Common Redpolls

Stopping by for some thistle seeds to sustain them through another cold winter night.

Bookends

Frosted Forest

"I realize there's something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they're experts at letting things go."  ~  Jeffrey McDaniel

Lake Erie Ice Dunes at Sunset

Blond Squirrel

Northern Cardinal

Red Fox in Action

Red Fox hunting for rodents in an open field on this snowy morning.

She was successful and ate twice while I watched her.

Cloud Ceiling

Frigid Sunrise

Iridescent clouds are visible in the upper right of the photo. They only form under very frigid conditions.  Click on the photo for an expanded view.

10° Fahrenheit at Sunset

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Wintery Beach

Wind chill of -7 degrees F.

National Bird Day

In the 19th Century, so many people caught and kept Northern Mockingbirds in cages that they nearly vanished from the entire east coast of the United States.  Even to this day, they are not very abundant in Western New York State.

Why National Bird Day?

• The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration.

• Today, nearly 12 percent of the world's 9,800 bird species may face extinction within the next century, including nearly one-third of the world's 330 parrot species.

• Birds are sentinel species whose plight serves as a barometer of ecosystem health and an alert system for detecting global environmental ills.
• Many of the world's parrots and songbirds are threatened with extinction due to pressures from the illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss.
• Public awareness and education about the physical and behavioral needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of the millions of birds kept in captivity.
• The survival and well-being of the world's birds depends upon public education and support for conservation.

This is the reason for National Bird Day.  Click here for more info.

Great Blue Herons

Hanging on in the Dunkirk New York Harbor during strong winds with gusts up to 40 mph.

"My strength lies solely in my tenacity."  ~  Louis Pasteur

Happy New Year!

A new year begins and the possibilities are endless.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."  ~  Ralph Waldo Emerson