Friday, January 16, 2009
The Horned Larks are Back!
As Bill was leaving for lunch today, he heard the Horned Larks in the field next door. He spotted a small flock of about 15-20 birds. He's already put some seed down for them, so hopefully they will stick around and their numbers grow just as they did last year. We are already ahead of the curve, because last year they didn't arrive until January 30! Click here for a post on the Horned Larks that visited in 2007. Here are a few more photos Rick captured.
Wow, what beautiful birds. I have heard of Horned Larks, but I guess I didn't know they were around these parts. According to a map on the Cornell All About Birds page, they live in most of the U.S. year-round. There's a fairly open field across the road from us where I should keep an eye/ear out for them, although it's dotted with small groves of trees, so maybe that's not open enough habitat for them. A very cool sighting for you, indeed!
ReplyDeleteThe field they visit is in between a golf course and an old farm windbreak. It's very large and open. In the summer, it's used as a parking lot for the ATP tennis tournament, so it has rows of gravel scattered here and there. They like to scratch around in the gravel.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen these before, beautiful birds. Lovely shots as well, especially against the snow.
ReplyDeletePaul.
Thanks, Paul. They are some of my favorites. So exotic looking...and right in the suburbs!
ReplyDelete