Cascade Mountains – Jackson County – Oregon - USA


“The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. Robins are popular birds for their warm orange breast, cheery song, and early appearance at the end of winter. Though they’re familiar town and city birds, American Robins are at home in wilder areas, too, including mountain forests and Alaskan wilderness….. American Robins are fairly large songbirds with a large, round body, long legs, and fairly long tail. Robins are the largest North American thrushes, and their profile offers a good chance to learn the basic shape of most thrushes. Robins make a good reference point for comparing the size and shape of other birds, too….. American Robins are industrious and authoritarian birds that bound across lawns or stand erect, beak tilted upward, to survey their environs. When alighting they habitually flick their tails downward several times. In fall and winter they form large flocks and gather in trees to roost or eat berries.”
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   American Robin Turdus migratorius Cascade Mountains Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

© All Rights Reserved

Cascade Mountains – Jackson County – Oregon - USA

Tags:   Sulphur Colias Cascade Mountains Shale City Road Jackson County Oregon Southern Oregon Mark Heatherington Butterfly

© All Rights Reserved

I was watching a group of deer hoping for better light, when I heard some Coyotes start howling in the distance. This Doe mounted the rock to get a better view,

Cascade Mountains - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) Doe

"The black-tailed deer is one of nine subspecies of the mule deer. It was first recorded by the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06.
Black-tailed deer live in the temperate coniferous forests along the Pacific coast. These forests are characterized by cool temperatures and lots of rain, but an overall mild climate. Black-tailed deer do not therefore migrate in response to seasonal changes, unlike some of the other mule deer subspecies. Instead, black-tailed deer often spend their entire life in the same general area.
Black-tailed deer can be distinguished from mule deer by their larger tail, the back of which is completely covered with black or dark brown hairs. Mule deer have smaller tails in which only the tip is covered with black hairs. Black-tailed deer are generally smaller than mule deer."
- nhm.org/site/explore-exhibits/permanent-exhibits/north-american-mammals/black-tailed-deer

Tags:   Black-tailed Deer Odocoileus hemionus columbianus Doe deer Cascade Mountains Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

© All Rights Reserved

Cascade Mountains - Jackson County - Oregon - USA

Habitat : Forests
Food : Insects
Nesting : Tree
Behavior : Ground Forager
Conservation : COMMON BIRD IN STEEP DECLINE

"The haunting songs of the Varied Thrush echo through the dense humid forests of the Pacific Northwest. Long minor-key whistles repeated after deliberate pauses, they seem like sounds without a source; only a careful searcher will find the bird itself. Although it looks superficially like a robin, the Varied Thrush is far more elusive, usually feeding on the ground among dense thickets. Typical of the far west, it sometimes surprises birders by straying all the way to the Atlantic Coast in winter." - Audubon Society

1009

Tags:   Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius bird nature thrush wildlife Cascade Mountains Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

© All Rights Reserved

Upper Shale City Road – Cascade Mountains – Jackson County – Oregon - USA

“Turkey Vultures are large dark birds with long, broad wings. Bigger than other raptors except eagles and condors, they have long "fingers" at their wingtips and long tails that extend past their toe tips in flight. When soaring, Turkey Vultures hold their wings slightly raised, making a ‘V’ when seen head-on….. Turkey Vultures are majestic but unsteady soarers. Their teetering flight with very few wingbeats is characteristic. Look for them gliding relatively low to the ground, sniffing for carrion, or else riding thermals up to higher vantage points. They may soar in small groups and roost in larger numbers. You may also see them on the ground in small groups, huddled around roadkill or dumpsters.”

Status : Least Concern
Source : Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Tags:   Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Immature Shale City Road Cascade Mountains Jackson County Oregon USA Mark Heatherington

© All Rights Reserved