Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions the term “pelagic.” What does “pelagic” mean? It refers to the surface of the ocean, but out of reach of shore. Some birds are pelagic, meaning you can’t see them from land. The black-footed …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a killdeer. I think, for years, I’ve had a relationship with a killdeer. At night, I would often run in a nearby field. It was dark enough that I could see where I was …
Self-tutoring about neighborhood birds: the tutor mentions a starling. Bird watchers tend to focus on rare birds they catch sight of. Starlings are so common – why even mention one? Yesterday a bird perched high in a tree in the …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor happily reports a discovery. The other night my son and I went for a walk in the woods. Not far in, we were hailed by a bird whose song is long indeed. It’s a beautiful, …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions cardinals. I can’t recall seeing a cardinal in Nova Scotia. I have seen one, outside Detroit in 1984 on a summer vacation. It was perched on a clothesline in a backyard; the old man …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions a new-found resource. Amidst the bustle of summer, a copy of Lone Pine’s Birds of Canada appeared on a shelf here. I’ve noticed it a couple of times but haven’t had time to examine …
Self-tutoring about bird watching: the tutor relates a seasonal event. I mention Steller’s jay back in my post from Oct 6, 2017. Yesterday, I heard a sudden squawk outside a screen door. I quickly looked out to see a Steller’s …
Self-tutoring about bird lifestyle: the tutor reports an observation. I recall robins on the lawn during rain, but what about other birds? My gut says I seldom see them. This morning, after I turned on a sprinkler, I noticed a …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor mentions an encounter Back on September 5, 2017, I mention looking at a goose across a lake in Nanaimo. At the same place this morning, I noticed a red winged blackbird. I heard the bird …
Self-tutoring about birds: the tutor gives commentary. Yesterday I spent about five hours in the yard, catching up on chores. Early on, I heard a flushing sound, but couldn’t place it. Yet, it was energetic: I wondered why I could …