Self-tutoring about bird encounters: the tutor mentions a welcome one with an owl. I left at dusk for an evening walk; about 45 minutes later, having covered many blocks, I was walking up a hill on the return course. Suddenly, …
Self-tutoring about bird encounters: the tutor mentions a welcome contact. This is another case of “bird listening” (see a post about that here) rather than bird watching. At 3:25 am Monday, I found myself half-awake. I knew I’d just heard …
Tutoring biology, laws of ecology can be fascinating. The tutor mentions an example of Gaston’s Law. In a previous post I mention Gaston’s Law: the principle that a species with a small range is typically harder to find even within …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions the golden-crowned sparrow. Lately I’ve been watching birds in the yard. I turned over some garden patches, preparing for planting; ever since, birds have been gleaning them. Most evident are the varied thrush and …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a welcome visitor. Around this time of year, one hears long, single-note, flute-like calls. They come, as I understand, from varied thrush. I’ve written numerous posts about varied thrush. They live here, in the …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a nice sighting. When I was a kid, I only noticed tree swallows. Perhaps other kinds were around, but tree swallows were all I saw. Visiting a farm the other day, my son and …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a call he heard. Bird watchers will naturally love the spring because there is so much action. Birds are singing from trees, flying in front of you as you walk…they’re ubiquitous, and trying to …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a sighting. As a passenger in a car driving along a highway today on Vancouver Island, I spotted a hawk with a red-banded breast perched in a tree. The tree might have been an …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions California quail. Nanaimo is a place where, be it flora or fauna, you might see something unexpected. With its mild climate, so many exotic things can live here – such as the California quail. …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor brings up a favourite. Birds seem to reach out to me sometimes. Perhaps, on the other hand, it’s just that I listen more closely to them. It surprises me to think how I must’ve ignored …