Feeding Time for an Osprey Pail
We watched as the male osprey delivered a headless fish for his mate. She flew off to a nearby tree to feast, while he settled on the nest.
White-breasted Nuthatches
A beautiful pair of white-breasted nuthatches took residence in one of our bluebird boxes (much to the bluebirds’ dismay).
Titmouse with a mustache
We put horse hair our every spring when the horses start to shed. This titmouse took full advantage of the opportunity, and took beaks full of hair back to the nest!
Osprey chick waiting for mom & dad to return.
Fledgling Northern Cardinal
Just Relaxing
Saved this little baby from the road❤️
Fresh Catch
A Common Loon feeds her young on Long Lake in Northern Minnesota
Breakfast
Seacycling one morning I watched the adult robin land in a near by tree with some worms in her month. She hopped down into the nest and I was able to capture the moment.
Squawking kid
The Mourning Doves hanging out with the little ones. Notice the one parent with their eyes closed. Probably thinking ” Quiet already kid” ???
The Outside World
This baby barn swallow was the first of the five nestlings to take a look at the world outside. I am sure that he/she wasn´t expected me to catch the moment. Good luck birdy!
New beginnings!
These cliff swallows were in a big rush to begin their “home tweet home” nest on an adobe wall. Other swallow parents nearby had just moved into their brand new typical bird nest.
Dinner at last!
Doesn´t this look familiar? After several weeks of birdwatching at a distance the ash-throated flycatcher´s family tree nest, these hard-to-spot fellows finally rewarded me with this scene.
To fly or not to fly? Am I ready?
On an early morning, this beautiful little barn swallow was resting on the edge of a lower rooftop outside my bedroom window. After what I felt was an eternity, the bird finally stretched her/his wings and flew fearlessly away. It was a precious moment.
American Kestrel Chicks in Nestbox
3 1/2 week old American Kestrel chicks in a nestbox attached to our house. The nest overlooks a wetland and fields. Five total chicks hatched, and they have all left the nest as of today. The parents provided a daily diet of mice.
Nesting Loon
A Common Loon sits on her nest in the evening light
Waiting for Mom
Eastern King Birds in nest, a willow hangs over the lake and the Eastern King Bird makes her nest there
The cutest little Great Horned Owlets
I was thrilled to watch these amazing Great Horned Owlets over a period of time. It was exciting watching them safe in the nest in a tree trunk, branching and eventually fledging. So glad I was able to photograph them, and have pictures to share. There were three babies that all fledged successfully. These babies were adorable, and their father was handsome, but their mother was absolutely stunning.
Eagles at Work
I was very lucky with this picture. Although you can’t see it, the adult eagle in the nest was clearly feeding chicks, pulling food from something at the edge of the nest and then feeding it to the chicks inside. I was taking pictures of that, and the other adult appeared right in the frame with something in its claws.
Mallard Ducklings
First Feeding
This male mourning dove feeds his hour old hatchling for the first time. He also is sitting on a second egg, which hasn’t hatched, yet. The adult’s head bobbed up and down during the feeding; the hatchling following the movement. The body of the adult was heaving as well; regurgitating. I have read that this regurgitation is the production of “pigeon’s milk” for the youngling.
Majestic Bald Eagle tenderly feeding its Eaglet
This photo was taken from a far distance with a 600mm lens so as not to disturb this active nest. I was thrilled to come upon this spectacular sight of our majestic national bird so gently feeding its newly hatched chick. From what I was told, the chick was approximately 11 days old. It is amazing how gentle they are for such a large bird. This was a once in a lifetime experience for me and I am thrilled that I was able to capture this image.
Open Wide it’s Breakfast Time!!!
So thrilled to have Eastern Bluebirds nesting in my yard for the first time. I am happy to say that three babies fledged successfully on July 22nd. I took this photo from a far distance with a 600mm lens so I did not disturb them. This picture is of the Male feeding his young. I was amazed at what great parents these Bluebirds were. It was a thrill to watch this entire nesting experience from the day the male went into the house, brought back the female and fledged 3 precious little ones
Black-Shouldered Kite Brings a Gopher to Her Chicks
At Natural Bridges State Beach,Santa Cruz, CA, a Black-Shouldered Kite brings food to her four hungry chicks throughout the day. Food sources include gophers, voles, small snakes, lizards, small birds, crickets, and beetles. While she brings most of the food to her brood, her mate watches over them from a distance, atop a tall tree, on the lookout for crows and other hawks. These youngsters will probably fledge within the next two weeks. Photographed July 20, 2016. [I prefer the original name for this species – I’m old school.]
No Room at the Inn
I had a very nice fairy garden set up on some shelves on my back porch this summer. It was made up of geodes, Dept 56 fairy tale house, and fairy figurines. One day, I noticed the fairy figurines had been tossed off the shelf and replaced instead with a small grouping of sticks. I threw the sticks off the shelf, thinking my husband had did this as a joke. But he said he had no idea how the rearrangement occurred. Until the next day, we noticed that the fairies were gone once again and this time you could tell a nest was being built amongst the geodes. The next morning, my husband woke me up and exclaimed, “I know who is building the nest!” And I got up, looked outside and saw two mourning doves working together; one sitting and forming the nest and the other going and getting twigs. They were so beautiful and the nest so perfectly situated next to the fairy house, that we decided to let them stay. I did some research and found out who the female and male were. In this picture, the male had just given the female a branch to add to the nest. She searched amongst the other twigs and then, very carefully positioned the twig into the nest. It was fun & interesting to see them work together. They would work for awhile in the morning and then, disappear for the rest of the day, returning the next day to continue. They did this for about 4 days and then, finally stayed on the nest, after laying 2 white eggs.
Choosing a home
Mamma and Daddy Wren are getting ready for their little family
The Beak
Just one of the tired, hungry babies of three. Mamma had just left the box and this one was still wanting more.
Hungry Babies
This was the first nest box that had babies the year we moved into our house. There were 3 loud babies and all wanted that morsel mamma Sparrow had.
Just left the nest
Killdeer protecting nest
This Killdeer performed the Broken Wing Display in an effort to draw us from the place her nest was hidden.
One and Only Adorable Bluebird
I was thrilled to see an Eastern Bluebird pair begin nest building in a log bird house in our yard. Five eggs and only two hatchlings later, I noticed that the female had disappeared. The father continued to feed the two nestlings, and the nest box was left empty when the young grew old enough to fledge.
One of them, knowing instinctively where it would be hidden, flew into the dense shrubbery ten feet from the box. Fortunately for me, those shrubs were also right in front of a window and I was able to photograph this youngster during its first day out of the box.
Weeks later, I still saw Mister Bluebird flying about and caring for one of the babies. Much is still a mystery, though. Why did only two eggs hatch? What happened to the mother and later to the second nestling? Even though I don’t know the answers, I’m glad I had the opportunity to observe the nesting cycle of the beautiful Eastern Bluebird.
Mealtime
Father House Finch brought his babies to the feeder on numerous occasions; in this picture they waited on our porch railing and he fed them faithfully. I love the way this picture exaggerated their wing quivering. They seemed very hungry!
Tree Swallow eggs
Lovely white eggs nestled in a cozy chicken feather nest. Notice the bit of pink ribbon – not sure how she found that!
Feeding time
Communication is good.
Endeavor showing Eloise how it is done.
Three chicks in the nest, June 2015. The oldest chick, Endeavor is showing the younger chicks how lift off is achieved.
Chirp, Chirp
My front porch as hosted 3 robin broods for a total of 13 successful hatches this season. Here are a couple of the second batch. The nest is in a tiny decorative tin on a shelf by my front door. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me!
Cozy Chickadee Nest
Feeding time at the Oriole nest
Wild Turkey eggs
Hungry Tree Swallow
This youngster was very adamant about getting fed. Right after this the parent flew by and dumped a wasp-like insect into the youngster’s mouth.
Baby House Wren
We are hungry !
Male Western Bluebird feeding 2 of his 4 fledglings.
Sitting dad.
On the threatened species list, California Gnatcatchers are great parents. Dad California Gnatcatcher sitting on the eggs.
Least Tern feeding its chick.
Hundreds of Least Tern’s nests are present in the Lest Tern Preserve in Huntington beach CA.
Hungry.
A family of Western Blue Birds (2 parents 4 chicks) in my neighborhood. Parents are very busy bringing worms all day long.
Mom watching nest
Shelter
The Piping Plover family nest is just a small scrape in the sand and mom as the roof.
Hello there!
With momma goose standing watch behind them, her 21 day old baby goslings came to greet me and stood on this little ledge and greeted me with their sweet little trilling sounds. The little one on the right I named him Tiny. I’m within 6 inches of them. This happened on a daily basis every time I went to see them. I would feed them a little bit of cracked corn but that wasn’t the reason they came up to me. We had a special bond especially one that I established with the adults last summer. They have a great memory and are so lovable. However, if anyone else tried to approach them they would run away and then return to me when they were gone. I felt like Mother Goose sometimes…they’d follow me around the cemetery in Mystic by their pond. This is my favorite photo of them. To be able to gently pet them showed such trust. Unfortunately, due to the man who took care of this large cemetery and a complaint from a non-bird person, and during molting season when not even the adults could fly yet, he set off loud firecrackers (like M80s) and chased them with air horns. They were almost 2 months old. They fled to the Mystic River but every time they tried to come back to their summer pond of over 13 years, he chased them again. 21 baby goslings and their parents were ousted from their home and it broke my heart. Look at these beautiful creatures. They were so happy to be where they loved and then were forced out into the scary world amongst some people who really dislike the Canada goose. These birds get such a bad rap and it’s unfair because people don’t want to be educated, instead they want to dispose of them. One way the CT Dept of Energy & Environmental Protection proposes removing them is to trap them when they don’t have their flight feathers and to “humanely break their necks” and as mentioned on the news once to “feed them to the homeless.” Let’s help protect our wildlife. We share this world with them too.
The view is nice up here
A young bluebird is enjoying the view.
Northern Flicker Family
While watching nesting loons, I kept hearing squeaky noises behind me. I turned my kayak toward the shoreline and saw this Northern Flicker feeding chicks!
Tired Little Loon
Only two days old, this little loon is getting a ride on his parent’s back.
Time To Turn The Eggs
I monitored the nesting loons on our lake during their second attempt of the season. I documented it because our loons have not had chicks for several years in a row. This photo was taken during week three, late June. The eggs went on to hatch, and two chicks were born.
Yes, Please!
One of two loon chicks eagerly accepts a minnow from its parent. In this image, its only two days old, born on July 11th. I was amazed to see how much it can eat!
mating process
Mating of storks. A unique ritual, that male performs before his female lays eggs. It’s great to see this process!
Where’s Mama?
Just off my porch in TN I swung my camera towards the hedges and saw this hungry baby waiting for food!!
Aahh..bath time!!
A young Thrasher taking a vigorous splash on a hot summer day!!
Feeding time
Cardinal feeding baby
Footloose and free
Baby Robin navigating the backyard…not far from mother..
Larry, Moe & Curley
All 3 eaglets sit nicely for their portrait, just before they fledge.
Mama watched us like a hawk…uh… Owl
We watched for an hour from our car. Mama Great Horned Owl was NOT happy with us watching her 3 fluffy headed babies! She kept their heads down most of the time. This was her HAPPIEST face for us! She never moved but she never took her laser gaze off of us either! We did not approach the tree trunk of this mostly dead tree at the corner of a field on a dusty country road. May 2016.
Baby Pigeon
Under the care of Flying for the Earth, these Rock Dove babies came and assisted us at an open house to share nature with at-risk youth and children with disabilities. Who says there is no such thing as an ugly baby. Initially I thought they were baby vultures.
Not Ready For Take Off!
What’s not to love about a bunch of baby goslings so excited to see you when you visit? Here’s another family of goslings–20 days old. They were all born around May 5. Despite what people think, Canada Geese are not disease carrying birds, they don’t attack unless you walk to fast or aggressively approach them or appear to be a real threat to them–the parents are very, very protective. Humans can learn a lot of family values from these birds. In the entire year that I’ve walked amongst the geese not once have they ever tried to attack or hurt me. As I was driving through looking for them, the minute they saw my car they came running. Here are 5 of the baby goslings so excited to see me. They surround me and even let me pet them. And no, the parents didn’t mind. People who saw them with me couldn’t believe that I could get so close to them. I felt very special and this entire experience with these beautiful creatures was magical. Again, what’s not to love about these beautiful babies. Here they are attempting to use their mini wings. It was cute to see them flap their little wings and hop trying to fly. And it’s a photographers dream to capture photos like this. They loved getting their photos taken and really liked when I used the GoPro video around them.
Goslings First Baby Photo!
4 families of Canada geese had their babies near the pond at the Elms Grove Cemetery…this was one family of six super cute baby goslings only a few days old cuddling up to one another to keep warm and take a little nap. Momma Goose was sitting nearby and Papa Goose was standing guard watching for predators. After spending so much time with them, they allowed me to get very close to their babies. They are the cutest things…and I love the face of the little one on the right! What’s not to love about these babies?
“Mom, tell him to stop biting me!”
One week old Canada goslings. Last year I was around a family of Canada Geese and their baby goslings. I went to see them a lot while they were growing up at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic CT where they were born and so were their generations of other family Canada geese. In that time, I became very close with them and they accepted me as one of their own. Fond memories of watching them grow and being accepted into their world as a trusted friend. So this year the parents, who I knew from last year, had their goslings near the pond and each family brought their new babies to see me. When I say I was up close and personal with them, I was. It was a magical special moment to be part of in their very private world. I took extra care in allowing them and me to get close to each other. After a day, whenever they saw me and my car, the whole family would run to me. Canada geese are not these mean birds. They are very misunderstood, but I’ve spent enough time observing and researching their lifestyles and behaviors and they are very loving, funny, intelligent, very family oriented bunch. The parents are very, very protective of their babies. They allowed me to get close into their world and I love them dearly. Here’s two of the babies a few days old.
Looking out at the world
Baby titmouse peeking out the world, the next day it had left the nest.
Jay’s Dilemma
This little Jay made several attempts at getting to this orange delight…
This One’s For You
The pair of grebes nested early because the weather was so mild I presume and the babies were swimming in the pond in January. It was very lucky because this pond was the one which developers decided to fill in to allow for apartments (don’t get me started) and therefore many of the birds have had to vacate and find new places start their nest. The parent grebes were kept very busy feeding their brood of four and I was amazed at the size of the catches that they were able to down. This particular catch was not one of the larger ones but I liked the gentleness of the passing from mother to baby. Picture taken in January, 2016.
I’M A BEGGAR
I watched as the gallinules had to leave their home due to development and their pond was being filled in to make room for more apartments. When they appeared on the little pond close to the former pond, I figured they would start nesting sooner or later. I saw the nesting material being gathered and watched as the one parent patrolled outside keeping a vigilant eye on any one or thing who approached. I was very fortunate to be witness to the first time exit of the family from the well-hidden nest (and I might add got chased for the pleasure by the feisty parents). Having never seen the babies of this species, I was surprised to see their orange helmets and spurs. But it was truly worth all the trips by the pond to see the little ones grow and am happy to report that ALL SIX of the little ones are still alive which is amazing since I’ve watched baby mallards and wood ducks disappear until only one or two were left to mature.
What’s Up?
I’ve been watching our local eagle nest for 2 years. Watched last year as the nesting began til the babies reached maturity and took to the skies. This year I was fortunate to receive a Tamron 600mm lens for Christmas which made the watching and photographing much easier (last year I only had a 300mm). My first picture of the parent on the nest was on December 24th and I watched faithfully throughout the period,trying to guess when the eggs were no longer just eggs but babies. Since I could only guess when they actually hatched (no remote cameras here), I watched til I got lucky enough to see parents bringing food and before long, heads appeared. This picture was taken on March 3 and the babies (2) were quite large by then. This pose just struck a funny bone on me as baby appears to be saying “What’s Up with you?”.
So Hungry I Could Eat Anything
My first year that I visited Magnolia Audubon Swamp during the mating/nesting season and was lucky enough to pick a time that the baby Great Blue Herons were just beginning to poke their heads up out of the nests.
Waiting patiently
I sat down to rest at a gazebo in Fountain Creek Regional Park. When I looked up, I saw the nest and photographed it for half an hour. Momma Wren kept bringing food for the babies, resting, and then flying off for another worm or caterpillar.
Got it!
I sat down to rest at a gazebo in Fountain Creek Regional Park. When I looked up, I saw the nest and photographed it for half an hour. Momma Wren kept bringing food for the babies, resting, and then flying off for another worm or caterpillar.
Take off
I sat down to rest at a gazebo in Fountain Creek Regional Park. When I looked up, I saw the nest and photographed it for half an hour. Momma Wren kept bringing food for the babies, resting, and then flying off for another worm or caterpillar.
Wren meal delivery
I sat down to rest at a gazebo in Fountain Creek Regional Park. When I looked up, I saw the nest and photographed it for half an hour. Momma Wren kept bringing food for the babies, resting, and then flying off for another worm or caterpillar.
Baby Robins’ First Day
Baby Robins
Baby Spoonbills in the nest
One of the best things I’ve ever seen. What a joy to see the baby Spoonbill’s for the first time. Watching them for hours. Feeding, sleeping and moving around the nest. Definitely on my bucket list!
Baby Spoonbills
One of the best things I’ve ever seen. What a joy to see the baby Spoonbill’s for the first time. Watching them for hours. Feeding, sleeping and moving around the nest. Definitely on my bucket list!
Osprey Meal Time
Parent and juvenile enjoying some fish while the other parent sits nearby.
a caring parent
the birds built a nest in one corner of the pergola, the eggs have already hatced. babies were waiting for the parents. Perched on a near by tree the parent is keeping an eye on the babies
baby birds
Got ya!
As little family passed by, this little one was all by him self. But lunch is there. So no worry!
can you hear me now?
baby bird on a wire with parent [ house finch].
Beautiful baby!
Watched this beauty from the beginning. One egg in the nest, then two, three and four. Watched each egg hatch! Watched wach baby develop. Amazing experience for me and my nine year old daughter! Documented every step of the way. An experience we will never forget!
Ready to see my new world
3 hungry babies
Robin eggs
Excited to have watch this neat grow in size daily. Saw just one egg and every day saw a new egg until the clutch was complete at four!
Warmest Welcome
A baby Least Tern is very happy to see it parent return to the colony with a fish.
Look at me!
Juvenile night herons catching the warmth of the afternoon sun high up in a pine tree.
Dinner arriving!
I was thrilled to observe this Osprey bringing a fish to it’s chick,
Yellow Crowned Night Heron family
Standing on the window seat on the second floor leaning out the window, I enjoyed watching this handsome family as they grew, high up in a pine tree.
mourning dove year 2
Beautiful Nest
While walking the nature trails at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, I noticed this thimble size Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest. Isn’t it beautiful?
Return From A Successful Hunt
This young burrowing owl chick has been practicing his hunting skills by flying a short distance away from the nest to capture “preys” of his imagination, e.g. a loose feather, a small rock, etc. In this photo he was flying back to the nest with his captured “prey”, which happened to be a small piece of clay in this case.
High Heels
This sweet baby Killdeer was doing her best, albeit clumsily, to keep up with her Mommy as they crossed the street behind my home.
New World
Newly fledged Eastern Bluebird seeing the whole wide world for the first time.
Cliff Swallow
A cliff swallow constructs a nest made of mud from the harbour in Bronte, Ontario. Their craftsmanship is amazing!
Cooper’s Hawk Fledglings
It was fascinating to watch these Cooper’s Hawk fledglings sit up when I walked by their nest. I’m not sure who was more intrigued.
Red-necked Grebe
My boyfriend and I went to Bronte Harbour to take photos of the boats and see some cliff swallows, but were surprised to see red-necked grebes building nests and incubating eggs! This was the first time I had seen this bird, and I’m glad to see her with her chicks-to-be!