iowabirds

Red Tailed Hawk Portrait

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I am terribly biased, but I don’t think there is a more beautiful raptor than the adult Red Tailed Hawk.  As they grow older, their eyes get darker brown…the plumage takes on some amazing tones, oranges and various shades of browns and tans…and then there’s that stunning red tail.  Make note too that they are … Read more

Goldfinch & Berries

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In the late summer to early fall, the colorful Goldfinch will start to fade…from this vibrant, almost neon’ish yellow, into something far more drab.  It’s interesting how this matches the dullness of the landscape…the bright berries and leaves will fall away…flowers are gone…and we are left with muted browns and tans mixed with some snow … Read more

Magnificent Simplicity – Mourning Dove

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So common…the American Mourning Dove…they number in the millions around us. They are not colorful or vibrant. Nor do they do they broadcast a loud and boisterous voice or a demanding demeanor. But like all things in nature, there is nothing really common about them. To the Native Americans, the mourning dove represents spirit and … Read more

Winter Cardinals

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It’s awesome to have the colorful Cardinal in the backyard. On days when it snows they can become particularly numerous and active. Otherwise, it can be a challenge to get a good photograph, in good light, as they tend to feed really early, and really late, just before dark. Of course you’ll catch them from … Read more

The Christmas Miracle – Snowy Owl

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The early winter of 2017 had many reports of Snowy Owl sightings around much of Iowa…and this kind of news would get any midwest birder excited.  We simply don’t see them here very much.  In fact, I had never viewed a Snowy before in my life. I had certainly tried. Countless trips, chasing any lead that seemed reasonable, amounted to nothing for over a month. But with the help of friends, on the eve of Christmas, this almost mythical bird of the arctic tundra would stare back at me, eye to eye, for the first time.