This spring Arlington residents who have not spent enough time further away to observe the breeding and nesting cycle of the Common Raven had a rare treat.
Osprey Killing a Crow in Alexandria, VA
Birds of the Month: Albert and Wisdom
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s most quoted (and misquoted) poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” tells the story of a sailor who shoots a friendly albatross, cursing himself and his crew. As punishment, he is forced to wear the bird around its neck, making the albatross a symbol of his burden and regret. Good omens in life and bad omens in death, albatrosses have become symbols of both good and bad luck. Fittingly, while some real albatrosses have been fortunate, others have had tough luck.
Bird of the Month: The Pfeilstorch
Bird of the Month: Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbirds love cows. True to their name, they can often be found alongside herds of cattle or horses, eating insects that much larger animals flush from the grass. Historically, Brown-headed Cowbirds followed bison herds across the Great Plains, but the spread of livestock farming has expanded their range across North America.