Unrivalled among these is the majestic Gyrfalcon, a
regal visitor from the Arctic where it nests. The Tundra Swan is a bit
smaller.
A recent bonanza of fossils has intensified debate
over how contemporary birds are linked to the extinct dinosaurs. Where have all the
eagles gone? The ducks seem oblivious to the cold, even as they stand on ice-covered
lakes and streams. The tern whirls, folds its wings, and plunges into the water,
diving for small fish that swim just below the surface. As the winter sun sinks over
the Coulee Lakes, hundreds of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches suddenly appear, an
undulating cloud that swarms into the upper levels of the basalt cliffs. Male
Raggiana Birds of Paradise perform elaborate displays to attract females, sometimes
even hanging upside-down with their wings pointing upward.
The ducks seem oblivious to the cold, even as they
stand on ice-covered lakes and streams.
Small forest birds, such as nuthatches and creepers
may spend the night huddled together in tree cavities. Unrivalled among these is the
majestic Gyrfalcon, a regal visitor from the Arctic where it nests. The ducks seem
oblivious to the cold, even as they stand on ice-covered lakes and streams. Some
dabble along the surface, feeding along shallow edges of lakes and
estuaries.
Loss of habitat, plus competition by non-native
birds, caused their drastic decline. Without flapping, it traces a leisurely, rising
circle. Why is the crowing of a rooster so regular, so persistent? As the winter sun
sinks over the Coulee Lakes, hundreds of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches suddenly appear,
an undulating cloud that swarms into the upper levels of the basalt cliffs. This
bird inhabits remote areas near tree-line in the western mountains, where it lives
in symbiosis with whitebark pines.
It has a pleasing and rhythmical song, which it
sings even in winter. Driving the freeway or a narrow country road, you may glance
up to a light pole where a large hawk sits in plain view.
Thirty years ago, there were six million Northern
Pintails in North America. In a trial-and-error world, how often does an
inexperienced bird get a second chance? Put your winter garden to work as a haven
for birds. Imagine: a Great Blue Heron trying to swallow a snake.