The dogwood has been B.C.’s provincial flower since 1956.
I’m trying to teach this bird some tricks–
The petal count for blossoms.
Though some have four, some five, some six,
The difficulty’s awesome.
Category Archives: Birds
Great Blue Heron
Now where was it I saw that frog?
I know he’ll taste so fine.
I think I’ll find him by that log,
And then begin to dine.
Steller’s Jay
*Named after Georg Wilhelm Steller, a German naturalist, who was the first European to record them in 1741.
I know I’m pretty, but beware,
My beak is tough as nails,
If any challenger would dare,
My bet is that he fails.
I get first choice of all the food,
You wait there on your post,
It’s not that I am being rude,
I take the best and most.
Red Hot Pokers
They look like pokers for a fire,
I know they are not hot,
Their nectar sweet is my desire,
And that is what I got.
But hotter than the poker’s threat
The stinger of that bee,
If it could sting me, then I bet,
On fire I would be.
*See the bee at the bottom of the photo?
Robin
I’m robbin’ as a robin should,
I take what I can get,
The garden grubs and earthworms could,
Be finest dinners yet.
House Finch
I like to chatter in the trees,
And lecture those around,
But always end my talks with, “P-L-E-E-E-Z,
It’s not safe on the ground.”
Quail
My name is Quentin, I’m a quail,
As harmless as can be,
I come for breakfast without fail,
Those seeds are all for me.
I call, “Toh-BACK-oh,” but don’t smoke,
To bring my friends to me,
And when there’s danger, run for broke,
My call of, “CHIP!” means, “Flee!”
Hawk
I think this is a broad-winged hawk. If anyone knows for sure, I’d be interested in your opinion.
I’m sitting on the railing
To scour the place for prey,
Can’t risk my eyesight failing,
Or I won’t eat today.
What’s that? You think I’m lying?
I’ve eaten well today?
Just sitting ’round, not trying?
My beak gave me away?
…Oops!
Crossbills
With crossing bills, I crack a seed,
The sunflowers are best,
It’s easy for me, there’s no need
To put it to the test.
But did you see, my lady fair,
How I hang upside down?
Why don’t you smile then, if you dare?
It isn’t nice to frown.
Oh, now I see the game you play,
As if we’ve never met,
You hardly deign to say good day,
You’re playing hard to get.
Northern Flicker
The northern red-shafted flicker is fairly common on Vancouver Island and I’m glad he is. He eats a lot of ants and beetles and even wasps. That suits me just fine.
Here is Mr. Flicker (notice his red cheek slash) trying to get the attention of Ms. Flicker to ask her for a date.
Turn on your sound to hear him drumming on my chimney and then calling to her. His grammar isn’t great but I don’t think it bothers him (or her).
With a rat-a-tat-tat,
I say, where are you at?
Ms. Flicker (no red cheek slash) misses his call but comes by to announce that she’s a bit late, but she’s here.
wordsfromanneli 