It appears this year is turning out to be a record irruption year for Pine Siskins in the US and I am loving it! An irruption year happens when a northern species “irrupts” southward due to a food shortage in their usual range. Pine Siskins are usually found across Canada, and in a few areas of the United States (high […]
My little brother came into town yesterday, we only had a few hours together but it was so good to see him. I hate that we live on opposite sides of the country. We spent time talking with our dad about our mom and it got me thinking of an old photo of her that I hadn’t seen in years so I’ve been digging around trying to find it but I keep coming up empty. I did, however, find few old gems that I didn’t even know existed! Ready to go back to the 70s? I can’t believe I am actually sharing these but I’m sure we all have photos that should never see the light of day. On the left is yours truly, with my first camera! That was a family trip we took in 1976…a road trip from Southern California to Memphis, TN for a family reunion. I remember that trip fondly. It was back in the day before mandatory seatbelts. My dad had traded cars with a coworker so we made the trip in a big, old van! My brother and I spent the trip playing in the very back of it, getting truckers to honk at us and all the other things one used to enjoy on long road trips. On the right is one of my first photos. I actually don’t even know why my dad kept it, I certainly wouldn’t have. It is from […]
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir I started birding a few years ago after I had left my teaching job of over 20 years to help my dad care for my mom. Her health was rapidly declining and he needed help with her. She, of course, didn’t want a stranger looking after her so […]
