Flocks and flocks of Horned Larks . . . but none for me

I belong to a local birding listserv and lately people have been posting on sightings of Horned Larks, flocks and flocks of them. But I have never seen even ONE.

Does it sound like I'm complaining? I am.

I've read the following on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's web site All About Birds:

"The only true lark native to North America, the Horned Lark is a common, widespread bird of open country."

And that site's range map shows the Horned Lark as a year-round resident, not only in Pennsylvania (where I live) but also over most of the USA.

So what gives?

True, I haven't been looking my entire life for the Horned Lark. In fact, I only became conscious of this bird a few years back. (In this photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you don't see the bird's "horns," feather tufts that the lark can raise and lower.) The Horned Lark is a grassland bird, one that likes to forage in short grass, even dry patches, better than tall. There's plenty of pastureland where I live.

I checked to see if altitude might play a role. For instance, I live atop the Allegheny Plateau, a higher elevation than those folks who have been posting on sightings of flocks in the valleys. But online I read that Horned Larks are no stranger to highlands.

Perhaps Horned Larks are around, but I'm not paying adequate attention. Next time I'm driving and see a flock of birds--that's it! I'm stopping the car and pulling out my binoculars. I'll catch one yet, and when I do, I'll let you know.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Male Northern Cardinal

What's more striking (and sublime) than a male Northern Cardinal screaming its color against a backdrop of snow? Where's the snow you ask? Everywhere, actually, except within the frame of this portrait. Ha!

From a far distance I shot this image of a cardinal waiting his turn at my backyard feeder. The distance, in fact, exceeded the zoom capacity of my camera, resulting in an image that appears more like a painting than a photograph. Either way, this is one bird that always shines.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

p.s. I owe you one photo of a cardinal against a backdrop of snow.

Woodpeckers Aplenty!

Seems I can't glance outside my window this winter without seeing a woodpecker or walk outside without hearing one. It might be the Red-bellied who has again taken residency nearby to treat himself to my feeder tray of black-oil sunflower seeds. (Here's an image of him taken from my kitchen window.) Or it might be the Downy Woodpeckers (male and female) who are almost always hanging from the block of suet that dangles near said seed tray. Sometimes I see a Hairy Woodpecker circling on the Walnut trees out back, but this ID is something of a question mark because, except for being a bit larger and having a longer bill, the Hairy looks almost identical to the Downy. Only when I see a Hairy up close (at my feeder) can I reliably make the call.

But to me the most striking of the local winter woodpeckers is the Pileated Woodpecker. One and a half feet long, this is a BIG woodpecker. And if sheer size doesn't give him away, a flaming red crest certainly will. Both males and females have this crest, though only the male has a red forehead and "whiskers." The other day I saw one flying high overhead making quite a racket. The Pileated has a distinctive call, descriptions of which never quite capture the reality. You need to hear an audio clips to appreciate it. (Audio clips are available at page below.)

If you want a one-stop "shopping" site to compare the woodpeckers of North America (those mentioned above and more), then check out this page hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse.aspx?shape=41,20

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne