More Birds!

Here are some more feathered friends we happened upon around our town...

Canadian Goose. Lingering on the lake behind our local library was this laid-back lounger.
They are so peaceful to watch as they float serenely on the surface of the water.

Female Lesser Scaup. She was the prettiest female we saw there. Again, notice the detail God put into those tiny, ornate feathers on her back! Aren't her yellow eyes striking?

Male American Goldfinch. I'm not entirely sure we got this classification correct. During this time of year, many birds are shedding their winter feathers and they can appear to be an entirely different species altogether. It takes an experienced birdwatcher (which we are just novices) to discern the nuances. But this was our best guess based on what we could find.

Male and Female Mallard. I learned something new in our bird studies about this species. I always thought that "mallard" was the term that was used for the male duck not a species unto itself! Well, these are mallards, characterized by the male's beautiful green head. As with most pairs, the female is more sedate in her plumage in order to blend in with her surroundings better as she raises her family.

One fun thing that we have in our neck of the woods is a wetlands preserve! Also, on Wednesdays from 12-1p they have a fun FREE event called "Lunch with the Birds." We get to congregate at a viewing shelter to observe the natural wildlife from a safe, non-intrusive distance using binoculars. They even have some high powered spotting scopes trained on a bald eagle's nest! The best part is their is an experienced orinthologist who heads it up, so you can ask questions and get them answered! The kids had a blast and we look forward to going back often to observe the change in the wildlife throughout the seasons.