Cedar Waxwings at Magee Marsh

If you look closely, you can see the waxy red tips on the secondaries. See, sometimes butt shots come in handy!

I went to visit a friend, Betty Carson (not Parson) today. She is a great birder, antique dealer and supporter of Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society of which I'm a member. She donated four gorgeous prints among other things to help us raise money, and awareness, for our group's project, the Rocky River Important Bird Area. For the past four years, the group has been doing bird surveys in the Rocky River watershed. The amount of information gathered is amazing and we have one more year of surveys to complete. Once this info in completed, it will help the park system and surrounding communities decide on proper habitat management and development. We need more folks like Betty to help out with nature related causes! Thanks Betty!

Betty's favorite bird is the Cedar Waxwing and that reminded me of the unusual behavior me and the Doodles saw this past Sunday out on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area. We spotted at first a lone bird in a tree catching insects. Then we noticed another fly in and perch close to the first with an insect in its bill. It hopped closer and passed the insect to the others bill, then the first passed it back. This happened a few times, with each bird hopping back and forth and passing the insect. We thought "Is this some sort of illegal substance they are sharing?" Or maybe this bug just tasted nasty and one was saying "I ain't gonna eat this, YOU eat it!"

It turns out that this was a mating ritual with the male giving the female a treat and her giving it back, then him giving it once again, until she finally eats it. Hmmmm, not unlike humans, eh? Male:"Let's go to dinner", female: "No, I'm not hungry, I'll just have a little of yours." Gulp, and yours is gone. I remember dating...

When I get too serious in a blog, a "crazy eye" photo reminds me to knock it off!

A photo essay on the intelligence and memory of Eastern Bluebirds in Western Ohio.

A rare sight, Eastern Bluebirds in an Eastern Bluebird box.

This Tree Swallow takes exception with the term "Eastern Bluebird box."

A fierce battle ensues...

Dive bombing!

No biting below the belt!

Now the Tree Swallow has stooped to taunting! "I got yer sunshine here, Mr. Bluebird!"

"Ah, honey, something doesn't look right."

Oops, honey, what's that back there?

*Please note the "You're an idiot" look the female is giving the male and the typical quiet stare of said male.

Oh, uh, sorry about that neighbor!

"Hey Bluebird! I got yer sorry right here!"

Everyone is happy in their own homes...at least for now...

Yep, this really happened outside of the Carlisle Nature Center. We were out to set up our display of "The Birds and Beauty of Britain." When we went on a short walk afterwards, this was the event that unfolded.

The light was harsh as this happened at high noon...appropriate, eh?

More May-hem from Magee Marsh

Who's got happy feet! I'll bet you didn't know these little guys were such good dancers!

Meanwhile, marching through the madcap Magee Marsh a month ago in May-hem, many magnificent multicolored masters of migration paused momentarily for a meal (yoiks, that's a lot of 'm' words) while your mad maestro of booty committed them to memory.

My, my.

Who's got a colorful little noggin?

...and a colorful little tushy? The Doodles doesn't like the word "tushy" by the way...

Don't be shy, everyone wants to know who you are!

Oh my gosh, he's sitting still! At least for a second...Do you know him?

Masterful deduction! It is indeed, a Bay-Breasted Warbler!

What wild, wiggly Warbler will wander in this window next?