Continuing the archive — slow essays and observations from marshes, mangroves, and pondsides around the world.
№ 451 Three swan species occur in North America: the native Trumpeter (largest, with a clarion call), the native Tundra (smaller, more numerous), and the introduced Mute (Eurasian origin, common on parks and waterways). Here's how to tell them apart by bill, voice, and behaviour.
Colorado's high-altitude wetlands, reservoirs, and South Platte/Arkansas river systems host roughly 50 water bird species. Fourteen cover most field sightings: American Avocet, Cinnamon Teal, Eared Grebe, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Grebe, Mallard, American Wigeon, plus six others. Here's where and when.
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№ 449 Swans are vertebrates with a full skeletal spine. The famously long neck contains 22-25 cervical vertebrae - far more than a giraffe's 7 - which is what gives it the flexibility to reach pondweed at depth. Here's the anatomy.
A breeding pair of Mute Swans will aggressively defend their pond against Canada Geese and clear them out within days. Plastic swan decoys mostly don't work - geese learn they're fake within a week. Here's what does work for goose control on a small pond.
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№ 447 Washington State hosts roughly 30 duck species across the Puget Sound, eastern shrub-steppe, and Cascade lakes. Twelve cover most of what you'll see: Mallard, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Wigeon, Bufflehead, Harlequin, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser, and three teals.
New Hampshire has five blue-feathered species you'll genuinely encounter: Eastern Bluebird, Blue Jay, Indigo Bunting, Tree Swallow, and Belted Kingfisher. The first four are common, the kingfisher is around any clean stream. Here's where and when to find each.
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№ 445 Swans have good low-light vision - much better than humans - but they're not true nocturnal birds. They're crepuscular: most active at dawn and dusk. In genuine darkness they roost and rely on hearing. Here's the eye biology behind it.
Swans are 95%+ herbivorous. They eat submerged and emergent aquatic plants, grass, grain, and small invertebrates that come up with the plants. A swan that catches a small fish will eat it but they don't hunt - it's opportunistic, not a diet.
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№ 443 Barn Owls don't build nests - they lay eggs on a layer of regurgitated pellets inside a dark cavity. Here are the box dimensions that actually work, the mounting heights they prefer, and the timing that gets a pair to claim it.
North America has 34 diurnal raptors and 19 owls. They split into five working groups - hawks, falcons, eagles, kites, and owls. Here's the per-group breakdown, how to tell them apart in flight, and the eight species you'll see most often.
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№ 441 Virginia hosts roughly 20 raptor species across the Blue Ridge, Piedmont and Tidewater. Most birders see ten of them: Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's, Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, Bald Eagle, Osprey, American Kestrel, Black and Turkey Vulture, and the year-round resident Barred Owl. Here's where and when to find each.
Cauliflower is safe for ducks - florets, stems, and the outer leaves are all edible. Steamed briefly is easier to digest than raw. As with all brassicas, feed in moderation to avoid loose droppings. The outer leaves alone are a useful free treat from kitchen prep.
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