I spent the last week in Florida visiting family, doing some sight seeing and most importantly doing some bird watching. South Florida has some astonishing bird diversity, and it is really easy to see some cool and exotic looking animals. I'll post a bird list later in the week and I'll be post photos from th trip as well.

I posted yet another picture of an American oystercatcher. I just flat out love these birds though mostly because I studied them for three summers in Coastal North Carolina. They are a large and beautiful shorebird. They lay 3 eggs on the ground in a depression in the sand. Then generally nest on ocean beaches, but in recent decades they've started nesting in salt water marshes, dredge spoil islands and even on flat roof tops of building near the shore. This species is in serious trouble since it is running out of places to live (thus the need to nest of roof tops). People are converting the beach front habitat into extravagant million dollar houses and resorts or people simple drive up and down the beach in their big ass cars. Next time you go to the beach, enjoy the sun, the surf and the sand, but remember there are other creatures that need that beautiful place to survive as well.

I've up loaded a picture that I took of a spruce grouse whilst I was in Alaska last fall. Up close this is a beautiful bird with seriously intricate plumage patterns. However, from a distance this female looks rather boring a drab, and in the woods it is really hard to see her.