Birds of the Solstice: December 2008
In December 2008, birders around the world documented birdlife within 12 hours either side of the solstice. In prose, photos, poems, and lists, here are their stories. You can explore using the map or the illustrated list below it. The next solar birding event will be 20 March 2009.
The Antarctic
No reports received.
The South Temperate Zone
The weather on the Kwazulu Natal coast was hot and very steamy 26C/79F with 83% humidity (which makes it feel even hotter), so the birds were very dormant, even early morning. Summer is really here!! (AndyRuffle)
Cooloola Cove, Queensland, Australia by Mick
South Africa: AndyRuffle
Australia: Fregata
Australia: Neil
Australia: Mick
The Tropics
Birds are everywhere. I hear the beautiful songs of Ornate Honeyeaters and Grey Shrikethrushes when I'm walking around town in the afternoon. At any given moment, I can walk into my yard and see one or more Black Kites, often being chased by rambunctious Willie Wagtails. (srvancott)
Black-naped Oriole by YC Wee
Australia: Fregata
Papua New Guinea: srvancott
Singapore: KC Tsang and Willi Kwek
Singapore: Lim Poh Bee
Singapore: Patricia Thong
Singapore: YC Wee
Honduras: hondubirding
The North Temperate Zone
All earth's creatures are busy this day. I watch and marvel at their activities, otherwise referred to as survival. They pause not. Yet inherently, these biological entities so closely related to us, mark the planet's cyclical changes. (LisaB)
Central Park, New York, USA by c_laben
Two-barred Crossbill by mikebergin
Taiwan: byewood
Texas (USA): BlurryEyedBirdr
Texas (USA): thainamu
North Carolina (USA): NC_N8
California (USA): lizalee
California (USA): greatbrit
Missouri (USA): CharleyBee
Missouri (USA): LisaB
Missouri (USA): djringer
Missouri (USA): kdringer
Maryland (USA): cghawthorne
New York (USA): c_laben
New York (USA): DanaBennis
Pennsylvania (USA): mikebergin
Pennsylvania (USA): Nancy
S. Dakota (USA): Caroline Stafford
England (UK): RHicks
England (UK): js_merz
Alaska (USA): Joyanne Hamilton
The Arctic
As I neared the House I heard the wings behind me and spun to catch the dark wings of a Raven, heading for the ice. Just a black blur driven by the wind against the dark sky barely lit by the sun reaching for the horizon to the south. (Clare Kines)
Nunavut (Canada): Clare Kines
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