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In Aug of 2018....The IUCN has up-graded this EVENING GROSBEAK from least concern to VULNERABLE statues.. (One step closer to "Endangered".)
(Image captured at Algonquin Provincial Park.)
Canon EOS 7D Mark II
EF600mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x III
The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European starling, or in the British Isles just the starling, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about 20 cm (8 in) long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry has been noted in literature including the Mabinogion and the works of Pliny the Elder and William Shakespeare.
The common starling has about a dozen subspecies breeding in open habitats across its native range in temperate Europe and western Asia, and it has been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, South Africa and Fiji. This bird is resident in southern and western Europe and southwestern Asia, while northeastern populations migrate south and west in winter within the breeding range and also further south to Iberia and North Africa. The common starling builds an untidy nest in a natural or artificial cavity in which four or five glossy, pale blue eggs are laid. These take two weeks to hatch and the young remain in the nest for another three weeks. There are normally one or two breeding attempts each year. This species is omnivorous, taking a wide range of invertebrates, as well as seeds and fruit. It is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey, and is host to a range of external and internal parasites.
Large flocks typical of this species can be beneficial to agriculture by controlling invertebrate pests; however, starlings can also be pests themselves when they feed on fruit and sprouting crops. Common starlings may also be a nuisance through the noise and mess caused by their large urban roosts. Introduced populations in particular have been subjected to a range of controls, including culling, but these have had limited success except in preventing the colonisation of Western Australia. The species has declined in numbers in parts of northern and western Europe since the 1980s due to fewer grassland invertebrates being available as food for growing chicks. Despite this, its huge global population is not thought to be declining significantly, so the common starling is classified as being of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The common starling is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of 31–44 cm (12–17 in) and a weight of 58–101 g (2.0–3.6 oz). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 11.8 to 13.8 cm (4.6 to 5.4 in), the tail is 5.8 to 6.8 cm (2.3 to 2.7 in), the culmen is 2.5 to 3.2 cm (0.98 to 1.26 in) and the tarsus is 2.7 to 3.2 cm The plumage is iridescent black, glossed purple or green, and spangled with white, especially in winter. The underparts of adult male common starlings are less spotted than those of adult females at a given time of year. The throat feathers of males are long and loose and are used in display while those of females are smaller and more pointed. The legs are stout and pinkish- or greyish-red. The bill is narrow and conical with a sharp tip; in the winter it is brownish-black but in summer, females have lemon yellow beaks while males have yellow bills with blue-grey bases. Moulting occurs once a year- in late summer after the breeding season has finished; the fresh feathers are prominently tipped white (breast feathers) or buff (wing and back feathers), which gives the bird a speckled appearance. The reduction in the spotting in the breeding season is achieved through the white feather tips largely wearing off. Juveniles are grey-brown and by their first winter resemble adults though often retaining some brown juvenile feathering, especially on the head. They can usually be sexed by the colour of the irises, rich brown in males, mouse-brown or grey in females. Estimating the contrast between an iris and the central always-dark pupil is 97% accurate in determining sex, rising to 98% if the length of the throat feathers is also considered. The common starling is mid-sized by both starling standards and passerine standards. It is readily distinguished from other mid-sized passerines, such as thrushes, icterids or small corvids, by its relatively short tail, sharp, blade-like bill, round-bellied shape and strong, sizeable (and rufous-coloured) legs. In flight, its strongly pointed wings and dark colouration are distinctive, while on the ground its strange, somewhat waddling gait is also characteristic. The colouring and build usually distinguish this bird from other starlings, although the closely related spotless starling may be physically distinguished by the lack of iridescent spots in adult breeding plumage.
Like most terrestrial starlings the common starling moves by walking or running, rather than hopping. Their flight is quite strong and direct; their triangular-shaped wings beat very rapidly, and periodically the birds glide for a short way without losing much height before resuming powered flight. When in a flock, the birds take off almost simultaneously, wheel and turn in unison, form a compact mass or trail off into a wispy stream, bunch up again and land in a coordinated fashion. Common starling on migration can fly at 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) and cover up to 1,000–1,500 km (620–930 mi).
Several terrestrial starlings, including those in the genus Sturnus, have adaptations of the skull and muscles that help with feeding by probing. This adaptation is most strongly developed in the common starling (along with the spotless and white-cheeked starlings), where the protractor muscles responsible for opening the jaw are enlarged and the skull is narrow, allowing the eye to be moved forward to peer down the length of the bill. This technique involves inserting the bill into the ground and opening it as a way of searching for hidden food items. Common starlings have the physical traits that enable them to use this feeding technique, which has undoubtedly helped the species spread far and wide.
In Iberia, the western Mediterranean and northwest Africa, the common starling may be confused with the closely related spotless starling, the plumage of which, as its name implies, has a more uniform colour. At close range it can be seen that the latter has longer throat feathers, a fact particularly noticeable when it sings.
The common starling is a noisy bird. Its song consists of a wide variety of both melodic and mechanical-sounding noises as part of a ritual succession of sounds. The male is the main songster and engages in bouts of song lasting for a minute or more. Each of these typically includes four varieties of song type, which follow each other in a regular order without pause. The bout starts with a series of pure-tone whistles and these are followed by the main part of the song, a number of variable sequences that often incorporate snatches of song mimicked from other species of bird and various naturally occurring or man-made noises. The structure and simplicity of the sound mimicked is of greater importance than the frequency with which it occurs. Each sound clip is repeated several times before the bird moves on to the next. After this variable section comes a number of types of repeated clicks followed by a final burst of high-frequency song, again formed of several types. Each bird has its own repertoire with more proficient birds having a range of up to 35 variable song types and as many as 14 types of clicks.
Just west of St. Louis, Missouri is a group of lakes called the Busch conservatino area. This is the most photographed of the lakes, Lake 33.
A spectral Christmas Eve walk at Ivinghoe Beacon.
Despite knowing this walk so well, there were a couple of moments when I lost my bearings in this blanket of fog.
A lot of the farmers around here introduced 3 metre conservation strips around their fields a number of years ago. The idea is to encourage the return of the many endangered species of farmland birds that declined following the introduction of intensive farming techniques. Certainly it seems to have worked with good populations of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings at this location. Not that I saw any in this pea souper!
Excerpt from www.thecounty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Picton-Herita...:
57-59 Main Street
Ontario Worker’s Cottage (1800s-1890s):
In the early 19th century, a house’s level of taxation was partly
based on the number of storeys. As an economy many houses
were constructed with a second storey of half-height.
There modest houses were one and a half stories with gable roof.
Windows to the second floor were placed on the side and/or a
windowed gable was provided over the centre door. The buildings
were symmetrically organized with a central entry, flanking
windows and chimneys on the side walls. As the style evolved
projecting entry bays and rear ‘tail’ additions were incorporated.
During the second half of the century, influenced by British
immigrants, the Worker’s Cottage moved away from the Classical
influence and adopted gothic architecture’s vertically oriented
features such as steeply pitched gables, pointed arches at
windows and doors, and decorative turned and carved woodwork
on bargeboard, finials, verandahs and entrances. The treatment
of the exterior varied widely to reflect local resources: wood
(clapboard or board-and-batton), stone or brick.
Bird food? Nah! Love it when Humans leave us snacks...
Photographed the American Red Squirrel out at Hersey Lake Conservation Area in the City of Timmins Northeastern Ontario Canada
on wiperaminga hill, boolcoomatta reserve, a bush heritage australia conservation property, outback south australia
Beautiful purple wildflowers on a trail in Greenwood conservation area , Martin’s photographs , Ajax , Ontario , Canada , August 31. 2021
Beautiful roots in the forest
Greenwood conservation area
Canada
August 2021
Roots
Ontario
Ajax
Canada
Pickering
Martin’s photographs
Discovery Bay
Trees
Sunset
March 2020
Favourites
IPhone XR
Squires Beach
Duffins Creek
Duffins Marsh
Waterfront Trail
Rotary Park
Lake Ontario
Rod iron fence
Bridge
Bridge
Duffins Creek
Twilight
Sticks
Stones
Fallen trees
Fallen tree
Fungi
Mushrooms
Sand
Beach
Reflections
Reflection
Dogwood
Tall grasses
iPhone 6s
Weeds
Wildflowers
Purple wildflowers
Watching these birds at the pond is always an enjoyable experience. This guy decided all of the sudden that it was time to go and I happened to have my lens pointed in his direction.
The Pernambuco Pygmy-owl is, perhaps, one of the rarest owls in the world.
Unlike most owls, the Northern Pygmy-owl is diurnal - meaning it is active during the day, and frequently at dawn and dusk. Also unique among the owls, the Northern Pygmy-owl is not a silent flyer. When it flies, its wings make a buzzing or whirring sound.
Extensive habitat loss has occurred in the region, and the remaining fragments are small and isolated. Any remaining population is likely to be tiny, to have an extremely small range, and to be declining. For these reasons, the species is listed as Critically Endangered.
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Pernambuco Pygmy Owl Detailed Portrait in Naturalistic Style
This image shows a detailed naturalistic portrait of a Pernambuco pygmy owl's face. It highlights the bird's unique feather patterns and soft lighting, resembling classic ornithological art.
Created by Diney on Mar 7, 2026 using the Nano Banana AI image generator model. Nightcafe
The walk up the hill at Kelso Conservation area was very rewarding when we arrived at this overlook. The rocky plateau at the top provided for a great area to set up and enjoy the scenery. Occasionally we were visited by mountain bikers and hikers but at sunset we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Extra Info from AI sources :
Andhra Pradesh (AP):
Pulicat Lake: Located on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, this is a well-known habitat for the spot-billed pelican.
Uppalapadu Bird Protection Centre: Situated near Guntur, this center hosts thousands of spot-billed pelicans during their breeding season.
Kolleru Lake and Atapaka Bird Sanctuary: These areas serve as winter homes and breeding grounds for thousands of pelicans and painted storks.
Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary: This sanctuary is a major attraction and a well-established pelicanry, with high populations of spot-billed pelicans.
Telineelapuram Village: Located in the Srikakulam District, this village also hosts pelicans as part of its bird migration center.
Tamil Nadu (TN):
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary: One of the most famous sanctuaries, known for large congregations of spot-billed pelicans, especially during the breeding season.
Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary: Another vital location where pelicans are frequently spotted.
Sholinganallur Lake/Marshes (Chennai): Spot-billed pelicans have been regularly spotted in the wetlands of Sholinganallur near Chennai in recent years.
Karavetti Bird Sanctuary: Mentioned as a site for pelican congregation in research studies
I think this was four or five horizontal frames from left to right stitched together in Photoshop. Photographed from another bird blind after observing a Great Blue Heron hunting along the water's edge.
"Cheesequake State Park is a 1,610-acre (2.52 mi2) state park located in Old Bridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the United States.
The New Jersey Legislature allocated $100,000 in 1937 to purchase property for the park. The state first acquired a 250-acre (100 ha) tract of farmland and a Civil War-era mansion from the Favier brothers in January 1938. Additional lands were acquired over the next two years, and the Civil Conservation Corps, part of the Works Progress Administration, helped develop the property. The park was opened in June 1940. It is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and is part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route.
The name Cheesequake has been variously described as deriving from the Lenape words Cheseh-oh-ke ("upland"), Chichequaas ("upland village"), or Chiskhakink ("at the land that has been cleared").
The park's lowlands consist of freshwater and saltwater marsh and a tidal estuary near the mouth of Cheesequake Creek on the Raritan Bay. It also includes hills of Northeastern hardwood forest, open fields, and a white cedar swamp. It includes a small parcel of Atlantic coastal pine barrens, consisting of pine forest in sandy soil, an isolated section of the much larger New Jersey Pine Barrens. It also includes the 6-acre (24,000 m2) Hooks Creek Lake, a freshwater lake where recreational fishing features trout, largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish. Crabbing is also available at the park.
The park includes an interpretive center and five marked trails for both hiking and mountain biking that run throughout the wooded hills and across long wooden bridges across marshland. The park has designated camping areas available by reservation. Swimming and boating are summertime activities, while sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are available in wintertime.
The Garden State Parkway runs through the park near exit 120 but offers no direct access. A road runs underneath the parkway to connect the northern and southern sides of the park. Parts of the park, including a picnic area, are visible from the parkway. Aberdeen-Matawan station (New Jersey Transit) is located about two miles east of the park." (Wikipedia)
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Panoramica sulla pianura interna del cratere di Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Overview of the inner plain of the Ngorongoro Crater.
IMG20241206153415m
Taken at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles, Missouri.
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
La fitta boscaglia che ricopre le pendici interne del cratere di Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The dense bush that covers the inner slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater.
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This is a field of cattails, at the former Mount Albion Conservation Area. I like the contrast it had on a grey fall day.