“I believe sustainable use is the greatest propaganda in wildlife conservation at the moment.” ~ Steve Irwin
∞
There wasn’t a whole lot of free time in January to go out and shoot birds, so I made it point these last couple of weeks when the sun was shining to see who I could find. Thanks to some weirdos for our area (notably, the Solitary Sandpiper and Least Grebe), our list now stands at 103 First-of-Year Species, without our having to do too much work collecting them.
Wildlife rarely disappoints me when I go look for them, however their homes are disappearing fast. As even more raw woods spaces are cleared to make way for development, I’ve lost some favorite spots to sit in the car and watch for birds and wildlife.
Thank goodness I still have my own yard, and given what little businesses and non-profits are doing for wildlife conservation as they erect their bricks on concrete, I plan on keeping it that way as long as I’m here.
It’s sad to think how little we consider the others in our world as we make plans solely for ourselves. It gives me pleasure, however, to imagine one day as it settles back to ‘sustainable’ equilibrium once again, that is our species in concert with our world rather than against it.
There is an up side. With a growing people population now concerned about perpetual smoke inhalation, this time no trees were burned as waste. There are now mountains of mulch where the forest used to be, no doubt to be sold in garden stores near you.
You can bet there’s money to be made on the backs of the voiceless.
Around The Property
Molting Krider’s
Red-tailed Hawk
No Vacancy Here!
Snowy Egret
Debonair
Loggerhead Shrike
Regular Feeder Guard
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Squirrel Carcass Thief
Red-shouldered Hawk
Orange Morph Juvenile
House Finch
Very Early Spring Migrant
Solitary Sandpiper – Lifer!
A Few Go-Gets Near Houston
Cautious of the Big Lens
Least Grebe Pair
Ground Hopper
American Pipit
Not the Greater I Was Looking For
Lesser Scaup
Always Delightful and Chatty
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
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Don’t waste any time to get out
and enjoy your world.
Wild spaces are disappearing fast!
DirtNKids Blog 
Every morning at our house several large groups of the black-bellied whistling ducks fly over. Then in the evening about sunset, they fly back over. I love hearing them and seeing them. We are their path to somewhere good I am just not sure where lol. Great pictures.
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Beautiful captures, I so love the Black-bellied Whistling Duck’s neon orange beak!
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Yep, Donna, my favorite too! I also shot some other (domestic type) fowl that is in the same folder. I don’t put all my pictures up on the blog, but Mr. Egyptian Goose is pretty gorgeous too. 😀
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Beautiful photos, and I so agree with the thoughts you express!
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I’m teeing up for the post tomorrow. I’m hoping you’ll like it. Thanks for coming by!
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Excellent photos!
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Why thank you, Belinda! Believe me, the pleasure is all mine. 😀
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Miss you my friend, sorry it has been so long. All is good here I hope it is there.
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Hi Jon! We are well, too, given the expanding schedule. It helps that we will be going on a National Park excursion soon. Need to get out of town for a bit.
Feel free to call any time. It will be nice to catch up. Cheers!
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