birding

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The eagles Parham photographed no doubt brought the Red-tail to their nest intending not to raise it, but to feed it to their own nestling. However, when it was deposited into the aerie, the hungry and disoriented fledgling immediately began begging for food alongside the eaglets. The confused parent eagles mistook the hawk as one of their own and began treating it in kind. Though surprising, such behavior can occur when the wrong species ends up in a nest. That’s because most adult birds cannot recognize their own chicks from others—a vulnerability that brood parasites exploit by laying eggs in other species’ nests.

Red Kite, Prospect Park, Reading, UK Canon R6 + RF 800mm

I like how the colours came out, especially as this was a dark bird on a white sky, which is always needs correction when on auto-ISO.

Papa and the kids, four days ago, the first day they left the balcony

I thought they'd be gone by last weekend, but flight school apparently takes some time. Was awesome seeing their first excursions off of the balcony and onto the roof gutter. I was so happy to be there for it. And i have a video of them returning from their first little flight, haha. The older one seems now to go flying with papa, the smaller one - i think - with mama, at least they showed up together yesterday. The younger one still sleeps on my balcony. It has been alone there for the last two nights, first evening alone it seemed a bit worried. Maybe today it will find somewhere else to sleep, i think it may be two days younger than the other one.

This weekend i'll clean up the mess and barricade their nest spot so they don't keep breeding here. It was nice to have them but i kinda want the balcony back for myself, i was minimizing my balcony time so they could do their pigeon stuff in peace. Really caring parents, very nice to see.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19034034

How do you teach a bird how, and where, to fly?

The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades. But the birds — known for their distinctive black-and-iridescent green plumage, bald red head and long curved beak — don’t instinctively know which direction to fly to migrate without the guidance of wild-born elders. So a team of scientists and conservationists stepped in as foster parents and flight instructors.

“We have to teach them the migration route,” said biologist Johannes Fritz.

Image description: A kookaburra sitting on a street light, with a clear blue sky behind. A jet fills most of the frame in the sky behind the bird

Taken through the lens of my very basic binoculars with my mediocre phone camera.

Once I figure out how to not give it away

Taken in Kelowna, B.C.

EOS 1100D, Tamron 150-600

Photo taken this week in Estes Park, CO, USA.

More photos of the same day (no other birds) on pixelfed!

https://pxlmo.com/i/web/post/731645515845491178

and their little stinkybums.

Today one of the lil' stinkybums flew onto a flower pot. They'll be flying out into the dangerous world in a few days. Yesterday evening, opposite side of the garden, a kestrel caught a bird. Don't know what bird it was who had a nest under the roof gutter, the swifts are already on their way to Africa.

I'm reasonably sure this is a Chiffchaff, though it might be some other sort of warbler, and I was pleased to get such an action shot. (even if a bit obscured) Reading, UK.

Image description: An Australasian Darter standing on a sandy riverbank, wings outstretched to dry in the sun, water lapping at its feet

Common Buzzard, high up in a tree in Prospect Park, Reading, UK

Port Perry, Ontario Aug 2024