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Mar 16, 2009 | by Kevin Loughlin

Peregrine FalconBirds are everywhere. From the frozen environs of Antarctica to the boiling Sahara Desert, birds can be found all over the world. The highest diversity of species are found in places like Colombia and Peru, places with mountains and coast, desert and forest. Pennsylvania has recorded over 300 species within its borders. Though 300 seems small compared to nearly 2000 in Colombia, it is still a fun challenge to find them all… and a bit more cost effective as well.

No matter where you live, birding can be done nearby… even in your own neighborhood. Jane Kirkland’s books, Take a City Nature Walk and No Child Left Indoors, discuss finding birds in urban areas. I took the Peregrine Falcon image above in Philadelphia, while standing atop the Walt Whitman bridge. Pennsylvania state biologists were banding the chicks and through Jane Kirkland’s requests I was allowed to join the adventure. The bird now adorns the cover of Take a City Nature Walk.
Cooper's Hawk

You don’t have to climb bridges, though… the Cooper’s Hawk above was photographed in my front yard in King of Prussia. As I took the garbage out one morning I noticed the hawk sitting in a Silver Maple 20 yards away. I went back inside and gathered my camera equipment and took about 20 images of the cooperative predator.
Over the weekend I was helping Lisa with a project in her yard. The morning was filled with the sounds of early spring. A male Cardinal sang loud and clear while we worked, trying several variations of his clear song. Chipping Sparrows tuned their slippery trill as the last of the Dark-eyed Juncos offered a similar, more ringing trill. The Juncos will be gone from our area soon, as they breed at higher elevations. A small flock of Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse offered their voices as well. A Northern Flicker yelled “CLEER!” a few times before the caws of crows overshadowed all others.
We never needed to stop working to enjoy the birds, though when we finally took the opportunity to go for a walk with binoculars in hand we found even more species–all close to home.

1 Comments

  1. giggles on March 18, 2009 at 8:43 AM

    The peregrine photo? Oh……..

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