Happy November nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut here. Autumn is a time of fashion changes. If you’re an experienced birder the bright colors of summer are shoved to the back of the t-shirt drawer. Dingy weathered, flannel shirts and coffee-stained shredded jackets make their appearance. If you’re new to birding and have to
Happy October, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. Using the words of a famous Bob Dylan song for my heading—but not for the same purpose—I leave politics and protests to someone else. October is an amazing time of change in nature, much like March: in like a lion, out like a lamb.
Happy September, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall here—aka, Bird Nut. September is one of my two favorite months of the year, the other being April. One is four months into the new year; the other is four months from its close. One announces the season of renewal, the other a season of rest. September 22nd
Happy July my nature loving friends. Ken Hall aka Bird Nut here… The title of this article is a question that will get a bit of a frown from this old guy. Some will say birding is just not for them. Well my response is, it should be. One of my greatest regrets is that
Happy June my nature loving friends. Ken Hall aka Bird Nerd here. As a bird nerd, June is the last of my favorite three months of the year. It is the culmination of watching the orchestration of life over the previous two months. As the trees began to bloom so did the drive of our
Happy May my nature loving friends. Ken Hall, aka the bird nerd here. This month I’m going to introduce you to a fairly common, rarely seen little bird; a Snipe. Technical name, Wilson’s Snipe. But since I have no idea who Wilson is, and knowing this little one has been around longer than Wilson, I
March, what a wonderful month. Glimpses of spring. Yet winter does not wish to let go. Many of our spring and summer birds will be returning. As well as many of our winter guests will be departing. I want to introduce you to a fascinating little water bird that stays with us year around, quite
Hello, and happy February nature lovers. Ken Hall aka Bird Nut here. I just finished a fascinating, well written book called Mozart’s Starling, writteBy Lyanda Lynn Haupt. It brought me back to a frequently seen bird, and considered the villain of the bird world. The European Starling. There is no middle ground with these birds.
Having grown up in Wheat Ridge in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, I have many wonderful memories embedded in my heart. If I could go back and do it again, I would. We were right in the middle of the baby boom generation, post WWII and the Korean War. There was a serious increase in
Welcome to December nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, aka Nature Nut, here. On an almost weekly wander last week with my sister along the greenbelt, I was going through the many positives of a certain plant seen there. I’m speaking of Rabbit Brush. A commonly seen, native plant in Colorado. Wheat Ridge Parks
Happy November my nature loving friends. Ken Hall here. Formerly known as the Bird Nut. Changing my title to Nature Nut, just because I want to. First I want to thank some reader questions I received pertaining to my October article. I will always do my best to answer your emails or inquiries. And if
Happy Fall nature lovers. Ken Hall here , aka Bird Nut. I would like to share something that occurs each Spring and again in Fall, bird migration. Many folks will say, “what, bird migration?” That is because most birds make their travels between sunset and first light. Resting during the day. Visiting local feeders and
Hi all. Happy September. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here again. After talking bees, spiders, and dragonflies, I’ve decided to return to my bird nut roots. Rather than talk of fleeting migratory, here today gone tomorrow birds, I’ve singled out a most common , frequently seen feathered friend. The Northern Flicker. Other than the fact
In the July issue I had mentioned I rarely go on a wander without discovering a new mystery to be solved, or researched. This held true again on a recent outing. This article has to do with those eight legged terrors known as spiders. We have all at one time walked directly into a spider
Being a self taught nature nut, I present myself with homework assignments frequently. My latest is what happens to me after a day of wandering about , staring up into trees. It’s as close as I can imagine the release some feel after deep meditation. Since I don’t do meditation, I will guess. Relaxed, a
Welcome to spring, nature lovers. Ken Hall here — normally known as the bird nut — but today I’m not talking birds, rather, the bees. Honeybees to be exact. April and May are big months for the Honeybee. Coming out of the hive hungry and looking for the first blooms of spring. The Clear Creek
Hi bird lovers. Happy April. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut here. The other evening I had the good fortune to meet two of the outstanding staff with The Neighborhood Gazette. I was presented with a question: “What made you interested in birding?” I had never pondered this question, and I’m very good at pondering. So
Welcome to almost Spring. If you’re a bird lover, March, April and May are the Holy Grail of bird watching. So many birds will be returning to Colorado to find mates and nesting sites, or as a stopover before moving on further north. Many of these birds bring beautiful songs as only nature can create.
Happy February nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka “Bird Nut” here. The new year has started out as a fantastic year for bird watchers. Many birds that I typically do not see in winter are showing themselves: Great Blue Herons, Wilson’s Snipe, (yes Snipe really do exist), Yellow Rump Warblers, Black Phoebe’s and many more. Another
Ken Hall shares winter bird species to look out for as the seasons change. As many of our Spring and Summer bird friends have moved on to warmer climates, our Winter guests have arrived. Appearing to increase in species and numbers each day. Bushtits, Juncos, White Crowned Sparrows, and many more are too numerous to
Hello to all. Bird nut here. Seems like I was just writing with excitement and anticipation of the spring arrival of many migratory summer visitors. Now I write of the exodus of literally millions of birds as they return to their winter habitats, some as far south as South America. I am particularly amazed at
Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut here. What a wonderful green, wet spring we are having. As we head into summer, being a bird nut encompasses a much wider spectrum of interest. Birds are – or have – nested and are busy rearing youngsters. They have many natural food sources to choose from, and are not
Ken Hall here. Or you may refer to me as the bird nut. Spring has sprung in all its glory. We have wonderful rains, the color green has returned and lilacs are blooming. There’s no better time to be outdoors enjoying all its beauty. It pleases me to see so many people out slow wandering
Finally spring has returned. If you are a bird lover it is the Holy Grail of seasons. It is a time when many of our bird friends return: some for short periods of time, many to nest and raise young, till their exodus comes in fall. Most Front Range parks, lakes and creeks will be
