Statistics don't capture the dazzling dancing courtship rituals — birds with pretentious- ly puffed-up feathers "strutting their stuff," all in the hopes of attracting a female. For example, I saw a charming Red-Winged Blackbird defending his tiny space, hoping his derring-do would attract a mate. I was impressed. I hope his female audience was, too!
I was more tired than I realized when I ar- rived at Celery Fields and deposited Ne- bougepas, my Trojan Owl, close to Belle Barn Owl's abode, because on my flight to- ward my hotel oak tree, I flew straight into a mountain and knocked myself silly.
A Redwing Blackbird chases a Stilt at Celery Fields. Photo by Rick Greenspun
