Tag Archives: Nature Photography

Commentary, nature, Photography

House Finches

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House finches, unlike starlings or sparrows (these birds are considered to be invasive), are native to Canada and can be found all over North America.

Male house finch (I’m reasonably certain that this isn’t a purple finch; despite the name, purple finches are red).

The red colouring comes from the foods they eat: the more carotenoids they ingest from fruit, flowers and seeds, the redder they will become. That’s why there’s so much variation in colour and they get mixed up with other types of red coloured finches such as redpolls and purple finches. Personally, I always think that they look like someone spilled raspberry juice on them!

Finches love peanut butter and nyjer (thistle) seed, and if you also have a water source in your yard, you will attract many of them, sometimes 20 or 30 at a time. They’re busy, non-aggressive little birds who love to chat non-stop with each other and are beautiful to watch.

Happy Thursday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Duck Duty

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While visiting our nearby Japanese Garden a couple of days ago, I saw a male duck sitting very quietly on one of the platforms set into the garden pond for the placement of a sculpture or plants.

When I got closer, I could see that there was a depression in the platform where the dirt had been pushed away and I realised that daddy duck was incubating his offspring.

Ducks form seasonal pair bonds that last until the males have to leave to find a protected spot to do their molting, usually after the young ones hatch.

The ducks have been in a bit of upheaval because their favourite little creek has been running high (a situation that’s improving for them), but this duck seems to have settled on this spot for his family.

Happy Monday. Have a ducky one.

nature, Photography

Pond Carp

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There are some very large carp in Penticton’s Japanese Garden pond.

They’re probably about 3.5 kilos (about 8 pounds), so a very healthy weight.
They’re fed well, both by the city and also by lots of people who come by for a visit. They usually swim right over for their treats.

It has been quite warm at 30°C (86F), so the pond carp are lingering in the shade and around the cooler fountain water – even when there are yummies to be had – so they must be uncomfortable.

Happy Sunday.