It’s always a special day when I see Junior the Great Horned Owl in our tree all day long.

This is a surprise. Thank you, Readers and Booksellers. Thank you, #Barnes&Noble for choosing #TheBackyardBirdChronicles as #GiftBookoftheYear.

What I’m excited to report: Wildcare of San Rafael released into our yard young doves that had been rescued as babies. So happy our yard was chosen because we had adult doves and a reliable food source.

There are no blue pigments in birds. 🙅🔵 How, then, are #Bluebirds… well, blue birds? The physics of blue feathers, it turns out, can be complicated. ABC Senior Conservation Scientist David Wiedenfeld explains: bit.ly/3CKfFiS. 🪶

A Blue Jay Feather Isn't Really Blue—Here's Why

What's in a blue jay feather? As it turns out, less color than you'd think. We asked an expert to explain why blue jay feathers aren't blue.

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What I’m grateful for: family, longtime friends with similar values, Lou’s and my good health, living in a home with endlessly fascinating birds in the backyard, and being licked on my nose each morning by my sweet little dog. Happy Thanksgiving all!

What I notice when drawing birds: the miraculous way their feathers are made up, feathers used to fly thousands of miles twice a year.

What I’m doing 32 years after the beginning of the all-author band, the Rock Bottom Remainders: reuniting with Stephen King, getting our photo taken by Mary Karr, before we head to rehearsal at Dave Barry’s house.

Where I am: Miami! Birding at 6:30. A talk on The Backyard Bird Chronicles Friday 11/22. 6 pm. Then playing with the Rock Bottom Remainders 11/23. @8. Mary Karr, Stephen King, and Scott Turow are in the house—or rather the hotel!

What I’m excited about: Next week, a passel of juvenile Mourning Doves are being released by Wildcare in my backyard, where they will join adult Mourning Doves that will teach them the basics of survival, that is, how to eat food they’ve knocked from the feeder. Below: baby doves from last year.

The loves of my life.

Here are photos of me to prove it’s me on Bluesky.

What I am remembering: I am the new kid in 3rd grade and not sure what I am supposed to do and if the teacher will like me and if other kids will play with me…. Thanks for following me. It means a lot.