Red-winged Blackbird - A Happy Harbinger of Spring

Red-winged Blackbird

The red-winged blackbird is a prosperous native American and happy harbinger of spring. Over 200 million strong, these gregarious creatures are the most common bird found on the continent. Their underrated beauty is distinguished by a simple palette reminiscent of a Mondrian. They're colored a glossy black but boldly decorated with shoulder patches of bright red and yellow.

About the time of year when water thaws and evening light lingers, speedy males swoop in from the south and establish compact territories in the surrounding wetlands. Streaky-brown females arrive a couple of days later and begin nest-building immediately. The basket-shaped dwellings are hidden between reeds just a few inches above the waterline.

The redwing spends most of the day perched high above a cattail kingdom singing his heart out to anyone who will listen. The familiar tune, played over and over again, announces his arrival and confirms boundaries that should never be crossed. The fearless, black bird will vigorously defend its territory, aggressively challenging all intruders no matter how small or large.

After a summer so full of activity and life you begin to take them for granted. In an instant they're gone. Dreary days of cold and darkness fill the empty void. The birds have dispersed to a better place - a mysterious land of peace and warmth. There, they reunite with family and friends in an enormous flock. Hopefully, if we're lucky, we'll see them again one day soon.

A happy harbinger of spring

The most common bird in North America

An underrated beauty

Perched in a cattail kingdom

Singing his heart out

The familiar tune is played over and over again

The redwing is a fearless defender

Hopefully, we'll see them again soon

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lair O' the Bear and Dunafon Castle

Image
The restored Dunafon Castle Lair O' the Bear Park is nestled in a steep canyon about six miles east of Evergreen, Colorado. John and Matilda Johnson emigrated from Sweden with their two young boys and purchased the narrow meadow in 1902. They named it Mountain Nook Ranch, built a four-bedroom house and raised Red Durham cattle. Their two sons, Finis and Francis, attended school in nearby Starbuck, now known as Idledale. It was originally named for John Starbuck who won the town property in a poker game. John Johnson was a master gardener and his popular, fresh produce was sold in Evergreen and Denver. They planted over 200 cherry and apple trees in the area. If you look closely many can still be found throughout the park today. The unruly Bear Creek sculpted the beautiful scenery and provided the needed irrigation for productive crops but it also wreaked plenty of havoc. There was a constant fear of extreme flooding. The Lariat Trail (Highway 74 today) crossed Bear Creek s...
Read more

Ibis - A Symbol for Danger and Optimism

Image
White Ibis The white ibis is a wading bird that is very common throughout Florida. Their traditional habitat has always been the Everglades but they've recently adapted to a more urban environment. During our visit there this past summer, we frequently saw ibises on freshly mowed lawns rooting for large bugs as well as stalking aquatic prey along the shoreline of ponds, lakes and marshes. These splendid, white birds have evolved a long, downward-curved bill. This distinctive feature has helped them develop into efficient hunters. Their legs are long enough to wade in shallow water but they are also perfectly at home on dry land where they can use their pink beak to probe for insects. The white ibis is a symbol for danger and optimism because Native American folklore held that the bird was the last to seek shelter before a hurricane and the first to emerge afterwards.
Read more

An Approaching Storm - Colored Pencil Drawing

Image
"An Approaching Storm" Colored Pencil In the midst of an already grievous winter, an approaching storm gradually extinguishes the landscape’s last sliver of light. The inclement weather rushes in aggressively as it envelopes the magnificent range of rugged peaks. Extending across the page, a strip of turquoise sky is still visible above the embattled scenery. It won’t be long, though, before a cloak of cool-gray smothers the valley in a shroud of deep snow. The high mountains assume a defiant posture as their sharp edges tear through the soft atmosphere, creating patches of bare rock. The kaleidoscope of broken terrain sparkles in blue-violet before the impending storm’s onset. The forested foothills are distinguished by three different, overlapping tiers of conifers. As the woodland ramparts recede into the distance, the wintery colors gradually become several shades bluer. The wide, white meadow sweeps across the foreground, its smooth surface decorated with elongated shado...
Read more