The Nature of Africa

This is an African Grey Hornbill; one of the dozens of new bird and animal species I saw in Botswana and Zambia last month.  The trip was life-changing and awe-inspiring.  I know i'm home from Africa because I am siting at my computer writing a blog post, but in my heart and soul I am in Zambia still. It is not simply because the country is beautiful or because the birds and animals are so thrilling to see - although both are true.  It's not just that everyone we met was kind, courteous, and unbelievably happy, despite the desperate poverty and the scourge of AIDS everywhere we were. It's not even that I miss the truly joyful and fulfilled young man that my son Peter has become since he moved to Africa.  Not one of those things make it hard for me to settle down to life back in Massachusetts - but all of those experiences combined have kept me in Zambia inside my mind!

This is the first in a series of posts featuring the nature of Southern Africa.  It was no problem identifying the African Elephants shown above, but without having Pete around, most of the birds and some of the mammals and insects will be very difficult to ID.  On the up side, we'll all learn something new with each blog post!

Every moment of our trip was so exciting and such a shock to the senses that it almost seemed unreal. I was certainly hoping to see Giraffes, for instance, but totally unprepared for whole families of Giraffes and simply irresistible Giraffe babies everywhere!  Our excellent guide at Muchenje Lodge in Botswana, KB, knows everything there is to know about every bird, animal, and insect we saw; and every one has a fascinating story to tell.  Too bad KB isn't here to help me write up these blog posts for you!

This magnificent and massive beast is a Greater Kudu.  The Greater Kudu is a game animal elsewhere in Africa, but in Chobe national Park, where Muchenje Lodge is located, the animals are protected from hunters and are thriving.  The Kudu was one of many ungulates we got to see up close and personally!

The African Fish Eagle is the national bird of Zambia, and was one of the birds I was very much hoping to see.  They look very much like the American Bald Eagle, don't they?  Well, we saw a great many African Fish Eagles, and they are much more like the American Eagle than you could imagine.  Tom even managed to capture images of the spectacular mating dance of the Fish Eagles, where the pair clasp on to each other and drop from the sky in a terrifying spin that must be seen to be believed.  It just happens that I have seen the same deadly-looking drop right here in Framingham, Massachusetts a few years back.  In that case, it was an American Bald Eagle practicing his moves in preparation for mating season.  I never would have believed I'd see such a fabulous sight again in my lifetime - especially half a world away!

I hope all my Nature of Framingham readers enjoyed these images from the Nature of Africa.  The trip changed my life in many ways, and I hope to share the wonder of it all with each of you, too!

This Stunning Work of Art Will Delight Birders and Bloggers Alike!

This magnificent work of art by the exquisitely talented Susan Fletcher King left me speechless with awe! The name of the piece is "The Visitor", and the web image doesn't begin to do it justice.  In reality, this incredible piece is 60 inches tall and 24 inches wide. It isn't simply a painting done with oils or watercolors, either (although that would be fantastic, too).  "The Visitor" is an meticulously crafted, 3-dimensional piece of fabric art!  According to the artist, the piece "was started as a whole cloth which has been dyed, painted and stamped.  The great blue heron, boat, dock and weeds were then added as rough-edge appliqué.  These pieces were also painted.  The entire piece was then assembled and stitched (quilted)".  How's that for creativity and talent?

"The piece was made specifically for an invitational, juried show with the theme "Exquisite Moment".  This show is held annually, seen in various venues in the US and in Europe, and is curated under the name dinner at eight artists  I have been selected as one of the artists and this is the third year that I have been invited to enter and have been accepted."  Congratulations, Susan Fletcher King!

I cropped the image even closer to give you an idea of the incredibly detailed work in the piece. Check out the shading on the Great Blue Heron's neck, and the beautifully rendered wood grain of the boat.  It's no wonder the piece was accepted for a art exhibition entitled 'Exquisite Moments!  Ms. King's artist's statement for the piece makes "The Visitor" all the more magical:

 Little miracles happen very occasionally, and if we are lucky we might be in the right place at the right time to witness one. Here, this great blue heron is stepping from his world into ours and gives us an exquisite moment we will always remember.

Some of my readers and some of my fellow "Birders Who Blog' might have a slight sense of deja vu upon seeing Susan Fletcher King's "The Visitor".  If it seems familiar, there is a good reason for it.  The above photo was taken by my husband, Tom, while we were vacationing on Cape Cod last year - and it has appeared in an earlier post on this blog.   Susan Fletcher King came across the image on the web, and kindly asked permission to use it as a model for her artwork.  Believe it or not, Tom will be credited as the photographer whenever and wherever "The Visitor" is shown publicly.  Congratulations to my better half!

If any other bird photographers out there would like to see their fine photos transformed into a fantastic work of art, you'll be happy to learn that Susan Fletcher King does commission work, and she loves working from photos.  You can contact her directly at susanfletcherking.com, and I can promise you'll be thrilled with the result.  She is an extraordinary talent!

Turkey in the hood!

This handsome fellow was strolling across the street in front of my house yesterday.  Pretty cute, huh?

He has a rather intriguing looking face, wouldn't you say?

I was sitting near the window with Socrates when I noticed him walking between the fences.  Luckily I had my camera in hand, and managed to snap off a few shots.

I never noticed how beautiful their feathers were before.  They almost look metallic in this light.  The pattern is pretty amazing, too.

Seeing Wild Turkeys in your yard is one of the joys of living near the Hultmann Aqueduct!