Balcony Safari – The idle joy of birding

People in North Carolina are bird lovers. Most apartment balconies have bird feeders and nectar feeders, and there is no surprise that the trees flanking these apartments throng with birds in the mornings and evenings. Standing on my balcony is nothing short of a safari. Birds come and go, and at times they strut their stuff for the cameras.

Here are a few studio portraits from my balcony:

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A tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 
I find the female northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) just as striking as the male, despite the duller colors
I find the female northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) just as striking as the male, despite the duller colors
A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) adds a spot of red to the landscape
A male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) adds a spot of red to the landscape
An Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) watches over the yard
An Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) watches over the yard
A female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) looks more emerald than ruby
A female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) looks more emerald than ruby
A male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in a stunning yellow and black coat
A male American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) in a stunning yellow and black coat
An American Goldfinch Juvenile (Spinus tristis) on its way to emulate the striking looks of its father
An American Goldfinch Juvenile (Spinus tristis) on its way to emulate the striking looks of its father

Why go on an expensive safari to watch birds when your backyard is just as well endowed as any forest?

Sandy
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