More Birds of America

I think it some how appropriate to post an eagles picture on Memorial day. National bird and all, right?  This winter, on a really cold morning (do we all remember that there were lots of those?) I went with friends to view the eagles from a utility company site in our town. For whatever reason, eagles like this particular stretch of river and they hang out there all winter long. (Maybe they have a deal with our local energy company, to help and improve the company's image?) The craziest thing was that despite my skepticism about spotting the birds, there actually were eagles present, just visible through a telescope on the far side of the water. It was mighty impressive but absolutely impossible to photograph. So I photographed the laminated photographs that were on the wall of the viewing hut. They really do look like that! Here's a close up:

Check out the beak. There were other more common birds hanging around, like hawks but the eagles commanded attention. But isn't it classic that birds of prey that were almost obliterated by our country's love of major pesticides are the symbol of our "freedoms"? Don't get me started! Why not make this charming little fellow the national bird:

That is an actual bird, photographed right outside our kitchen window.  They're so cute! And this bird was not at all shy about having his picture taken.

(I'm not sure what the yellow line is... some reflection on the window). (Check out HIS beak.) Actually, they'd be a pretty good symbol of America, because despite their tiny size, they're really pugnacious and fight constantly with one another over who gets to eat at the feeder. Sounds just about right to me!