These are the opening lines of an old Noel Paul Stookey/Michael Kelly Blanchard song: And in these days of confused situations And in these nights of a restless remorse When the heart and the soul of a nation Lay wounded and cold as a corpse I thought of those lines this morning. Then I got … Continue reading Birding Unites Us
Tag: Chesapeake
Birds Haven’t Changed
It's interesting, but one of the many coronavirus pandemic outcomes seems to be a renewed interest in nature. Just ask a Virginia birder who reports that trails she's always had to herself are now congested. Or ask a Maryland birder who finds her usual "haunts" filled with too many people. There are many possible reasons for … Continue reading Birds Haven’t Changed
A Few Words About Birds
A recent opinion piece in The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia's largest daily newspaper, began with the words: "First of all, thank you for reading." I'd like to begin, here, the same way. First of all, thank you for reading. I mean that, sincerely. "We've mentioned the passing of Caroll Spinney and our love for Big Bird, but … Continue reading A Few Words About Birds
Birds and Bird Photography, Cont’d
Where do you go when you've written "A Few Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography," followed by "More Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography"? Do you title your next article on birds and photography, "More and More Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography"? I don't think so. You puzzle over what to do, and you … Continue reading Birds and Bird Photography, Cont’d
More Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography
I mentioned in my last blog that fall migration was well underway and that a lone juvenile Green Heron lingered at Lakeside Park in Chesapeake, VA. I then imagined the young bird "flying solo to coastal Venezuela." Later, I got to thinking about a photo I'd taken in May: a photo of a Green Heron … Continue reading More Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography
A Few Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography
I paid an early morning visit a few days ago to Lakeside Park in Chesapeake, VA—the park with the litter, the noise, the Canada Goose droppings, the algal bloom, and on and on, yet also the park that was recently host to a thriving community of nesting birds, including many Green Herons. I'm reminded of … Continue reading A Few Thoughts on Birds and Bird Photography
Nearing Season’s End
I visited Lakeside Park, that small, unheralded, yet surprisingly birdy, Chesapeake, VA park a week or so ago. The park was noticeably different. It had an abandoned and lifeless feel. All that spring and early summer bird activity and noise that I'd written about in my prior 3 blogs had abated. Roadway noise and cicada … Continue reading Nearing Season’s End
An Ode to the Green Heron
My last blog, "An Ode to a City Park," was an ode not just to a single 11-acre city park in Chesapeake, VA, but really to all city parks (and by extension, all natural places that have been built/preserved/restored). These parks are critically important for wildlife and also for people—especially neighborhood people (see below!). Research … Continue reading An Ode to the Green Heron
An Ode to a City Park
In an earlier blog, "Trash Destroys," I mentioned an area in Chesapeake, VA known by locals as "the curve," where I'd come across a diverse pile of junk that included golf shoes, Gatorade bottles, foam boot liners, and a lawn chair. I remarked, “This jumbled mess of a trash pile was just feet from an … Continue reading An Ode to a City Park
Bird Photos and Photo Tips at Midyear
It's midyear 2019—or thereabouts. And as always, I have a bird photo backlog. So I thought it'd be a good time to trot some of them out and display them. I'll also be highlighting a few photos taken by others and a few "other wildlife" and people photos, too. And I'll include some of my … Continue reading Bird Photos and Photo Tips at Midyear
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 