Nature and Birds in Southern Ontario, Canada
I was driving down the 406, in my big yellow school bus, after my morning run; when I saw the big birds.
There were two at the top of the tree, off of the highway. One flew off and I noted its huge wing span. I thought it was a turkey vulture.
I turned to the left and saw its partner on the tree; regally perched on the top; and then I noticed its beautiful and majestic white head and large beak.
Oops , sorry bald eagles! I thought you were turkey vultures!
Two beautiful swans were gliding over the surface of a half-frozen lake.
Who says winter can’t be beautiful.
My favourite kind of art, that really touches my heart, is bird feet in the snow.
It was a frigid Canadian morning, as I walked from the park along the Welland River to the bakery.
All of a sudden, I heard the familiar twittering of a robin. I looked to find him in a tree with shriveled-up crabapples, hoping to find lunch.
On my return walk; after purchasing strudel and a walnut roll; I saw a whole flock of them flying from one tree to the next.
December was so mild; but I bet they are regretting their decision to stay now. I don’t think it is an early return, as it surely doesn’t feel like spring.
I started my day with the news and thought how awful the world was; and then I went outside and saw the fluffy snow gently falling from the trees, the bright sunshine and the peacock blue sky.
I went inside my mother’s house and saw the chickadee busily darting back and forth from the evergreen tree to the freshly filled feeder. His attitude and behaviour made me happy and I thought how fearless and bright he made me feel.
A curious squirrel, in his winter sweater, with snow on his nose; hoping to catch a falling seed from the birds; peered in the living room window.
Note to self: turn away from the world of man and turn towards nature and then I will see a perfect winter day with all its beauty.
The female cardinal greeted me for the new year at the bird feeder on the window. Her beautiful orange beak stood out against her muted red and brown body.
Her crest stood up on her head. What did that mean? She enjoyed her seed and I enjoyed watching her.
She reminded me that, even though the day was foggy and dreary, and I was still coughing and tired, there is always beauty in nature to restore our joy and hope.
In the pre-dawn sky I saw hundreds of birds moving in a swarm; moving as one entity; as one gigantic undulating mass; as fish do in the sea for their own protection.
I don’t know what kind of birds they were, or why they were flying as a school of fish would; but I know that it was fascinating and mystical and as I continued to drive the school bus, I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
The eastern December sky caught fire this morning. As my boots were in the snow, I raised my hands to warm myself for the exigencies of the day.
The snow-track clouds were bathed in pink and red and were reflected in the still waters of the Welland Canal.
While a crow, perched on the very top of the tree loudly announced, “Today is the first of December!”
One of the most complete joys of this fall season has been watching and hearing the male cardinal in the rose bush outside my bedroom window.
He is there regularly eating the rose hips.
Please share any cardinal stories you may have. Thank you.
There was a very weird noise coming from the backyard last night–about an hour after sunset. I thought the aliens had landed or the neighbours were fooling around.
I called my husband to listen with me in the kitchen. I asked him, “What is that sound?”
He said, “It’s a horse!”
We went out the back door to take a look; which was probably a mistake, because the noise then ceased.
He went to bed and I googled, “nocturnal animal or bird that sounds like a horse.”
I then discovered that my equine friend was in fact an eastern screech owl.
It’s a wonderful new bird I can add to my birding list. But maybe some more experienced birders can tell me; can I add it to my list if I only heard it?
My Wylde Lyfe 