The Birds Take on San Francisco

Folks, many of you might know that I’ve got quite the community of birds right outside my office window. They’ve all got their own personalities and agendas (though, they all like to eat), but they really spruce up my home office.

I kinda like to give ’em personalities based on their expressions and their demeanor. It’s gotten easier the longer we’ve been neighbors. Feel free to chime in with your own captions, too.

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Good morning! part one (…and that hawk is still watching me work):

Good morning! part two (or, planning to raid the Squirrel-resistant Suet Palace):

A Golden-crowned Sparrow is very pleased to be a Golden-crowned Sparrow:

A Varied Thrush greets the birthday (startups, marriage, and other things I did after 35…):

A Cedar Waxwing who’s very pleased with his tail feathers:

A neighbor Hawk (red-tailed?) waits for lunch:

Downy Woodpecker, or, Hey, Honey!

(mutant) House Finch is not impressed (Normally bright red, this one’s kinda orange):

Do you have any visitors to your yard? I’d like to hear about ’em, and see some photos. Speaking of visitors, while it’s not a Bay Area bird, I do have a new neighbor who really chews up the scenery. Seriously, it gets digested…

(New neighbor even works in the rain… goats clear underbrush, working for the city. Bonus: we got goatherds!)

December 22, 2014

8 Things Only a Nerd With an Appreciation for Nature Will Understand

Craig and the Mrs are ok with our four 2am visitors…they hang out in the birdbath that the pigeons dominate in the day.
It’s imperative to photograph home office visitors. A recent visitor to my home office, right from The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill….
Always use the Squirrel-resistant Suet Palace, or risk full takeover from the squirrels. (note to self: refill the Palace)
New bird alerts are included in my list of important news. For example, recently spotted a Swift, possible a Vaux’s. Will assign spouse to get a photo.
Home cooking at Eileen and Craig’s place:
So, I’m walking through Union Square, and I see this hawk flying to the roof of a clothes store, and the hawk is helping the city with its rat problem, if you know what I mean…
You don’t need a rainmaker when you have this sorta backyard:
Some days spent working to identify the Cole Valley mystery tree! Could be New Zealand Christmas Tree or maybe Red Flowering Gum. Do you know? Thanks!

A reminder: if the photo’s a good one, probably taken by Mrs Newmark

September 2, 2014

Fighting Pigeons, and Other Home Office Visitors

Hey, I get a lot of appreciated disturbances at my home office. Sometimes the visitors act as my alarm clock, and other times they’re drooling. Here’s a brief look from my window…

Fighters, or …?

Insects are delicious, or, Woodpecker waking Craig up at five am is hilarious.

Steller’s Jay locks in best target in the Squirrel-resistant Suet Palace.

(note to self: refill the Palace)

A Robin, bath interrupted, and indignant.

Craig’s wake up call is sometimes provided by two raccoons, here’s one of ’em.

Others have discovered a new way to wake up Craig: a very chuffed, very loud, Western Scrub Jay.

Okay, we’d like to see more of these guys. The Mrs put up a parrot toy. She’s instructed me to make “parrot noise.”

Parrots, skeptical and amused. (At least the bald spot hasn’t grown in 20-30 years…)

Philosopher pigeon wonders about it all.

Selfie with Billy, nephew #20 who will visit, someday. Billy’s the one (visibly) drooling…

The demure one.

The team.

And, finally, this is Walter.

These photos are all by the Mrs. and myself, and were pulled from my facebook page, and the #Crileen (that’s Craig and Eileen) Birdography Spectacular. A Special thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird.org for helping out with some bird IDs, they do great work!

I’ll keep you posted on the parrot noises…

July 25, 2014

5 of my favorite things

Folks, I’m often asked about my interests and priorities. I decided to share 5 of my favorite things in my personal life. Many of you may not be surprised to hear some of these…

Birds – the Mrs. and I created a Birdography Spectacular dedicated to all of the birds and their friends who visit my home office.
Babies – both bird babies and human babies.
me with #20…
Dogs – I carry dog treats whenever I’m out, just in case I run into a furry friend (or four) who needs a pick-me-up.
TV – the Game of Thrones guy, George R. R. Martin’s a really good writer who can get to the point really well, and an opponent of attacks on voting rights, on top of it. That’s the real deal. Other TV shows I enjoy include, Mr Selfridge, the Simpson, Justified, the Daily Show, the Colbert Report, Silicon Valley, Girls, and the Americans…
Books – I read a lot of books, maybe 8 per month. I currently use the Kindle app, but it’s growing problematic. (I’ve read around 700 books, mostly science fiction. Note: 1. I’m a nerd, and 2. it’s how we roll.) Books I’m reading, among right now or recently include:

An Autumn War, Daniel Abraham

The Iron Kings, Maurice Druon

It’s Complicated, danah boyd

A Lily of the Field, John Lawton

Shattered Pillars, Elizabeth Bear

Parasite, Mira Grant

Why Kings Confess, CS Harris

A Man without Breath, Philip Kerr

…..

Oh, and of course the wife. Make that six things.

April 15, 2014

20 Awesome Bird Photos

Folks, it’s been a great year for wildlife at my “home office” as I’ve had lots of visitors. I thought the beginning of a new year was a great time to share some of my favorites, especially since I recently posted some tips about how to attract feathery friends (and squirrels, too) to your yard. These photos are all by the Mrs. and myself, and were pulled from the #Crileen (that’s Craig and Eileen) Birdography Spectacular. A Special thanks to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and eBird.org for helping out with some bird IDs, they do great work!

Hummingbird, Anna 2 — Anna’s Hummingbird

Goldfinch, Lesser — A pair of Lesser Goldfinches

Grosbeak, Rose-breasted, juvenile male (a vagrant from the East) — Rose-breasted Grosbeak, juvenile male (a vagrant from the East)

Hawk, Sharp-shinned (note blue-gray upperparts and long banded tail) — Sharp-shinned Hawk (note blue-gray upperparts and long banded tail)

Hummingbird, Anna 3 — Another Anna’s Hummingbird

Hummingbird, Anna — And one more Anna’s Hummingbird

Sparrow - House and Robin, American — American Sparrows – House and Robin

Sparrow, House, female, feeding a Cow Bird — Female House Sparrow feeding a Cow Bird

Brewer's Blackbird (AKA Swoops the bird.) — Brewer’s Blackbird (AKA “Swoops” the bird)

Warbler, Townsends — A pair of bathing Warbler Townsends

Woodpecker, Downy, male 2 — A busy Downy Woodpecker

Woodpecker, downy, male — And another busy Downy Woodpecker, male

I have a feeling that 2014’s going to be a busy year at the “home office” so make sure to stay tuned, and let me know what your local wildlife looks like. A nerd’s gotta do what a nerd’s gotta do.

December 31, 2013

5 Ways to Attract Birds & Squirrels to Your Yard

Okay, so my “home office” extends to the deck, and I have a bunch of feathered and furry friends who stop by. The wife and I have created the #Crileen Birdography Spectaular (that’s Craig and Eileen…) to document the visitors. We’ve identified 48 species as of September 2013.

As a nutty connoisseur, here are my suggestions to attract birds and squirrels to your yard:

1. Provide clean-ish open water.

2. Use a “squirrel-resistant suet palace.”

This squirrel defeated Squirrel-Proof Suet Palace. I’m okay with this, he can only eat so much at a time.

3. Feed squirrels to attract hawks. (see #2, note “resistant”, they see it as a challenge)

4. Have glamorous new wife fill the feeders and water. Then have her do so for the birds. They appreciate it.

5. Go outside and act like a nut. (Mission accomplished)

December 23, 2013