The Avairy-- aka Gone to the Birds

[Arwen]

I am mad for birds. I've owned and bred birds. I'm an avid bird watcher.

StoneFinn, could that be a Garganey or an Australian Wood Duck? It's hard to tell because it's a black and white. My third guess is the Pacific Black Duck.

I love playing the "id this bird" game, by the way.

Wildest bird I've ever seen was when I was very young. It was a Sunday morning in Monroe, LA (southern United States). Our neighbor came knocking on our door to "Come see."

In his live oak tree sat a HUGE white bird.

It was a Snowy Owl who'd apparently taken a heck of a wrong turn somewhere. She or he was gorgeous.

I've seen some other unusual birds in my day. I want to get a birding book and do some serious, binoculars-in-hand, early-freaking-morning birding.