Wordless Wednesday

Thrasher!

I took these a few weeks ago at Sandy Hook. While I was manning the hawk watch platform, this Brown Thrasher sang basically non-stop for 4 hours or so from a few different perches.

Gray Hairstreak

My first Gray Hairstreak of the year and the first for Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary for 2008.

My Barred Owl Call

I mentioned in a previous post that I got a Barred Owl to call on my "Beginner Walk" last Sunday. Here's some video of my attempt:



And here's what a real one sounds like:

My Photo Becomes a Painting

I got an email from a former co-worker who knew I liked nature. She asked me to send some photos because they were re-painting a clothing drop-off box in the parking lot of my old place of work in honor of Earth Day.

Here's the photo they chose - an Allen's Hummingbird.

And here's how it turned out:

I didn't get to help with the painting due to a meeting, but they want me to stop by to sign it.

Bird Stuff on Etsy.com

If you're not familiar with it, Etsy is a site where anyone can buy and sell handmade crafts. Thanks to my sister Mary for pointing out some artists who are making really nice bird-related crafts. Check them out:

Bird Nerd on Etsy.com (Gorgeous collages and linocut prints)

Birdspoke on Etsy.com (Brooches and necklaces - AKA "chick stuff")

Go to Etsy and search for "bird" and you'll see about 1600 pages of interesting crafts for all tastes.

Earth Day at My Work

Did your company do anything special for Earth Day today? My company hosted an Earth Day Fair in our cafeteria. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights:

1. Office Depot was giving out recycled folders and free pens. Unfortunately, each pen came in a plastic bag the size of a sandwich bag!

2. They gave out Marcal recycled toilet paper. It was pretty funny carrying a roll of TP to a meeting. We use the same TP at home. I highly recommend it. It's soft!

3. They had an excellent display on zero VOC and low VOC paint sponsored by Sherwin Williams.

4. They gave out Blue Spruce saplings. Why not something native to NJ?

5. Our landscaping company was giving out seed packets. I asked if they contained all native plants and got a funny look. I picked one up and noticed "Chinese Forget-me-not" on the back and said, "I guess not. I'll pass."

6. Our company's Seek the Source Team, who work to make sure our paper providers use legally obtained and recycled products, was there filming employees talking about why forests are important. I knew ahead of time that they'd be doing this so I prepared a little speech on the boreal forest. I hope it makes it to their web site.

7. I found out the company is working towards a LEED for Existing Buildings certification! Very cool.

The Most Hardcore Birder Ever

This guy is the most hardcore birder ever. First, he's the first shirtless birder I can recall seeing out in the field. Second, I've seen plenty of birding tattoos and I'll probably get one someday, but this gentleman has taken it to the extreme. He had two hawks down either side of his ribcage which resembled a cross between an Osprey and a Red-tailed Hawk. His back held a huge set of wings that stretched from the middle of his back over the backs of his arms to his biceps. He also had a Native American Thunderbird on his ankle. All the tattoos were done very tastefully and very beautifully in "black and gray" technique. Do you have a bird-related tattoo? Please share in the comments.