A swallow takes home security very seriously.

Went to a different woods today, not far away, and saw some good birds.

This is a rufus-sided or eastern towhee, a recently returned migrant. They dig in the leaves with both feet. I let the video go on for a few seconds because at the end it makes the sound that got it its name.

Strutting in as our next bird; the Nicobar pigeon.

The nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) is a pretty good sized pigeon from India! The bird, while known for its fantastic, beaming rainbow iridescent feathers is also known for being the closest living relative of the dodo (yes, the dodo was a pigeon!) and also near threatened. It is also the only living member in its genus. Amazing!

Eastern screech owl . . . Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Milton, Delaware . . . 12/13/23

dipping!

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

April 18, 2024

Southeastern Pennsylvania

Collaboration with my girlfriend - some very subtly queer valentine's cards! @yenshuliao did the drawing and lineart, I painted them.

This amazing silver pigeon is Ghost, BFFs with Macchi2 (the dark one with white flight feathers. Coo's son).

They all keep dirtying up the glass with splashing, and she's still getting used to me, so I can't get a photo of her with the window open yet. What's the actual aviculture name for her colouring?

Edit: I've been told she's a "blue grizzle"!

Black-Capped Chickadee

I had a random idea of smth like "Rain world creatures but in their irl version" and did this doodle lmao

A Scarlet Tanager is a sneaky bird, despite being so bright and red. It spends its whole life in the treetops, away from our eyes.

But sometimes, especially in the spring, we can get a glimpse of this beautiful creature.

Smaug, whenever we're eating:

Did you forget about me mother

I cannot work in these conditions

Northern pintail, male . . . Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, Delaware . . . 12/15/23

dipper, on glass water

Recently there was a patch of trees felled without warning.

It's nesting season, so it's very dangerous for the birds to destroy their trees. I've already seen woodpigeons mating in the nearby area about a month ago. I've seen birds such as woodpigeons, magpies, great tits, blue tits and a sparrowhawk in the area that's been felled (as well as robins, long-tailed tits, coal tits, blackbirds, goldfinches and house sparrows nearby). I have also heard a Jay nearby before, and one Facebook commenter has said there are nesting Jays. Additionally, it looks horrible - there used to be beautiful trees, and now there's just a thin strip of trees along the footpath, as well as a horrid big hole next to the car park. Our green spaces need more protection.

According to two councillor's Facebook posts, the Forestry Commission are investigating due to no felling licence or planning permission. They have served a Stop Notice. The matter has been raised with the wildlife crime team due to disturbance to nesting birds. The area has been allocated for development, but the felling has had insufficient regard for the environmental impact.

Developers will often illegally fell trees, then take the fine and build houses since it's already been destroyed. However, they could now be issued a restocking order, and would have to replant the trees.

I've seen two messages on the gate to the site protesting this, so I made this piece. If there's public uproar it could hopefully make them think twice next time, even if it doesn't save this one.