|
Spring Is In The Air
updated: Feb 26, 2013, 5:00 PM
By Steve McGovern
It's that time of year, again, ladies and gentlemen. Spring. Rebirth. New life. It's getting sunnier, warmer,
except in the upper midwest where the snow storms now may include the occasional tornado.
The birds are at it, and I imagine the bees are too, but I don't see too many bees from the places I normally
take pictures. But, boy! Those birds. Here are some recent examples from my back porch and a couple of
other places. (By the way, no editing other than a slight adjustment to lighting and some cropping. I
always feel I have to say that when posting here...)
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
It was interesting to see the male dove, above, sneak up on the female. Well, sneak up might be the wrong word. He was calling, dancing, puffing up,
flying toward her and then backing off. Then... Well, I shut my eyes but I also released the shutter on my camera.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
The red tailed hawks in the two pictures posted are doing a dance of their own. Full flaps to get close, then a wrestling match in flight. This was a few
days ago, and today I spotted one flying around with a branch in his beak. Hawks mate for life, so I guess this aerial acrobatic routine maintains the
excitement in their lives.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
I don't know if, for a raven, flying upside down has anything to do with spring time. But it is an amazing feat of flying magic. I thought only fighter
planes piloted by Tom Cruise could do this. Read that ravens have been seen flying upside down for up to a half mile. Whew.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
These osprey over Goleta Slough did nothing untoward, just flew around together for awhile. Old married couple or newlyweds... Don't know.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
Again, I don't know how much this has to do with spring, and these are probably two males fighting over a female (or territory, or both), but they might
just be practicing to fight over a female (or territory, or both). Or one could be a female, for that matter. Whatever, they never got any friendlier.
Send this picture as a postcard
# # # #
And, finally, the lonely bachelor. "Someone please notice me! Please! It's Spring!"
20 comments on this article. Read/Add
# # # #
|
