This plump ball of a wren doesn’t seem to have gotten around to growing a tail yet. I think we can agree that he is still pretty cute without it. Good luck getting those tail feathers in, buddy! Pacific Wren, 7 July 19, Brown-Lowery Provincial Park.
Great Gray Owl!!!!! I have been dreaming of seeing this incredible owl for quite some time. In my mind’s eye, I always pictured finding a Great Gray Owl perched near the trunk of a spruce or fir dripping in lichen in a boreal forest. Instead, he was taking an early morning nap on some farm equipment! We almost drove right by, but his massive size caught my eye (they weigh less than Great Horned Owls, but are taller). It was quite a dramatic contrast to one of the most diminutive owls, the Northern Pygmy-Owl, who we surprisingly encountered earlier that same morning. Thanks to Michael and @joansveen_art for showing me their favorite birding spots in the vicinity of Calgary and launching me on my way to explore the wilds of Alberta!
Finding my 1000th life bird was a bittersweet affair. Cassia Crossbills are found exclusively in the 45 sq mi Lodgepole pine forests of the South Hills and Albion Mountains of Idaho, where they’re engaged in an evolutionary arms race with the local fire-adapted Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine. The bill structure of Cassia Crossbills is a unique and perfect match for extracting seeds from the local lodgepoles, whose cones have distinctly thicker distal scales than those of other lodgepole populations. Cassia Crossbills are a recently described species, but their future is in question. An increase in the number of hot days results in the immediate release of lodgepole seeds and this phenological shift has been linked to an 80% decrease in the Cassia Crossbill populations. This population is vulnerable to extinction if lodgepole pine is extirpated from the South Hills. It’s an odd feeling to find a new bird, knowing that its species may not survive the century. I found this region to be surprisingly and breathtakingly beautiful. The Cassia Crossbill is a big draw, but the views, scenery, and wildflowers were spectacular. Oh, and thanks to @hipsterbirders for tips on exploring this incredible region! Wrote a bit more on the blog, if you’re so inclined (☝️link up top).
Lazuli Buntings are an impossible shade of turquoise against a muted background of Great Basin Sagebrush. Nevada, July 2019.
#lazulibunting #ebird365 #outsideofmy5mr
