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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...)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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These osprey over Goleta Slough did nothing untoward, just flew around together for awhile. Old married couple or newlyweds... Don't know.
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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.
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And, finally, the lonely bachelor. "Someone please notice me! Please! It's Spring!"
Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)
CRUELTYFREE
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2013-02-26 05:05 PM |
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Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
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COMMENT 378982
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2013-02-26 05:11 PM |
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Surprise bird sex? Ok
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COMMENT 378983
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2013-02-26 05:12 PM |
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Wow, now that's impressive multi-tasking on the hawks' part. On a side note, Spring must really be in the air since my hayfever went from non-existent to intense this afternoon.
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AUNTIE S.
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2013-02-26 05:39 PM |
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All of these are lovely and the first one is VERY nice - oh, those naughty doves. It's a good thing you closed your eyes. And the beautiful hummer! If I were a lady hummer he wouldn't be a bachelor long.
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COMMENT 379011
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2013-02-26 06:13 PM |
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Excellent photos---thank you so much!!
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COMMENT 379029
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2013-02-26 06:37 PM |
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Wonderful photos!
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COMMENT 379036
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2013-02-26 06:58 PM |
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Just out of curiosity, where was the picture of the doves taken? We have a "couple" who has been nesting in our tree for years. Great pics, thanks for sharing!
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COMMENT 379079
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2013-02-26 08:50 PM |
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Here comes spring, flowers bloom, birds sing and schwing.
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COMMENT 379104P
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2013-02-27 01:22 AM |
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Ravens or crows?
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YIN YANG
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2013-02-27 03:11 AM |
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Fantastic pics, thanks! I sure have never seen a bird fly upside down.
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POWDRELL
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2013-02-27 05:49 AM |
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Great article. Excellent photos. Fun. Thanks.
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DDPHOTOGRAPHY
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2013-02-27 08:28 AM |
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Fantastic photographs and great captures!
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COMMENT 379167
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2013-02-27 08:29 AM |
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I love your bird pics. Thanks!
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COMMENT 379181
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2013-02-27 08:45 AM |
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Those are wonderful photos! I also have a pair of doves in my yard and love watching them call each other and interact, although I probably would have closed my eyes at this moment as well. And thank you for today's ear worm..."Birds do it, bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love"
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RDH
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2013-02-27 08:48 AM |
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Very entertaining subject well illustrated. Thank you.
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COMMENT 379191
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2013-02-27 08:57 AM |
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Great pictures. We were hiking up at Nordoff Peak in the Ojai area over the weekend and saw a raven perform two forward rolls and fly upside down for a short distance. If was an amazing thing to see and something I had never seen before. Spring literally is in the air!
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COMMENT 379379
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2013-02-27 12:49 PM |
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Is that a Rufous Hummingbird?
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COMMENT 379440
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2013-02-27 01:57 PM |
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Fabulous photos Steve! Spring is definitely in full swing!
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SEEDLADY
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2013-02-28 10:39 AM |
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I love to sing-a
Bout the Moon-a and the [birdies]* and the Spring-a,
I Love to sing-a
Bout a sky of blue an a Tea for Two anything with a swinga to an I Love You
I-I-I love-a to, I-I-I love-a to sing!!
*( with apologies to Warner Bros animation)
http://youtu.be/zj1FifK3bbg
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