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Even after nearly twenty years of flying international routes, travelling between the northern and southern hemispheres like a (slightly moody it has it be admitted) jet-propelled swallow, I still forget that ’summer’ is something that happens north of the equator in June, July, and August and then happens again to the south in November, December, [...]

An abundant and familiar bird of open country across the western two-thirds of North America, the Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta is often seen singing its warbling song from fenceposts along roadsides in native grassland and agricultural areas. It’s such a well-known and well-loved species that it’s the the official State bird for six western States [...]

Upland Sandpiper in Ames, NY.
There is something perverse about awakening before dawn to drive for almost an hour, sit on a road next to a specific field, and get excited about hearing a faint “tdilsk” sound. But I did, I was, and I still am.
That is because the “tdilsk” was the call of [...]