Bluebird

Western Bluebird; Sonoma County, California

Hungry Bluebird

Hungry Bluebird

When I decided to publish this photo, it immediately reminded me of a fellow by the name of Michael L. Smith who I knew when I lived in the D.C. area.  We were part of a wildlife photography club that met each month at a local Audubon Society building in the Maryland suburbs.  Michael became very wealthy from a single image he took of a male Eastern Bluebird that looked like it was scowling or angry.  As luck would have it, Michael sold over 116,000 copies of that photo.  That in itself may be a record.  Here is a link to Michael’s story.

The bluebird in my photo doesn’t look angry so much as impatient.  When this male and his mate used a nest box in our backyard I started feeding them mealworms which, as bluebird lovers know, is a good way to attract bluebirds.  I think in this photo he was getting tired of waiting for me to put some mealworms in the feeder.

Tule Elk

Bull Tule Elk; Point Reyes National Seashore

This is a photo of a mature bull tule elk lying in a field of silage plants in January.

Bull Elk Lying in an Early-Growth Silage Field

Some ranchers who lease ranch lands from the National Park Service at Point Reyes National Seashore are allowed to grow non-native plants to feed to their cattle.  The plants are mowed when still green in late April and May.  Aside from the fact that this silage growing involves the annual introduction of non-native plants into the national seashore, some ground-nesting and near-ground nesting birds and their nestlings are chopped up during mowing.   Also, female deer give birth to and hide their fawns in silage fields.  The fawns are also chopped up during mowing.  Why the Park Service supports ranching on NPS-owned lands involving over 5,500 cows, let alone silage growing with its annual killing of wildlife, is beyond me.

Bluebird

Western Bluebirds Fledge

This is a photo of a western bluebird fledgling.

“I’m Outta Here”!

They’re gone, but remain nearby.  The parents still return morning, noon and night for mealworms.  I don’t know how long that will last, but I understand the parents sometimes have a second brood.  We’ll see.  It was fun while it lasted.