View the March 2023 Nature Friend Magazine American Bittern. Photo © Shalom Shirk. Climbing off some logs in our pond, I didn’t expect the pleasant surprise God had in store for me.Wait! What was...
The Birders’ Trail
Our Hoary Redpoll Pursuits
View the February 2023 Nature Friend Magazine Hoary Redpoll. Photo © Simonas Minkevius/Dreamstime.com. Two years ago, the winter brought some unusual birds to us from the North country. One of these...
Winter Warbler Wonder
View the January Nature Friend Magazine MacGillivray's Warbler. Photo © Cheryl Shank. I reread the checklist comments: “Potential MacGillivray’s or COWA/MOWA…Found and photographed better the next...
Honk! Quack!
View the December 2022 Nature Friend Magazine Snow Geese flying. Photo © Matt Anderson/Dreamstime.com. One sunny day we decided to go to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. After driving a ways,...
Chasing Whoo?
View the November 2022 Nature Friend Magazine Long-eared Owl. Photo © Dreamstime.com. Ice-crusted snow crunched, warning the woods of the coming intruders. Blue Jays screamed somewhere. “Are they...
H’owl You Get Rich?
Long-eared Owl. Photo © Matt Amstutz. Brrr. My arms trembled. My hands shook. I strained to steady the lens in the -10° C (14° F) chill. But was it the cold making me shiver? Or was something like...
The Big Catch
Great Blue Heron eating Northern Pike. Photo © Lelund Shaum. The morning was beautiful as Mr. Heron made his merry way to the swamp called “Shining Waters.” He was hoping to satisfy his growling...
Full-fledged Pest Controllers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Photo © Kevin Shank. One sunny late spring morning Mr. Gray, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, hopped cheerfully about in the lush green bushes and trees on Oasis Ranch. His sunshiny...
Summertime Search
One warm summer day, my cousin and I had a contest to see who could find the most kinds of birds, animals, trees, plants, or leaves. We met at the trail that led into the woods. Our backpacks were...
Books, Brothers, and Birds
Yellow Warbler. Photo © Darren Shank. It was not a good day for birds, I decided. The trees swayed in a brisk spring breeze, and gray clouds scurried overhead. The birds were probably hunkered down....
Our Birding Circle
As I went about my morning work on November 17, the lovely day beckoned me outdoors. Why not do the Nature Friend bird circle project today? The thought niggled at the back of my mind. Why not? So...
Eagle Encounter
Bald Eagle approaching nest. Photo © Kevin Shank. On May 24, a beautiful Sunday afternoon, my dad, my brothers, and I headed off on an excursion. After hearing about a Bald Eagle nest about fifteen...
Shivering for Birds
Sharp-shinned Hawk, © Joseph WhetstoneHairy Woodpecker, © Joseph WhetstoneBald Eagle, © Janet Whetstone “Oh! Look at those Cedar Waxwings!” Joseph exclaimed. Less than ten minutes into our bird...
Said the Raven…
The Tiny Bird With a Big Voice!
Who would’ve thought a House Wren could have such a big mouth? Certainly not me. Surely such a tiny bird couldn’t eke out more than a squeak or two, maybe a quiet warble. I was mistaken…hugely....
