Category Archives: Birds

Family of Bluebirds

Ever since bluebird nest boxes were installed earlier this year in Catch the Wind, I’ve seen Carolina Chickadees, House Wrens, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and yes, the intended species, bluebirds, using the boxes. All of those species were observed building nests in the boxes, most laid eggs, and some were seen carrying food into the boxes and/or [...] Read more...

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Cooper’s Hawk and the Robin

During the month of July, I casually monitored the progress of two young Cooper’s Hawks that fledged here at the Museum. I would sometimes see the birds through the trees hopping and flying from limb to limb, but more often I would hear them whining for food back among the pines on the north side [...] Read more...

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Birds & Butterflies of June

On the last day of the month, some of the avian and lepidopteran creatures of June… Can you guess how each animal got its name? What did you see at the Museum in June? Read more...

Also posted in Insects and Other Arthropods, Summer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Strange Nest, a Typical Nest, a Flycatcher, and a Swallow

A few weeks ago I got a call on the radio about a bird’s nest next to the Vapor Rings Exhibit in Catch the Wind. This was a “You gotta to see this” kind of call, so I hightailed it up to Vapor Rings to see for myself. I didn’t quite know what to make [...] Read more...

Also posted in Spring | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Kingfisher Returns, With Some New Faces!

There were five Belted Kingfishers in the Wetlands on Wednesday afternoon (5/26). What does that mean? It means that our resident female, which is seen in the Wetlands nearly every day of the year until nesting duties call her away in April, has returned with her new family. I wasn’t able to get a close [...] Read more...

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Big Blue and the Bull

The Great Blue Heron is back, and hungry! A Bullfrog makes a nice meal for a heron. Our resident heron (below) has captured a large male frog. With a firm grip on the frog, the heron wades over to a nearby island to safely prepare the frog for consumption. The frog must be rendered motionless [...] Read more...

Also posted in Reptiles and Amphibians, Spring | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

May Flora

Japanese Honeysuckle is in bloom. An exotic species, and an invasive one, Japanese Honeysuckle is still a favorite of many people for both its fragrance and taste. People either love Japanese Honeysuckle or they hate it. Here’s just one paper on the subject. Mulberry is ripening and many birds are gulping down the berries as soon [...] Read more...

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Flowers, Butterflies, Odes, Birds, Snappers, and the Fox

Dame’s Rocket and Blackberry are in bloom. Butterflies find the early blooming blackberries rather tempting. More species of dragonflies and damselflies have been emerging recently. A first-of-the-season Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) was seen on 29 April as was a new species for the Museum, a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps). I had thought that I spied one of [...] Read more...

Also posted in Flora, Insects and Other Arthropods, Mammals, Spring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Birdbox Update 5

I’d been hearing House Wrens since April 20, but hadn’t seen one. On April 28, I heard one singing from the area behind the Sailboat where a bluebird nest box has been installed. This box was inspected on April 10 and although bluebirds had constructed a nest inside, it didn’t contain eggs. I hadn’t seen any activity [...] Read more...

Also posted in Spring | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Birdbox Update 4

The Bluebirds that have decided to nest in the bird box in the clearing next to the Ornithopter have been feeding young – the eggs have hatched! On Friday (4/23) I observed the adults carry in food and carry out, you guessed it, fecal sacs. So, at least some, if not all, of the eggs [...] Read more...

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Greg Dodge's Portrait
  • Greg Dodge is a professional naturalist as well as a writer, videographer and producer of natural history DVDs. His images have been used in various TV productions, museum displays, and corporate videos. Above all, he has a fascination and passion for all things natural.
  • Stop by and say hello Tuesday thru Saturday in Explore the Wild, Catch the Wind, or on the Dino Trail.