Red Crossbills

 

Ovenbird Building a Nest

Juvenile Killdeer

Nesting Bald Eagle

Fledgling Hummingbird

A fledgling Ruby-throated Hummingbird taking a break on the railing of our deck.

Yellow Warblers

Female pictured above and a recently fledged youngster below.

Baltimore Orioles with Fledglings

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Canada Geese

A pair in flight above while another one checks out a potential nesting site.

Magus Avium

A family group of Marsh Wrens including fledglings is pictured below.

According to ancient Celtic lore, the wren was considered to be the "king of birds" and believed to have prophetic abilities. Supposedly one could learn about the future by attentively listening to the wren's song. Wrens were called the magus avium which means "magic bird."  However...

...for many years this beautiful little bird was hunted and killed on December 26th. Since the wren was seen as a sacred bird to the early druid people it was targeted by christians as a pagan symbol. Young "christian" boys were rewarded with money for killing and parading the dead birds impaled on sticks from house to house. This is just another sad example of senseless cruelty created by humans in the name of religion.

"He who shall hurt the little wren, shall never be beloved by men." ~ William Blake

Juvenile Hooded Warbler

Northern Mockingbirds

A pair of Northern Mockingbirds are nesting near a vineyard in the neighborhood.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Carrying food to its nestlings.

Herring Gulls

Juvenile begging for food.

House Wren Family

A pair of House Wrens successfully fledged at least three little ones in our yard.

Juvenile Baltimore Oriole

Indigo Buntings

A male Indigo Bunting keeping a close eye on two of his fledglings.

Winter Wrens

Found a pair of Winter Wrens at their nesting cavity in a rotting tree.

These wrens sing an incredibly loud and beautiful song which led me to find them at their nest.  

Juvenile Mourning Dove

Northern Waterthrush

Dinner Time!

A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak feeding her fledgling at a sunflower feeder in our yard.