Melissa Alves, Author at Melissa Alves

Barred Owl Baby Watch 2022

Owls are a captivating subject for most birders, with baby owls being a particular delight to find. This year, I was fortunate

A list of all the birds I've seen in BC so far! Updated as new birds pop up (or as I remember them)

The Pacific Wren has somehow managed to be one of the loudest birds in the woods as well as one of the more elusive birds. Oft

There are certain birds that give me dinosaur vibes more than others, and pied-billed grebes are definitely one of them. Speci

Mallard ducks are high on the list for recognizable ducks species. They can be found throughout North America, Europe, parts o

The bald eagle is one of the most recognizable eagle species out there, especially in North America. The white head, contrasti

Each winter, the Lesser Snow Geese travel all the way from Wrangel Island, Russia and the Arctic to winter in “warmer

My Fall 2021 obsession is these small, flighty birds known as golden-crowned kinglets. Unfortunately, I have only been able to

I’m a little bit obsessed with cedar waxwings. I first saw them in a field guide, and immediately knew I had to see one.

When I think of my little corner of the world, great blue herons come to mind. There can be seen so often that I think of them

Eastern kingbirds: the unassuming bully of open wetlands and grasslands. Learn how this flycatcher climbed to the top and beca

Never in a million years would I think that I would get to see a bird as stunning as western tanagers. Seeing one was a pure f

I was hanging out at the beach looking for something other than seagulls, but couldn’t resist how cute this small gull i

Downy woodpeckers are one of the cutest woodpeckers around, no contest. While they are quite wide-spread in North America, I s

White-crowned sparrows are fairly common in my area, but they’re still one of my favourite birds to watch. Seeing them t

There was a point in time where black-capped chickadees were my goal bird. Not because they’re that interesting or rare,

There's few things as cute as otters. Read all about the smallest otters, the Asian small-clawed otter in this edition of Frid

What do you get when you mix a wood duck and fireworks? Firequakers. But seriously, there’s no competition — wood duck

Pileated woodpeckers aren't the only peckers around. Meet the Hairy Woodpecker, a smaller woodpecker found all over North Amer

I still vividly remember seeing my first hummingbird in my backyard. This bird came over the fence and hovered right in front