Welcome to my last two-week Sunday Stills challenge. This post covers January 26-February 8. I will resume my weekly photo challenges beginning Feb 9th with the monthly color challenge “ROSY RED” in time for Valentine’s Day.
February is known as Feed the Birds Month, mainly because of the inclement weather typically found in the northern hemisphere. February 3rd was designated as National Feed the Birds Day to kick off the entire month.
Feed the Birds Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the extra help birds need right before spring when their winter food stores start running out.
Local Arizona Birds
During our five-week stay in the Scottsdale, AZ, area, there was no shortage of birds and waterfowl at the various parks and water ranches. The warm desert air means local birds are always well-fed!
I was ecstatic to discover and see two new-to-me birds in Arizona’s Phoenix area. The Vermilion Flycatcher’s range is found in Mexico and into the southwestern U.S. I saw this beauty at the Gilbert Water Ranch.
On a visit to the Salt River, I caught this gorgeous bird known as Phainopepla or silky flycatcher. This species is found in Central America and the US Southwest.
“Tame birds sing of freedom. Wild birds fly.” — John Lennon
Public Art Birds
Desert Breeze Park in Chandler, Arizona, is home to a hummingbird habitat. The park is free to stroll through, and visitors can see hummingbirds enjoying volunteer-maintained, pesticide-free plants that attract hummingbirds (and butterflies) year-round. Artist Joe Tyler sculpted the iron arch that features a 3-foot-long hummingbird, shown below. I tried to capture two hummers that visited the habitat, but they were shy. Glad the big fella was available.
In Fountain Hills, where our trip began and ends, Fountain Park boasts a variety of beautiful sculptures. This one is called “Vigilance,” and it describes the nesting habits of the Indigenous Red-Tailed Hawks. Sharp-eyed readers might see the heron sculpture captured within the circle.
“At a staggering 150 pieces, Fountain Hills is home to one of the largest public art collections in the state of Arizona!” Source
Back at Home
“Birds chirping around you is a beautiful realization that life is incredibly good. Let this sound be a gentle break in your routine.” ― Hiral Nagda
Back home, I’m sure the backyard birds are missing their free sunflower seeds. I have no new images to share at this publication date, but I’ve included a few from last February. Most of our winter birds are ground feeders, but the Northern Flickers prefer the suet feeders.
According to my Ring camera and my trusty weather app, we haven’t had much snow back home. Although winter in Northeastern Washington is far from over, I expect more snow in February and March. I have a LOT of black-oil sunflower seeds to scatter…I’m sure our winter birds are waiting…
Sharing for Becky B’s Geometric January, Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, Lens-Artists’ Complimentary Colors, and Natalie’s Public Art Challenge.
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You’ll have two weeks to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
Creativity is encouraged, so if you participate in the photo challenges, please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and/or music inspired by the theme.
I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s BIRD theme! Join me in two weeks (Feb. 9) as we explore the various shades of rosy red.
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