Sunday, July 25, 2010

Buster's Official Guide to the Birds of New Hampshire






Hi, friends-- It's Dr. Buster Vogelgehirn, eminent ornithologist, reporting on my observations of New Hampshire's unique avian species.



Down in the subtropical regions of Connecticut, we have nuthatches, but none like these! The boreal Red-Breasted Nuthatch is smaller and feistier--rather like the Kerry Blue Terrier within the lupine community.



My distinguished acquaintance, Mr. Loon, has returned again this summer from his winter home in the North Atlantic. The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game has recently stocked the pond with juicy brown trout, and this extraordinary creature is determined to catch and eat every one.



When digesting trout, a nap is de rigueur.




This summer, Grandma has put out three hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds look innocent, don't they? These little ladies are the fiercest critters alive. The dogfights and aerial combat are constant, terrifying even the red squirrel who lives in the white pine that holds the feeders.



It's almost impossible to actually see their little wings unless you use a camera set at an appropriately ridiculous shutter speed. I wonder if they take blood-pressure medication...



After gorging on massive quantities of sugar, they go into a glucose-stupor and do their "happy-dance."



Then there's the Pink-brocaded Baileybeast, native to these parts, adorned in its seasonal profusion of ornamental beak-jewelry. This rare species is seen rarely, keeping to itself when not hunting red squirrels, chipmunks, and moose.

I shall have more to report later!

Your faithful correspondent,

Dr. Buster Vogelgehirn, Ph.D., AKC

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