When I picture state birds, I picture the gorgeous Scissor-tailed Flycatcher of Oklahoma, the pristine white feathers of Alaska’s Willow Ptarmigan, or the haunting call of Minnesota’s Common Loon. I don’t picture chickens. And yet, that is the very bird Rhode Islanders chose for their state bird: the Rhode Island Red Hen! Read the rest…
Category: 10000 Birds
10000 Birds – Keeping Track of My Birds… for an Entire Year
In November of 2015, I saw a Northern Mockingbird 20 out of the 30 days. A Brown-headed Nuthatch? 3 of the 30 days. European Starling? 8 days. If you’re a rational person, you’re asking yourself two questions: How does she know that? Why does she care? Because I like symmetry, I’ll give you two…
10000 Birds – The Return of Nesting Skimmers and Terns
They have returned! Last week I drove over the Navarre Beach Causeway, peering carefully to either side as I slowed to 20 mph. For the last few months the sloping sides of the bridge met the water with no birds dotting its sand other than a few pigeons or gulls. In one big wave the…
E. Zambello Writing and Art 