy!!

Activity 2. Walking at an estuary yesterday I saw and heard many songbirds, including red winged blackbird and song sparrow. Saw ducks, including a wood duck mama and many little ones. Gulls - I think they were ring-billed gulls. Wader: great blue heron.

Activity 3: Favorite bird in my yard is a hummingbird. I think they are Rufous hummingbirds. I love the way they dart around. They have been feeding at my crocosmia lately.

Activity #1

The Artist has captured on the Wall of Birds a magnificent order and beauty of the world of birds.

Activity #2

The Passeridae Family or House and White crowned sparrows remind me of the Lark Sparrow I see each morning.  It greets me with a call.  I had a whistle to make sounds as a child but can not find one today.  As an experiment, I make a human sound cheap,cheap and this little bird imitates my sound every morning and flies off to find insects.  It is the sweetest sound and interaction of my morning and enjoy the songbirds.

The Hirundinidae Family or Barn Swallow has adapted to nesting in my building during the winter.  As a song bird, the Swallow does not make song but makes a soft sound when it flies by (3 feet).  As Spring arrives there is a courtship ie preening.  The Swallow seems to be more private than the Sparrow.

Activity #3

I have no pictures to share of these sweet friends.

Ruth

The ospreys are captivating, from the time they arrive in late winter, until the time they migrate in the fall for their clear, piercing call, their skill at catching fish, their honor for not stealing from others, their deft flying maneuvers when defending their nest, their loyalty and dedication to their nest and their mate. Looking up at them in the nest, guarding or feeding young in the hot summer makes me wonder at all the conditions they endure and inspires images of them flying over the dynamic sea during migration, in the dark of night, the glow of sunrise, navigating gales and pelting rains.

The mockingbird is so entertaining with the quickly changing sequence of phrases, delivered faster than I can identify them. It is remarkable and even kind of funny when the long diverse clear melody is suddenly interrupted by the brash, raspy imitation of a blue jay alarm call, so different from the rest of the songs!

The eastern towhee announces its arrival with such a bright and innocent confidence that also just evokes joy. Its way of bouncing around goes with the clear, upward call and happy posture.

Activity 3

My favorite bird is the Eastern Bluebird.  I have two pairs that have bested in the bluebird boxes on my backyard fence posts this spring.  The first clutch has already fledged; the other has been hatched for about 2 weeks.  It’s so fascinating to watch the mama and papa flying back and forth and working diligently to feed their young ones.  The beautiful blue of their feathers is just gorgeous.
I never get tired of seeing them!

In activity 3, I chose the house sparrow, my favorite bird. The male has facial markings that kind of remind me of a clown! It is such a surprise to see them at my feeders, even though some consider them territorial, because my "customers" are mainly house finches and Anna's hummingbirds. House sparrows are my favorite bird because of how beautiful the markings are.

Activity 1: I enjoyed looking at this wall and learning about the yellow-billed magpie. I would love to see one of these if I ever go to California.

Activity 2: Last week I went to Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve and found 37 species over two days. My three favorite sightings were green herons, spotted sandpipers, and red-headed woodpeckers.

Activity 3: I commonly see blue jays hanging around my backyard, and these are my favorite everyday birds.

Activity 1- I really enjoyed the bird wall & will come back to it as I could have spent hours looking at all the birds! I’m drawn to birds with color on them. I enjoyed reading about the orange-bellied leaf bird, Lilac-breasted Roller and the Four-colored Bushshrike.
Activity 2- today I had a very vibrant, male cardinal eating out of my feeder! Normally the House Sparrows run other birds off, so I was glad to have him there. I’ve seen several hummingbirds at the park I walk at by my house, always fascinating to watch. My friend and I use the phrase “just a Robin” or “just a red-winged blackbird” since they are in abundance where I live (Iowa). We wonder if they would seem more exciting if we didn’t always see them.
Activity 3- my favorite bird is the American Goldfinch, which is also the state bird. I love the vibrant, yellow color & the whimsical way they fly!

Activity 1: https://montereyart.org/uncategorized/jane-kim-migrations/ I wanted to see new birds and explore this exhibit for my birthday. I live in Northern CA. It was interesting. I liked the interactive wall and it looks like South America has the most birds.

Activity 2: Yesterday went to a local regional park. Last year is was all dried up. This year water abundance, new nest boxes for the Tree Swallows, but wondered about predation since California Gulls were in abundance. Finally viewed and photographed a Common Yellowthroat, real treat. And, as I am enjoying this class just watched a CA Scrub-Jay take a bath. Still trying to figure out if picture is Wood Pee-wee or another flycatcher. A hummingbird ran it off, and no time to capture any sound.

Activity 3: I like top predators, what can I say. The Peregrine Falcon was my favorite as a kid. Red-tailed Hawk