Birds with Beau

  Hello everyone! This is Beau. I am thrilled to announce that my new Michigan Birds 2024 calendar is now available! They are $25 again, and the bird species are now listed under each picture, (thanks for all of the great suggestions!) along with much-improved photography. I'm placing an order soon so if you are local and would like one let me know! I also have it listed on my new Etsy Shop in the link below! https://birdswithbeau.etsy.com P.S. If you are still looking to grab a copy of my book, let me know as well! Thank you all so much for your excitement about these projects! It's been a great adventure for me! Beau

  Have you ever seen this bird?      This is a Golden-Crowned Kinglet, a small, hyperactive songbird of the chilly conifer forests. They breed in Canada, and they migrate to most of the U.S. for the winter. At 3.5 inches in length, they are one of the smallest birds we get here in Michigan. The tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet is also much hardier than it looks, routinely wintering in areas where nighttime temperatures can fall below –40° Fahrenheit !      A few days ago I was out shooting in Meridian Park in Mount Pleasant, and I was looking for the striking Golden-Crowned Kinglet. Walking down the trail beside the river, I listened for the sharp high-pitched call. Sometime later, I heard a few calling in a tree beside the path. I spotted the bright, flame-orange crown of one of the birds, and I approached them slowly. It was pretty dark deep in the woods, so I didn't get the greatest picture, but it was a cool experience to see the beautiful songbirds....

       This week I had the privilege to go check out a rare bird reported near Hastings. It's called a Limpkin.  The Limpkin is closely related to rails, despite its heron-like appearance. They forage in marshes, as well as near ponds and rivers. I didn't get the best view of this guy, but it was a great experience!

Had a great outing this morning at the local park, and found a Double-Crested Cormorant! This guy wasn't the easiest to approach, but I did my best... A very good-looking bird! P.S. You can see some more of my photography on Flickr: https://flic.kr/ps/4318eR Look at those webbed feet! The average Cormorant eats around a pound and a half of fish every day!

I am happy to announce that my new photo journal/coffee table book, The Joy of Birds, is now available! It was a great journey to create this project! I learned so much. From birding to photography and design, to publishing, it was a phenomenal experience. I am excited to be able to share it with all of you!  If you're local and would like a copy, let me know, and I will set one aside for you to pick up. If you're out of town, you can order directly here: https://www.lulu.com/.../paperback/product-qrzk47.html... They are $35 Many thanks! Beau