Category Archives: birds

Preparing the soil and planting

Posted on May 4, 2020 by jyourist

The weather for the past several days has been beautiful. I have been working in the garden. I have always loved working in the garden, but I find myself working more slowly and carefully these days, paying more attention, being … Continue reading →

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A splendid October day

Posted on October 6, 2016 by jyourist
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Just before I roost

Posted on February 9, 2016 by jyourist

The European starling was first introduced to North America by the American Acclimatization Society, which wanted to introduce all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare to this continent. The starling is mentioned in Henry IV, Part I— Hotspur (Henry Percy) says, … Continue reading →

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Waiting for our ruby-throated guests

Posted on July 15, 2015 by jyourist

I have to admit, when I first learned that hummingbirds were here in Chicago, I was rather shocked. Aren’t they tropical birds? Chicago? Really? But I have seen them at the Botanic Gardens and even once in our yard. They … Continue reading →

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Reveling in the ephemeral abundance of flowers

Posted on May 11, 2015 by jyourist

Our crab apple is flowering, more buds than we have ever had before. It literally looks like it is covered in snow. All grown from a volunteer seed that a volunteer bird ate inside a nearby crab apple and deposited in … Continue reading →

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Not everyone’s happy I am here in Southern California

Posted on January 9, 2015 by jyourist
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Ducks Gone Wild!

Posted on July 16, 2014 by jyourist

When we entered Anderson Japanese Gardens today, the image above was what we saw. I know the ducks were feeding, but seeing their duck butts in the air, in unison, was very funny to me. Verily like a water ballet. … Continue reading →

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July morning

Posted on July 8, 2014 by jyourist
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Spring sunrise

Posted on March 21, 2014 by jyourist
Posted in birds, photography, spring | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Aesthetically practical, liberally inclusive, utterly magical

Posted on January 16, 2014 by jyourist

Though it has been long suspected, it has finally been scientifically proven that birds fly in a V-formation to take advantage of the updraft of the birds in front. Steve Portugal, a researcher at the Royal Veterinary College in London, … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, behavior, birds | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments