Mr. and Mrs. American Wigeon

[mbrager]

My newly acquired bird book tells me these are American Wigeons, but I would gladly stand corrected. Mike

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4697580737_eb93050a28_b.jpg

[casil403]

Yup they are indeed...which book did you buy? :)

[mbrager]

Long story short: I've been trying to clear out some space for a printer, and I got rid of a bunch of our books (4 large boxes) to do so. I took some of them to Fair's Fair, a used bookstore, where one can get cash or credit. I'm something of a bookworm, so I started to look in their stacks, remembered your advice, Lisa, from a while ago, and found a 1997 National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Western Region). It is in good condition and has a pretty red vinyl cover. There were other photography treasures there as well, which sorely tempted me. I remembered I was trying to get rid of books, not acquire more. LOL
Mike

[casil403]

Excellent! I am in dire need of a trip there to drop off. I highly recommend too "Birds of Alberta" as well.... it is my bird bible. I have the Smithsonian Guide to birds as well which is also good but I am a huge fan of the Alberta bird book. You will get lots of use form yours..especially living near the Weaselhead. :)

[mbrager]

I thought it was priceless to find the wigeon in it. I otherwise would have had no idea they aren't just ducks. Mike

[Hillbillygirl]

Nice shot mbrager. Very hard to get a shot of them around here. Very nervous species.
As for books, you will find no better than, "The Atlas Of Breeding Birds of Alberta". It is an ongoing project that started in 1987, I think, that uses info from volunteer naturalists, using grid patterns covering the whole province. As some birds habitat changes, or some move to other parts etc., it is constantly being documented for this atlas. It is updated every 5 years when it is re-issued. It is not cheap, but is the best of its kind, and the largest project of its kind, in the world. We have an atlas for Ontario also, is how I learned of them.
For more info see this link:The Alberta Bird Atlas Project — Federation of Alberta Naturalists (http://fanweb.ca/projects-and-programs/the-alberta-bird-atlas-project-1)

[OWLP]

ID is correct. Very nice shot of the couple.

[JAS_Photo]

Very cool shot of the pair of birds. I saw a couple on the river just off the pathways of the Eau Claire promenade a few weeks ago. They are smaller then the mallards but the male was chasing off a drake that had gotten a little too close to his "woman". They are very nice looking birds but there heads are so dark it is hard to get the eyes to pop. Nice find!

[mbrager]

Thanks for the comments and all the info about books. Much appreciated.
Mike