Fall Visitor by Mark Schmitt on Capture Kern County

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Fall Visitor

The American Robbin, though an indigenous bird the the Kern Co., is not a year-round bird in the lower elevations. Most of the year it is up in the higher elevations. Durning Fall and Winter it comes down for more available food sources.

Richard Newland
commented 6 months ago

David ,and Mark~couldn't help but take notice of your memories regarding bad choices as a kid with your BB or pellet guns. I too remenber using the English Sparrows that landed in our back yard for target pratice as a kid~My mom told my Dad,He scared the heck out of me,and said if I shot one more bird I was going to have to eat it ! I'm still trying to redeem myself by feeding the humming birds,and sometimes I put out wild bird seed . Makes me happy to see them coming to eat.
Mark Schmitt
commented 6 months ago

Thanks, David. I, too, have had some moments of poor discisons involving birds and pelet guns. It is one of those things, when your young, that consequences leave indelible scars, and memories that just can't be erased: memory is a powerful thing, and needs to be respected. Oh, yes. The Lineas classification " Turdus migratorius" ;-)
David Clendenen
commented 6 months ago

Very nice image Mark. Great behavior and natural history with the berry. Robbins always take me back to my childhood in Wyoming. They were a forbidden target for me and my BB gun. One day I came around the corner of the house and one was foraging on the lawn, ... I raised my gun and plinked from the hip, expecting just to scare it off. Instead, I drilled it right in the eye. Terrified, I took it off and did a little memorial service and gave it a proper burial. Felt terrible for a long time, still think about it from time to time when I see a robbin. Now I call them migratory turds (I'm guessing you might know why), and always enjoy seeing them, and hearing them sing. We go to Yellowstone every year in June, and camp in the same place every time. They are the first to sing at the crack of dawn, and its a lovely song.
Mark Schmitt
commented 6 months ago

Thanks, Michael. My pyrocantha really bloomed this year. I'm hoping Cedar Waxwings will also take advantage. ;-)
Michael R. Duncan
commented 6 months ago

Colorful, nice capture Mark.
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Nice color and background that brings out the reds in the breast plumage! You do such nice work, Mark!
Richard Newland
commented 6 months ago

That could be Birds seem to have a sixth sence about danger~ I have encounted several Robbins and they seemed to not be very concerned about seeing me close by~I got quite a few nice close up's of them last winter at the park,and Truxton lake by the bike trail.
Mark Schmitt
commented 6 months ago

Thanks, Richard. Odd, all the birds around my place seem to be shy; perhaps it's because of the two coopers hawks that frequently invade the yard. ;-)
Richard Newland
commented 6 months ago

Very nice Mark~I seen two robbins in a pepper tree last week at the park eating the berries. They seem to be more tolerant about allowing a close aproach than some of the other species.