“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great marsh, to watch the flight of shorebirds … is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.” – Rachel Carson
The sheer diversity and majesty of our feathered friends oftentimes take our breath away. From small birds like hummingbirds to huge birds of prey like condors and eagles, from colorful birds like scarlet tanagers to drab ones like sparrows (aka “lbb’s” – little brown birds), each avian species is unique. There are more than 900 birds in North America alone and can be found in a wide variety of habitats — mountain ranges, deserts, forests, swamps, lakes, streams, and more. Part of the fun of birding is seeing as many different types of species as possible and recording them on life lists.
Here is a sampling of birds we’ve seen with our family on some of our many adventures near and far. Each bird brings a smile and a treasured memory!
Bald Eagle. Haines, Alaska Bald Eagle. Chilkat State Park. Alaska Cardinal. Beeks Backyard Titmouse. Beeks Backyard. Barred Owl. Beeks Backyard. Great Blue Heron. Lake Mercer. Virginia. Bluebird. Lake Mercer. Virginia Great Egret. Hilton Head Island. South Carolina Pigeon Guillemot. Tatoosh Islands. Alaska. Pileated Woodpecker. Beeks Backyard Downy Woodpecker. Lake Mercer. Virginia Merganser. Skagway. Alaska White-Breasted Nuthatch. Mason Neck SP. Virginia Red-tailed Hawk. Beeks Backyard Little Egret. Sandbridge, Virginia. Anhinga. Red Reef Park. Boca Raton. Florida Rails. Huntley Meadows. Virginia. Robin. Beeks Backyard. Gray Catbird. Beeks Backyard Cardinal. Beeks Backyard. Hooded Merganser. Lake Mercer. Virginia. Pair of Bald Eagles. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Cambridge, Maryland. Juvenile Cardinal. Beeks Backyard. Hawk. Puako. Big Island. Hawaii.
