If I can stop one Heart from breaking I shall not live in vain If I can ease one life the Aching Or cool one Pain Or help one fainting Robin Unto his Nest again I shall not live in Vain.
~Emily Dickinson
When I look at ugliness, I see beauty.
When I am far from home, I see old friends.
When there is noise, I hear a robin's song instead.
When I am in a crowd, it is the mountain's peace I feel.
In the winter of my sorrow, I remember the summer of my joy.
In the nighttime of my loneliness, I breathe the day of my thanksgiving.
But when the sadness spreads its blanket and that is what I see,
I take my eyes to some high place
until I find a reflection of what lies deep inside of me.
~Navajo saying
Monday, October 20, 2008
Northern Flicker
A common ant-eating woodpecker of open areas, the Northern Flicker has two color forms found in different regions. The yellow-shafted form is common across the eastern and northern parts of North America, while the red-shafted form is the one found in the West.
It is the yellow-shafted (ie, it has a bright yellow coloring under its tail) seen in this photo and on the farm.
It is the yellow-shafted (ie, it has a bright yellow coloring under its tail) seen in this photo and on the farm.
Mourning Dove
Abundant and widespread, the Mourning Dove is well known throughout most of North America. Its mournful call is heard from deserts to forest edges, from farmlands to inner cities.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wild Turkey
"I froze and saw a few turkeys heading away, up a hill. More foraged farther up, and others to the right were threading their way through shrubs and boulders. Spread out across the hillside, the flock moved slowly to the left, noisily raking their feet through the leaves...
My approach drove half the flock over the crest of the hill; the rest went over a stone wall to the left. Suddenly, I was alone on the hillside, and all was quiet. An eerie peacefulness pervaded the scene—had they really been here, these feathered dinosaurs?
The proof was all around: dozens of bare circles of earth rimmed with leaves, a swath covering the full breadth of the hillside, bordered by a stone wall to the west, a road to the east. It was, I thought, an avian Stonehenge, and I had seen its creators at work."
~Robert Winkler
My approach drove half the flock over the crest of the hill; the rest went over a stone wall to the left. Suddenly, I was alone on the hillside, and all was quiet. An eerie peacefulness pervaded the scene—had they really been here, these feathered dinosaurs?
The proof was all around: dozens of bare circles of earth rimmed with leaves, a swath covering the full breadth of the hillside, bordered by a stone wall to the west, a road to the east. It was, I thought, an avian Stonehenge, and I had seen its creators at work."
~Robert Winkler
Monday, September 22, 2008
Northern Flicker
Or Yellow-Shafted Flicker, I believe, would be the most accurate name. In the woodpecker family, but doesn't have the more distinctive black/white coloration.
Eastern Towhee
This is not a very good photo, but you can see that the Towhee looks a bit similar in shape and size to the Robin, but has a white breast with red sides and a black back.
I've seen these guys in the blackberry briars at the farm, which has made getting a photo pretty tricky.
I've seen these guys in the blackberry briars at the farm, which has made getting a photo pretty tricky.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
American Redstart
Maybe. I am not at all sure of this one, as it is a new identify for me. I was suspecting some sort of Oriole, as I've seen Baltimore Orioles in these Indiana woods. But it does not appear to be any type of Oriole, so far as I can tell and the Redstart seems to match.
I spotted this one in September and there were several of these flying around with what looked like some finches.
I spotted this one in September and there were several of these flying around with what looked like some finches.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Unless I'm mistaken, this is the red-BELLIED woodpecker, not the red-HEADED woodpecker (which is what I've been calling it). The Red-headed woodpecker - which I've never seen in person - has a distinctive red hood covering his whole head.
Regardless, this here bird in this picture is a frequent visitor to the farm and can be often heard and occasionally spotted, if one is so inclined.
Regardless, this here bird in this picture is a frequent visitor to the farm and can be often heard and occasionally spotted, if one is so inclined.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Carolina Chicadee
Indiana, I believe, is the northern edge of this bird's range, but they have been frequent visitors in the woods of the farm. As their name suggests, their song sounds a bit like "chick-a-dee, chick-a-dee."
Or so I'm told.
Or so I'm told.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Brown-headed Cowbirds
Fairly easy to mistake, at a glance, for a starling, with a closer look, you will notice the male has a brownish head and a blue-ish/black body.
Does anyone know if the gray bird in this photo is the female brown-headed cowbird? I assumed it was because I spot these together frequently, but it didn't really look like the pictures I've seen online of the female.
Cowbirds like to make their nests in already existing nests of other birds. I'm assuming the other birds don't like that much.
Does anyone know if the gray bird in this photo is the female brown-headed cowbird? I assumed it was because I spot these together frequently, but it didn't really look like the pictures I've seen online of the female.
Cowbirds like to make their nests in already existing nests of other birds. I'm assuming the other birds don't like that much.
Redwing Blackbird
A very common bird in the countryside in this region. Often found near wetlands, they have been seen regularly at the farm.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Cardinal
The cardinal has the distinction of being the State Bird for both Indiana and Kentucky. Easy to spot the bright red male cardinals and seen at the farm year-round.
Tufted Titmouse
Spotted at the farm. Small, grey and white with flashes of orange beneath their wings.
Nuthatch
Nuthatches have been frequently spotted at the farm. They are fun to watch as they climb trees in that they "walk down" headfirst when heading towards the ground.
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