Beautiful images, Lindsay and love the variety of names for some birds. Unofficial of course, my favourite for the Canada Goose is the 'Cobra Chicken.' That hissing noise they sometimes make if you get too close sounds like a snake. ;)
That’s the spirit, Lindsay! You have the naming and re-naming down to an art. When the Hooded Mergansers arrive late fall in north Florida, the males almost immediately begin the competition for who is top dog. Of course they are not dogs, but what’s your point anyway?! The females gather in knitting circles away from the males, laughing under their collective breath. Next, the males begin exaggerated beak thrusts reminiscent of Uma Thurman’s head gestures in Kill Bill, Vol. 1. She was a lot prettier but don’t tell these vain birds.
Next in the males’ displays of macho ways is the breath holding competition. One after another they turn butt up to see who holds the position the longest. The females are now howling with side splitting laughter. With both genders worn out from the exertion, they just fall on top of each other achieving accidental penetration and nocturnal emissions.
It’s maximally important to both be a keen observer as well as a pathological liar to become an advanced birder. Guess which parts were true? I’ll send autographed images for the most correct answer-guesses.
I’ve been getting some fun contributions on FB regarding unofficial bird names… Franci wrote “When in Southern California I call these [Phainopeplas] PPs (so if with someone I will call out there’s a PeePee) which sometimes gets a funny look from others.” I bet! Lol. Another calls Pileated Woodpeckers as Pileys (I’ll likely adopt that one, Piley Peckers has a nice ring to it. haha). And a third person says she refers to Spotted SandPipers as "Weet Wheets” which I think is sweet. I aslo just saw someone refering to small, flocking birds like chickadees, bushtits, and kinglets as "flitters."
You won't be surprised to hear that we have plenty of super-local wildlife vocabulary happening in our house! Mostly on an individual level. We have a chickadee who likes to grab two seeds at once, who we call Twofer. A squirrel with a short tail become Stubs, while his sibling with a notched ear became Notcho. We call the White-throated Sparrows Eyebrows. Unless they have the tan-striped plumage - those are Fluffles and Puffles. Honestly, it's just such another layer of connection, when you start creating your own vocabulary and nicknames to relate to your little wild friends, I'm such a fan :)
Ah, that's lovely. Notcho - lol - great name! I have a doe named Nicky due to the nick out of her ear... I'm going to have to name someone Notcho now. Lol. Also have does named Knobby and Lily, and a squirrel named Tipsy (I think she has a neurological condition). Right now, I don't seem to have any individually named birds, but there have definitely been quite a few over the years! :)
Beautiful Photos Lindsay!
Thank you Pamela :)
Beautiful images, Lindsay and love the variety of names for some birds. Unofficial of course, my favourite for the Canada Goose is the 'Cobra Chicken.' That hissing noise they sometimes make if you get too close sounds like a snake. ;)
LOL. Cobra Chicken, I love it! They can be so aggressive. Thank you Neil :)
That’s the spirit, Lindsay! You have the naming and re-naming down to an art. When the Hooded Mergansers arrive late fall in north Florida, the males almost immediately begin the competition for who is top dog. Of course they are not dogs, but what’s your point anyway?! The females gather in knitting circles away from the males, laughing under their collective breath. Next, the males begin exaggerated beak thrusts reminiscent of Uma Thurman’s head gestures in Kill Bill, Vol. 1. She was a lot prettier but don’t tell these vain birds.
Next in the males’ displays of macho ways is the breath holding competition. One after another they turn butt up to see who holds the position the longest. The females are now howling with side splitting laughter. With both genders worn out from the exertion, they just fall on top of each other achieving accidental penetration and nocturnal emissions.
It’s maximally important to both be a keen observer as well as a pathological liar to become an advanced birder. Guess which parts were true? I’ll send autographed images for the most correct answer-guesses.
Thank you Gary. You're quite the story teller!
I’ve been getting some fun contributions on FB regarding unofficial bird names… Franci wrote “When in Southern California I call these [Phainopeplas] PPs (so if with someone I will call out there’s a PeePee) which sometimes gets a funny look from others.” I bet! Lol. Another calls Pileated Woodpeckers as Pileys (I’ll likely adopt that one, Piley Peckers has a nice ring to it. haha). And a third person says she refers to Spotted SandPipers as "Weet Wheets” which I think is sweet. I aslo just saw someone refering to small, flocking birds like chickadees, bushtits, and kinglets as "flitters."
You won't be surprised to hear that we have plenty of super-local wildlife vocabulary happening in our house! Mostly on an individual level. We have a chickadee who likes to grab two seeds at once, who we call Twofer. A squirrel with a short tail become Stubs, while his sibling with a notched ear became Notcho. We call the White-throated Sparrows Eyebrows. Unless they have the tan-striped plumage - those are Fluffles and Puffles. Honestly, it's just such another layer of connection, when you start creating your own vocabulary and nicknames to relate to your little wild friends, I'm such a fan :)
Ah, that's lovely. Notcho - lol - great name! I have a doe named Nicky due to the nick out of her ear... I'm going to have to name someone Notcho now. Lol. Also have does named Knobby and Lily, and a squirrel named Tipsy (I think she has a neurological condition). Right now, I don't seem to have any individually named birds, but there have definitely been quite a few over the years! :)