Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

When most people see birds of prey, it's usually from a distance as they soar overhead or as we pass them on the highway, perched high on a branch waiting for their next meal. Since they are wild animals, generally they aren't too keen to stay close when they are suddenly encountered by a surprised human. A few seconds of acknowledged exchange before flushing off to the safety of the woods. On those rare occasions where they will stay still enough for one to observe them up close, they watch us with those wild eyes that distrust anything that approaches too directly. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to photograph a young red-tailed hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis ) sitting on a telephone wire in Concord, Massachusetts. The bird eyed me warily as snapped some photos, but never moved. One could interpret it as stoic pride, but at risk of anthropomorphizing my subject, it seemed more likely that it didn't want to move from it's chosen hunting post. On Sunday, Alison an...

Every time you hear the sound of a Canada Goose ( Branta canadensis ) (probably the most common goose in your area if you live in the United States), you cannot deny the sense of wildness in that sound. Every time I have the opportunity to see these birds, I am in awe of their subtle beauty, loyalty to their partners and family groups, and their bugling cries that are uttered from the tight Vs they carve across the autumn sky. Having come so close to getting 300 species on my life list, I decided to scale it back a bit and look for those waterfowl that I admire and love. Featured below are some pictures I took of my trip this very afternoon. Hope you guys enjoy it. Happy birding ^_^. Feeding in the shallows near the Concord River, this small family signaled their presence to the other families of geese in the marsh with their repeated "gor-unk" and "unka-unka-unka" cries. They definitely were enjoying the company of one another and were feeding on whateve...