Holler Feeder~

On February 2, 2023February 3, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life250 Comments

The Holler after the rains.

The birdies are happy,

healthy and fat!

For the first time we have goldfinch in large numbers, (tap or click to enlarge to see flying bird detail)

feasting on a bowl of seeds,

along with all the other finches and sparrows. The little black seeds you see scattered all over are thistle seeds. It is the first time I put thistle out and the goldfinch love it!

The tiny gold beauties,

manage to hold their own,

with the much larger,

finches.

It’s no brag,

just fact,

The Holler has the very best neighbors!

Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Heavies~

Hollerites~

On January 29, 2023January 29, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life211 Comments

We’ve gotten lots of rain and more is coming this weekend! The lakes and creeks are filling up, making the critters (and me) happy.

I am going to be disappointed in myself if I get these identifications wrong,

but I think this handsome guy is a Ring Necked Duck.

Duck identification is difficult. (You can actually see the ring around his neck in this photo which is unusual).

We have thirty or so duck species in California, and that doesn’t include all the ones that aren’t supposed to be here! (Birds don’t read the manuals).

I think this similar,

but the not the same beauty,

is a lesser scaup male,

and here is the female.

Here they are together. Of course, I could be wrong. But irregardless of ID, a duck by any other name would quack the same!

Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Quackers~

One Can~

On January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life218 Comments

make friends,

easily,

with onecan.

But toucans?

Toucan’t!

Cheers to you from one friendly can~

Note: This is a Toco Toucan. They are highly intelligent birds and are the largest and longest living toucans. They can live up to thirty years. Many types of toucans are endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction and hunting, but Toco populations are currently stable.

Angel Face~

On January 18, 2023January 18, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life253 Comments

Holler Hooters,

are the very best neighbors!

This little guy,

flies with his friend Katie Pnewski,

at Avian Behavior International in Southern California.

We have nesting barn owls in our owl boxes at The Holler.

Check out this frumpy little chick on his first day out of his nest, napping, and making a new friend!

Baby Valentine~

Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Hooters~

Who Flew~

On January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life289 Comments

onto,

our roof,

for his,

photo shoot?

A Holler Heron,

that’s who!

So thoughtful of him,

to come to me!

Cheers to you from the helpful Holler heron~

Note: This bird is a Great Egret a member of the heron family who stands over 3′ tall.

Odd Birds~

On December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life291 Comments

They remind me,

very much,

of my childhood ballet teachers.

They have the same haughty

mien,

and graceful moves.

They love shaking their tutus,

and dressing up for opening night!

Who doesn’t?

Check out the even more graceful wild ones in South Africa at:

https://cindyknoke.com/tag/south-africa/

Wishing you a Joyous & Healthy New Year from the prancing dancers at Ostrich Land in California~

Bubo bubo~

On November 27, 2022November 27, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, Wild Life227 Comments

The Bubo bubo AKA Eurasian Eagle Owl is the world’s heaviest owl.

It’s wingspan can reach over 6 feet!

These owls are top of the line predators, meaning they are not normally prey for other animals, and will even occasionally prey on other raptors.

I got to spend time with this beauty as he flew free at his home in Avian Behavior International in rural Southern California.

Bubo bubo’s are native to Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.

Their populations declined heavily in the mid 1900’s, but due to conservation efforts, the species is recovering.

Cheers to you from The gorgeous, free flying Bubo bubo~

Hoo R U?

On November 19, 2022November 19, 2022 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life216 Comments

Meet the very curious burrowing owl who clearly wonders who the heck you are!

Burrowing Owls are a federally protected species in the US, Canada, and in Mexico. They are designated endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern, in nine US states, including California.

This burrowing owl pair lives at Avian Behavior International in rural Southern California. You cannot keep burrowning owls unless you are licensed and raise them for breeding, conservation, rehabilitation, and/or educational purposes.

These curious and unique ground dwelling birds live in burrows in the ground where they hide from predators and raise their young.

They are tiny, but big in looks and personality! I have only seen them in the wild a few times in the last ten years because they are now very rare where I live. But click and check out this curious wild cutie that I met a few years ago: