birding, photography and living with pet birds
Posted in tyrant flycatcher on Oct 10th, 2009
It’s rare when a bird is as appropriately positioned as this picture. Before last August I had never seen a black phoebe. Now I see them everywhere: Pescadero, Moss Beach, Hayward, and San Francisco. I can’t decide if I’m better at spotting them or we’re in phoebe season. My field guide is rather unhelpful as [...]
Posted in random on Oct 8th, 2009
Scientists are using birds to create a new stereotype – loser female birds prefer loser male birds. How interesting! They’re like ugly people who know that they shouldn’t try to date the popular kids. (That’s sarcasm, if it’s not obvious) A study recently came out about Zebra finches. You can read about it here and [...]
Posted in cockatiel on Oct 7th, 2009
Many people arrive at this blog by using search terms involving cockatiel toenails, so I thought I’d discuss the topic of trimming your cockatiel’s toenails. Toenail maintenance is very important. If a bird’s nails grow too long, they can impair the bird’s ability to perch and can even create worn pads on the bird’s foot, [...]
Posted in tyrant flycatcher on Oct 4th, 2009
Fall has come to the Bay Area as slightly chilly air. We can all feel it; it’s very exciting. Yesterday we headed to Butano State Park in Pescadero, CA. There weren’t many birds, but the clear sky allowed for some beautiful photos. I really like these trees because of all the layers. They look like [...]
Posted in finch on Oct 2nd, 2009
The American Goldfinch is a very common bird. You can get them to visit your feeder if you include thistle seeds. Sadly, they don’t eat cockatiel food. I’d love to have them at my feeders. Below is a picture of the male. It’s not the best picture but you can almost make out his black [...]