While we haven’t had the brutal summer temperatures and
screaming UV indexes of the past few years, I think it’s safe to say we don’t
plan a lot of activities outside during summer in Texas. Sure there are still
great birds to see- I found this hummingbird nest at Lick Creek Park earlier this week!
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| Hummingbirds are still on their nests as we turn the calendar to July |
There’s also butterflies to count, and dragonflies to enjoy-
but I’ll admit, it’s not quite as inviting as say… October. Or November. Or –
well you get the idea.
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| Extra points for whomever can help with this ID! |
So what’s there to do?! The philatelists, I’m sure, will
have their preferences. Of course there’s hanging out with your pets.
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| Nom! |
Or seeing what cool
thing NASA is up to. And some of us already heard suggestions from the Texas
Master Naturalists. Of course you could keep up with the high drama of As
the General Hospital Guiding Light World Turns. Will Nathan lie under oath for
Maxie? Sonny confronts Julian about Ric’s death. Will the truth come out? And
who was that mysterious stranger from last week’s funeral finale?
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| Gasp! |
If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe a telenovela instead!
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| So... what's the story with the reception? Can we still eat? |
Yikes! Such drama! Personally, when I’ve had enough of the emotional rollercoaster
that is Amor Mío or La Esclava Isaura, I like to settle in with a nice calming
book!
National
Audubon recently came out with a nice list of books for their summer
reading list. I figured I’d add a couple of my favorites to the pile too.
Now, this list is IN ADDITION TO reading through your field
guides and apps this summer! There’s not better time to catch up on the
differential characteristics between a Cackling and Canada Goose, sort out the
field marks for those vexing fall warblers, or getting ready for the sparrows
this winter. Some good field guides for this:
Birds of Texas,
National
Geographic, Sibley’s,
Kaufman, Crossley’s, The
Essential Field Guide Companion, Warbler
Guide, Sparrows
of United States and Canada
Now I have a couple of favorite authors and/or topics, so
I’ll give you the list and try to keep it organized.
Most anything by Bernd
Heinrich
He’s has an excellent series of naturalist writings that
either touch on birds in the context of a bigger theme, or focus primarily on
our feathered friends.
Winter World – Observations on animal survival in the
harsh climes of winter in Maine. Includes fascinating stories about
Golden-crowned Kinglets.
Summer World – A complement to Winter World, but
obviously focused on the critters and crawlers found at the author’s cabin in
Maine.
Mind of the Raven – Ever get the feeling corvids were
sizing you up? Well, they are. And you should be worried!
Geese of Beaver Bog – Bernd fosters a gosling and
spends the summer seeing the forest through the eyes of his young companion.
The Nesting Season – Questions and comments about
everyday observations about birds: egg colors, nest types, parenting, displays
and more… just why are they the way they are?
Homing Instinct – Scent trails, visual landscape
memory, and migration. How do animals accomplish the incredible feat of annual migration!?
Bird Sense: what it’s like to be a bird - Professor
of behavior and evolution of birds, he has spent a lifetime birding, twitching,
and digging through historic ornithology books to give a true reckoning of the
life cycle of birds as we known it, and how birds continue to capture the
imagination and attention of people. He’s also recorded an interesting TED Talk
on the topic. Amazon
Buteo
A Feathered River Across the Sky – Given the
centennial of the loss of the last Passenger Pigeon this year, this book is an
important work to mention. Tracing the sad story of the loss of one of the most
plentiful bird species (estimated at 25 – 40%), Greenberg covers the natural
history and historical observations of this species across the continent. Amazon
Buteo
Kingbird Highway – An unusual and remarkable story of
big year birding by Kenn when he was a teenager. Hitchhiking his was around the
US and sometimes living off of cat food, he tallied well over 600 birds while
having a ridiculous adventure. A great book to inspire you to get out and bird
no matter the conditions! Amazon
Buteo
The Big Year – The book-turned-movie recounting of
the big year competition from 1998 provides a little more story (and a little
less Hollywood glitz) to the epic contest. While we’ve enjoyed the movie, Sarah
said the book in more enjoyable (and we don’t have to watch a flock of
starlings be called a fall out at High Island!). Amazon
Buteo
The Feather Quest – Preeminent ornithologist and
skillful birders Pete and Linda Dunne take a year off to go birding around
North America. Part birding journal, part birder commentary, they are able to
capture the essence of who spends hours walking around outside looking in
treetops or bushes, scanning the skies, or studying shorebirds. And they also
give us a pretty good tale of birding across the continent! Amazon
Buteo
Nests: 50 nests and the birds that build them – A
beautiful photography exhibition of exactly what the title describes. But wait!
It’s not just pretty pictures! The author adds excellent context and detail to
the species she’s describing to give the reader not only an aesthetically
pleasing book, but one with plenty of natural history too! Nests used were from
the collections at the California Academy of Sciences. Amazon
Buteo
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