Recent Bird Happenings at Avimor

Wednesday afternoon, Stephanie, the manager of our design center and flooring company and regular birdwalk attendee, stopped by and noticed a hawk flying over the hills behind the model homes. I put my binoculars on it and it was a Red-Tailed Hawk with a snake clasped in its talons; an amazing sight to see.

We had a pair of Mallards in the town lakes, which was a first for me to see. Doug says he sees them occassionally. I had seen Mallards and Wood Ducks in the creek last Spring. It'll be neat to see more waterfowl visit the ponds as some vegetation takes off.

I watched a pair of American Kestrels chase off European Starlings in the cottonwoods near the Avimor entrance and I had a pair of Black-capped Chickadees callings along the creek. A large Common Raven was eating something on a vacant lot across from the sales office. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between a Common Raven and an American Crow. Overall size, beak size, and feathers along the neck are key indentifying traits.