At Croton Point Park, we don't let Big City jerks spoil the vibe. This past Saturday Saw Mill River Audubon held our annual soup social, immediately following a brisk morning walk in search of eagles. The event was a success on both accounts: hearty soup 'n' sides were enjoyed by all, and iconic eagles filled … Continue reading Of Eagle Soup and Silly Geese
People buy cute, and the saw-whet owl is the cutest thing around.
Alan Devoe only lived to age 46, but by the time he shuffled off his mortal coil in 1955 he had left us a treasure of nature writing that some feel compares to Muir and other legendary chroniclers of our wild places. This week I discovered Lives Around Us, a classic study of his wild … Continue reading The Exultancy of Alan Devoe
Sometimes we don't appreciate what's hidden in plain sight. In the past year I've been lucky enough to go on assignment to Costa Rica and Ecuador, two birding hot spots that would whet the whistle of amateur or top-notch birder alike. There, one will see birds of every size, stripe and color. Toucans to tanagers, … Continue reading Northern Colors
I hope to add bird-related films as a regular feature of this blog. Here goes my first attempt: 2011's "The Big Year," a nice effort featuring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black, and a flock of established character actors. I'll begin by saying I'm against "Big Years" in general, as they are generally ego-driven, … Continue reading Birds on Film: Sweet Sentiment Rules “The Big Year”
This year we celebrate 100 years of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 2018. Our nation, along with Canada (and later, Mexico and the USSR) agreed that our avian species needed protection. Now, more than 1,000 bird species are protected from unregulated killing, while controlled hunting of game birds is … Continue reading Riding on the MBTA: Don’t Let Congress Weaken a Century of Protecting Nature
Ithica-born illustrator Louis Agassiz Fuertes left us thousands of avian paintings and drawings. He's admired, by some, more than the illustrious Audubon himself. In honor of his forthcoming birthday, we honor a man who is much more than an ornithological footnote. Born on February 7, 1874 in Ithica, New York, Louis Agassiz Fuertes showed a … Continue reading Louis Agassiz Fuertes: Audubon’s Heir
Moving day is often tense. No matter how you slice it, you're uprooting a life you've known for some time for a new one. Sometimes you need to take a deep breath, relax--and maybe watch a bird. Wednesday was the day, the first of March. I picked up the rental van--a bit large for a … Continue reading New Beginnings
February 11 broke cold and clear over the majestic Hudson in Ossining, and my favorite coffee shop was closed, I noted, on my walk to the train station. Resourceful fellow that I am, I bought a $1.25 cuppa joe elsewhere, and was delighted when a train appeared five minutes earlier than expected, as I boarded … Continue reading Eyes Not Only for Eagles
A dozen years ago I discovered some Burrowing owls among the rocky rip-rap bordering the Berkeley Marina. It was a wonder I had to share with my small reading public, via the Berkeley Voice, and with my like-minded friends. My longtime pal--and excellent photographer--Andy Stewart captured this image of a squirrel under the watchful eye … Continue reading Owls of Christmas Past: California Flashback
Brian, Birdwatching 