Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Photos: Chrissy B.

Not yet identified (likely new species; Bldg. 4C).  All this rain definitely doesn't help with feather ID.

Photos: Chrissy B.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (aka "Butter-butt") (2B). It looks like this bird hit my office window.  Just a few days ago I was watching one of these guys in the tree outside my office window.

Butter-butt (source)

Monday, April 28, 2014

Photo: Kara K.
American Goldfinch (12C). What a beautifully sad picture, thank you Kara for capturing this.


Photo: Kara K.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (14B).

Photo: Kara K.
Mourning Dove (1A).

Saturday, April 26, 2014





I found this stunned Ruby-throated hummingbird today. I also watched it die. I sat with him for 1 1/2 hours hoping he would pull through, but unfortunately the collision with the window was too much for this little guy. This work doesn't get easier, but like my aunt just told me yesterday... we have to "keep it up for those beautiful birds being lost every day".

And for whatever it's worth, it helps me some to know that these birds are documented.  That their short time on earth was captured (even if by this piddly little blog). That someone cared that they died and hopefully their deaths won't be for nothing.

Friday, April 25, 2014





Ruby-throated Hummingbird (11B).
Hummingbirds can fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight.  This male made it all the way to Virginia from Central America to die at a window.

Sunday, April 20, 2014


Photo: Caitlin G.
Cedar Waxwing - this is the first time we've documented this beautiful species.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Monday, April 7, 2014

Photo: Julia M.
Not yet identified.
Photos from Richard Edden's post in MD Birding

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the warblers, one of my favorite groups of birds.
I saw this on Maryland Birding's facebook page. Very creative representation of these sometimes tricky little guys.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Photo: Lea S.
Savannah Sparrow (Bldg. 9B).


Photos: Lea S.












Unknown.

Photo: Lea S.

Photo: Lea S.
Feathers stuck to windows.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Photo: Caitlin G.

Dark-eyed Junco. This is the first bird collision death we've found at this building.
Check out this cool new interactive tool to learn all about feathers!

All About Feathers

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Photo: Chrissy B.
First documented collision at this particular building.