Cedar Waxwing

Cedar waxwings are greyish birds with a crest at the top of their head. Their breasts are yellow in color. The tip of their tail is also yellow. The tips of their wings look as if they are dipped in red wax. They also appear as if they are wearing a black mask. The mask appears after the first year and the wax tips on the the wings appear after the second year. The cedar in their name comes from their preference for eating small blueberry-like cones of the cedar.

Cedar waxwings are social birds, meaning that you are likely to see them in flocks year round. They can be found in woodlands, orchards, farms, and gardens where they can eat berries and small insects. Tail feathers can also appear orange if the bird eats enough berries while they feathers are growing. Waxwings are unique in that they are able to pass the seeds of fruit, while many birds regurgitate them. They can often become intoxicated and occasionally dies due to the amount of fruit that they eat.

These birds are absolutely beautiful. I would love to photograph them someday, but have not yet had the chance. They have such vibrant colors and feathers that appear so slick and let the light bounce off of them. The pictures of the birds often made even more beautiful because they are surrounded by berries. Their unique color patterns make them easy to spot in bushes and easy to identify.

Green Heron

The green heron is smaller than the blue heron. They have short legs that are usually yellow, but can be bright orange during the breeding season. They have a blue-green back and a rusty red neck and chest. Males and females look the same. It also lacks the long neck that the blue heron has. Green herons hunt for aquatic insects, small fish, or small amphibians by wading in the shallow water. When fishing it will commonly drop bate into the water, fish are attracted, and then the heron grabs the bate when it the fish goes for the bate. When in flight it can resemble a crow, but it flies slower.

I have been lucky enough to see a green heron in the wild. They are absolutely beautiful. They way they just sit there waiting for a snack, you almost don't notice them at first. They are pretty widespread throughout the eastern United States. The first one I saw was along a bike trail and he was just sitting on a branch of a fallen tree just above the water. One of the many times I wished that I had my camera with me!

Peacocks and Peahens

Peacocks and peahens are large pheasants that can be found throughout India and part of Africa. The males (peacocks) are known for the beautiful blue and green feathers, while the females (peahens) are more of a grey and brown color. The males tail feathers make up almost 60 percent of their body length. Their tails are used in courtship rituals.Peafowl are ground eaters eating insects, plants, and small vertebrates. They are one of the largest flying birds when their tail length is taken into account. Peafowl are commonly found throughout the United States in zoos or being raised on farms. The males with drop their tail-feathers and grow new ones once a year.

I remember as a child going to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and seeing all of the peafowl there. It was so fascinating. Coming back to the zoo many years later I still found them fascinating, but also somewhat annoying. Living just across from the zoo there was nowhere to escape their constant cries. When I first heard it I could not see the bird. It sounded like a cat dying or a parrot in distress. My roommate quickly informed me that it was the peacocks in the zoo. Although there were no longer female peacocks at the zoo the males still called out defending their territory and hopelessly showing off their beautiful tails to passersby. Needless to say, I will never forget these birds or the cries that they let out.

Bald Eagle

Adult bald eagles are easily distinguishable by their white heads, dark bodies, and yellow beak and feet. The females look the same as the males, but are slightly smaller. The juveniles are brown with white spots and grey bill. Their nests are massive and they will return to the same nest each year adding to it. Nests are typically 5 to 6 feet in diameter. They can be found throughout most of North America. These eagles will often harass other birds for their catch instead of hunting on their own.

They were nearly driven to extinction due to DDT poisoning and illegal killing. They also suffered a huge blow in the Exxon Valdez oil spill off of the cost of Alaska in Prince William Sound. In 1978 the bald eagle was listed under the endangered species list. In 2007 they were removed from the endangered species list. There are still threats to the bald eagle including lead poisoning, destruction of cost nesting, and collisions with motor vehicles.

The bald eagle above was rescued and is currently living at the Cleveland Zoo. Many times zoos will take in bald eagles that have been injured in some way and can no longer fly. I have always wanted to see a bald eagle in the wild. Luckily, they are becoming much more popular and my chance my soon come. There is at least on nesting pair currently in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. What beautiful creatures to see in person!

Barn Owl

The barn owl has a white body with brown wings. It's face almost appears as if it is outlined. It is strictly nocturnal. During the day it can be found in roosting in quiet places, such as an abandoned barn. Their call is very raspy. They have a very wide range throughout the United States, but their numbers are declining due to the loss of habitat. At night these owls fly low over open areas searching for small rodents.The can be found hunting in grasslands, marshes, or agricultural fields. A neat fact about barn owls, as well as owls in general, is that they swallow their prey whole and then later will cough up an owl pellet. This pellet is made of the bones and fur of their latest meal.

The owl pictured above can be found at the Akron Zoo. The Akron Zoo is a neat little zoo located just outside of downtown Akron. The zoo got its roots in 1900 with two brown bears, but it wasn't until the 1960s that the zoo began to add more animals and expand. The zoo is fairly small, but it is filled with a wide variety of animals from lions to macaws to grizzly bears (opening soon!) to black and white ruffed lemurs. It has been neat to see the zoo grow up as I have grown up. The expansions and improvements on the zoo have been amazing. Their newest building Komodo Kingdom is their greenest building. If you are ever in the Akron area you should check it out! Take a look here.

American Anhinga

"Snake-Bird"

 

The American Anhinga is a majestic bird. It is found mostly in the South-Eastern states, going slightly into North Carolina during the breeding season. In those areas it is found in swamp areas. It got its name of "snake bird" because when it swims its body remain below the water, while its head stays above. It can often be found on the banks of slow moving water perched on a branch, sunning itself. The stalk their food underwater using their beaks to stab fish that they come into contact with.

The bird pictured above was the first Anhinga that I ever saw. I was walking in the gardens of Middleton Place in South Carolina with my friend when we stumbled upon this bird. If it were not for my friend, I don't know if I would have noticed it because I was too busy looking for alligators. It was either not a shy bird or it did not notice us, because it remained perched on its branch, sunning itself. I was so obsessed with seeing this bird. I had no idea what kind it was, not being a native to the area. The whole time we walked around the gardens, all that I could think about was getting back to the house to grab my bird book and identify this beautiful creature.

When I was able to look up and identify the Anhinga I was surprised to find that they spent a lot of their time on perches sunning themselves in the position pictured above. This does not surprise me though, given the way that they swim in the water and catch their prey. I am so glad we got to see this bird on my trip to South Carolina. I cannot wait to go back, find some more, and get some more beautiful photographs.

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron is one of the most unique and, in my opinion, beautiful birds that Ohio has to offer. They seem to have black eyebrows that extend into several plumes to the back of the head. The have a long yellow bill used to capture their dinner, mostly fish. The majority of their body is a grey color with a little blue around the eye, almost as if they are wearing eye shadow. They have feathers at the base of their neck, appearing as some sort of necklace almost. The have long legs, allowing them to wade is shallow water and stalk fish. They will also eat small mammals and anything else small that they can get their mouths on. They nest in treetops over water in groups of up to 100!

I can't help but smile when I see a Heron flying over. They just look so goofy, but yet so elegant flying overhead. Their long legs straight out, long head pointed straight ahead, seeming almost longer thanks to their large beaker extended in front of them, and their wings cupped. I almost always have to do a double take to when I see one overhead. First to see what kind of bird it was and second to watch them as they majestically fly away. Watching them take flight is always intriguing as well. They see to take off in slow motion, first eying you to see what your intent is and then taking off to a branch or into the great sky. I could watch these birds for a long time. The concentration that appears on them when they stand in the shallows of a river. The powerful jab of their beak when they see a fish swim by.

I often see Great Blue Herons around the Cuyahoga River in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They are currently active building their nest in the park. They nest at the Bath Road heronry along the Cuyahoga River near Wetmore Road. I have only been after the chicks have already fledged, but love to go while the herons are their nesting are caring for the chicks. If you ever visit the park (which I highly recommend that you do!) keep your eyes peeled for a Great Blue Heron, I'm sure that you will see one near the water or in the sky. You can check out some information on the birds in the park by looking here.