It was a fun audience at my South Africa presentation in July. They came with great questions, and even gave up a few chuckles at my goofy jokes, and my grand designs to have Kurt build a party-size backyard braai. Many thanks to the Indiana Free Library for having me, and for hosting my upcoming … More This One’s for the Birds
Have you ever heard of a “quagga?” What’s black, and white, and red all over? Answers to these questions within my newly published essay at travel website, iExplore! Click here (or the photo above) to join me as I search for these “extinct” zebra, the elusive pygmy falcon, and capture a bit of travel photography … More Resurrecting the Bare-Bottomed Zebra
I have to admit, this one had me stumped. Kurt and I were going through photos of our first trips to Kruger, in late winter/early Spring of 2013, and came across this photo I took of a pretty yellow-and-white bird in a bush. Having spent the last two years cramming birds of Southern Africa into … More Can You Identify this African Bird?
I didn’t retouch the photograph above. Sunset skies at Nata Bird Sanctuary in Botswana really were the color of cotton candy. Just thought I’d share a little beauty today, with these pelicans in the salt pans. Happy Thursday, and thanks for stopping by! Love, MarLa
Happy Tuesday, readers! Sharing a few snaps of a couple collared barbets. These two might be a mating pair. Does this surprise you? If so, you’re probably familiar with birds, and know that many male birds have more color, or striking variation in color, than females. The generally accepted explanation for this is that males … More Tuesdays in Tshwane: Collared Barbet
Welcome to another segment of “Tuesdays in Tshwane,” bits and pieces of our life living on the outskirts of South Africa’s capitol City, Pretoria (nka Tshwane.) These segments aren’t intentionally all about birds, but they certainly are abundant and varied here, so they do play a large part of our frequent encounters. We had an … More When a Bird Challenges Your Car, You…
I don’t think after living in South Africa that I could ever keep a caged bird. They are so incredibly happy flying in the trees, and fluttering back and forth to the feeder, and eating together as a large, social unit. Lately, love birds are my most abundant visitors.
WTF is a “squab?” Who even knows such a thing, and worse…who writes about it? Do YOU know? A “squab” is: a) Traveling Marla b) a baby bird c) a cushiony place for your butt d) All of the above Did you guess (d) All of the above? Ding ding ding! You’re correct. A “squab” … More Squabs and the Strange Poets Who Write About Them
My December column has posted over at Expat Focus. Please take a moment to follow this link to read it, share it, and support my work there: Christmas Birds in South Africa And as always, a few more photos for my readers here, to accompany the column… In other news on this Manuscript Monday, I’ve … More Christmas Birds
I’ve been lucky enough to spot a Verreaux Eagle Owl (aka Giant Eagle Owl) on my own before (see that post here) but I would not have noticed this one if it weren’t for a stranger passing us on a dirt road who flagged us down and told us where to look. By the look … More Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and The Kindness of Strangers
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