A Killdeer looking out over . . . .

. . . the water, you say? Given that the Killdeer is a plover, a wading shore bird, that would seem the sensible answer. And the grayish, undulating backdrop might also suggest the low waves of a sea shore. But guess again.

This Killdeer looks out from a small island of mulch (surrounding a hardy ornamental tree) on a parking lot. Not the best place to rear your young, and yet that's exactly what this plover is up to. (See the bottom photo below.)

The Killdeer is a shorebird that eats insects, worms, and other invertebrates and is as at home scouting for these in pastures and fields as on shorelines. But I'll never understand why a shorebird like this pretty plover would ever choose to abandon sea and field for macadam. It baffles me.

If anyone knows, I'd love an explanation!

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart . . . and take care not to step on any Killdeer's eggs.

Georgia Anne

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Times Three

I posted a couple weeks back on a Rose-breasted Grosbeak visiting my feeder. Well, apparently the chow is too good to abandon as this grosbeak seems to be "settling in." The other day I caught sight of him through my bathroom window playing "hide and seek" with me in a locust tree.

Hello again, Eastern Kingbird!

Since beginning this blog well over two years ago, I've posted four times on the Eastern Kingbird (6/29/09; 5/13/10; 5/20/10; 7/25/10) and, as this is my public "birding journal," you can expect to see many more.

One of the joys of birding is getting to know, over the years, your avian neighbors. Each time I post on the Eastern Kingbird, I try to add some new fact or personal observation of his or her behavior. This time I'll add that the kingbird likes to return to his same perch atop tree or bush after flying out for an insect, a behavior I've observed.

Last week on the pasture above my house, I again saw my friend returned from his winter's stay along the Amazon to spend his spring and summer here in central Pennsylvania. It's incredible to think about.

This Eastern Kingbird, perched atop a pear tree, didn't exactly cooperate for his first photo shoot of the season, but maybe next time. Until then . . . keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Friends

Look who came to visit my black-oil sunflower seed feeder? My first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the season. In prior years, I've seen a good many grosbeaks but not of late, last four to five years. So you can imagine my delight on seeing this male. Will keep a look out for him today but thus far--no sign. I suspect he was just passing through unlike the large flock of American Goldfinch and smaller flock of House Finch that await my seed offerings every morning.

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

Georgia Anne