Welcome to Week #33 of the Bird Weekly Photo Challenge. Week #33 challenge is Birds on a wire or fence. I will accept on a railing or dock too.

One of my favorite movies is a 1990 action comedy film called “Bird on a Wire” starring Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. You see, back in the day…I had the biggest celebrity crush on Mel Gibson. He is still a good-looking man in my opinion! I love Goldie Hawn since she hit the bigtime on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”. This challenge is inspired by that movie, even though it doesn’t have much to do about birds.

Before we plan our birding trips, we scour the many lists on Ebird.org to see what has been seen and logged in recent days. If you don’t use Ebird and want to get out there and find them, I suggest using this site or download the app to your phone. The data you submit goes directly to CornelLab of Ornithology. Birds are logged by birders and scientist all over the world.

Black Vulture

Black Vultures were policing the waters to make sure boaters had reduced their speed in the no wake zone. Violators might have gotten more than they bargained for. Did you know that that Black Vultures do not have a voice box and they only make raspy hisses and grunts?

American Crow

American Crows are family birds. They congregate in large numbers in the winter to sleep in communal roosts. Interesting fact: Some roosts have been forming in the same area for over 100 years. These roost can have up to two million crows. Alfred Hitchcock must have been inspired by this fact when he produced and directed the 1963 film “The Birds”.

Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern Bluebird can be found in open pastures and can often be seen setting on power lines or telephone poles. If you live in the Eastern U.S., they are the perfect bird for a nesting box. In 2020, we had Eastern Bluebirds on our street for the first time since we have lived here – 9 years. They are breeding here and often visit our yard and our feeders. They eat insects, wild fruit and berries. They don’t eat seed, but they will perch up on the branches that Frank built as additions to our feeder pole system. They are likely watching over all the other birds feeding in the event a bird of prey should show up.

Eastern Meadowlark

The Eastern Meadowlark is not in the lark family (Alaudidae) at all. They are members of the blackbird family (Icteridae) which include cowbirds and orioles. The male typically has two mates at a time, sometimes three. No monogamy here!

Savannah Sparrow

This little brown bird could have fit the bill last week. Savannah Sparrows got their name by Alexander Wilson, a nineteenth century ornithologist for a specimen he collected in Savannah, Georgia.

Barn Swallow

This Barn Swallow was seen on an early morning walk in Justin, Texas when I visited my sister. Barn Swallows have quite the range and can be spotted on every continent except Antarctica. They are distinguished with their cobalt blue on top and tawny underneath. Their deeply forked tail will help you identify this bird.

European Starling

This European Starling was gathering straw for a nest in Texas. Did you know the European Starling was introduced to North America by way of some Shakespeare enthusiasts who released 100 birds into New York’s Central Park in the early 1890’s? These Shakespeare “groupies” wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare had ever mentioned. Now over 200 million Starlings range from Alaska to Mexico.

Mountain Bluebird

This Mountain Bluebird was perched on a wooden fence post in Montana along the Old Yellowstone Trail. Here is the Living in the Moment blog with more about this bird if you would like to read it from our trip to Yellowstone in 2019.

American Kestrel

American Kestrels are the smallest falcons found in North America. They are often seen on wires so make sure to not assume it is a dove up there. During ball games, sports fans at some stadiums will see them perched up on the light standards or foul poles because the lights attract moths and other flying insects. Their hunting antics have been known to make the highlight reels.

Mourning Doves

These Mourning Doves at Floyd Lamb Park in Nevada were in line waiting to make their reservations for the rest of their clan.

Upcoming challenges can be found on my Bird Weekly Challenge Page.

Next time…Week #34 – Birds starting with the letter “D”, i.e. Double-crested Cormorant or Wood Duck.