Stan Tekiela

Tiny predators fascinate me. These mini but mighty critters, such as elf owls, short-tailed shrews, and American kestrels are small in stature but survive by preying on smaller animals. Their ability to capture, neutralize, and overcome their prey is amazing, especially when you consider their tiny size.
Among the more amazing tiny predators are the weasels.

A cavity in a tree, excavated by a woodpecker seems normal enough, but when you stop to consider it, this simple cavity in a tree is remarkable. Let’s take a closer look at the humble woodpecker cavity.

Every year, around the holidays, I participate in a long-time traditional bird count, called the Christmas Bird Count or (CBC). This is a world-wide effort by volunteers to take a day to go and count birds within a pre-defined area. I got out last month and had a memorable experience with this event, again.

There is a small, common bird some describe as “bland” that visits your yard each winter. It is charcoal gray in color with a white belly.
The males are darker than the females. They have a small pink bill, which is really the only splash of color on this bird. They have a pair of white outer tail feathers that stand out strikingly against the dark tail but are only seen when the bird is in flight.