To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon the verdant green
hills is the most perfect refreshment.
- Jane Austen
311 Freeport Road
Blawnox, PA  15238
Phone 412-828-5393
Fax 412-828-5394
LetsTalkBirds@aol.com
10:30AM - 4:30PM
Tuesday - Saturday
& By Appointment
Customer Photos
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This beautiful feeder looks even more beautiful with the bright yellow American Goldfinch on it in Kathy Brooke's backyard in Natrona Heights, PA!Close-up of a Hoya flower. Notice the five-pointed star shape? Beautiful! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Jack Wolfe of Fox Chapel, PA, attracted this handsome male Northern Cardinal. Looks like the Cardinal chose a peanut from the tasty treats Jack had in his tray feeder!Cathy Pelusi was in the right place at the right time with her camera in Allison Park, PA!The Brown Thrasher has a habit of thrashing around in fallen leaves searching for insects to eat. This one showed up in the yard of Kathy Brooke in Natrona Heights, PA.These brilliant Alma Potschke Asters are thriving! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Surprise! This little cutie found a cozy spot on a basil leaf! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.This Hoya plant is flowering for the first time, and what a welcome sight it is! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.This Western Tiger Swallowtail differs from our Eastern version by the yellow spots on the outer margin of its lower forewing, which run together into a band rather than being distinctly separate. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.Look closely at this male Cardinal's head. He's molting! During this period of feather loss and regrowth, birds can certainly adopt a less-than-attractive appearance; but rest assured. He'll be looking strikingly handsome again in no time. Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke, Natrona Heights, PA.What a fascinating glimpse into the life of a local juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. Photo submitted by Jack Wolf, O'Hara Township, PA.Ron Grapin of Holland, PA, snapped this great shot of a hawk surveying its surroundings. Mammals, like this Gray Squirrel, make up the majority of a Red-tailed Hawk's diet. Photo submitted by Jack Wolf, O'Hara Township, PA.The Morninglory has delighted gardeners for generations. Here, you can see why. Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.The sounds of American Toads trillng = Spring! Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.Red-tailed Hawks are quite common in North America. Watch for them soaring above open fields, and listen for their shrill screams. Photo submitted by Jack Wolf, O'Hara Township, PA.Gray Squirrels are quite common; so when a larger, rusty-colored Fox Squirrel shows up, it's a treat! Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA. Young Red-tailed Hawks leave the nest after 42-46 days but may hang out with their parents for months. Photo submitted by Jack Wolf, O'Hara Township, PA.How thrilling it is to watch a Ruby-throated Hummingbird dine! This feeder belongs to Barb Purcell.Birds need extra calories to keep warm in Winter, so feeders get lots of action. How many birds can you count in this shot? Photo submitted by Debbe Kotchey of Indiana Township, PA.This is certainly not your average caterpillar! It's a Hickory Horned Devil...the somewhat frightening-looking larva of the Regal Moth. Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA. It's not every day that we see scenes like this, but 2' feet of snow on the ground has birds doing unusual things! Kathy Brooke from Natrona Heights, PA, submitted this photo.This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk visited Mark Pihl's backyard in Fox Chapel, PA.Blue Jays aren't blue. It's true! The pigment in their feathers is brown. Their blue appearance is caused by blue light being refracted from the surface of their feathers while all other colors are absorbed. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.Notice how the red color on this Red-bellied Woodpecker stretches all the way down to the bill. This indicates a male. The red color on a female would stop short of the bill, giving the female a gray forehead. Photo submitted by Mark Pihl of Fox Chapel, PA.A Ruby-throated Hummingbird's heart beats 1,200 times per minute while feeding! Photo submitted by Tony Miga of Cheswick, PA.Perhaps this tidy cluster of eggs on the top side of a Costmary leaf are those of a Squash Bug? Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA. Monarch caterpillars need Milkweed to survive. These guys don't have to worry. They have plenty. Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.The Harringtons captured this Black-capped Chickadee in flight at their feeder in Aurora, CO.Two hummingbirds (most likely a female and a juvenile) at once? Heaven! Photo submitted by Mary Beth Phillips of Penn Hills, PA.A great shot of the tell-tale sign of a Red-tailed Hawk. Photo submitted by Mark Pihl of Fox Chapel, PA.This Gray Squirrel, nicknamed "Charlie," makes himself comfortable while he dines on Linda Hanley's deck in Penn Hills, PA!Woodpeckers, like this male Red-bellied Woodpecker, love the suet offered in this woodpecker feeder. Photo submitted by Joan Wahler, O'Hara Township, PA.How would you describe the shiny berry clusters on Beautyberry? Pink? Purple? Lavender? How 'bout simply: BEAUTIFUL! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Stings from a Golden Digger Wasp like the one visiting this beautiful tropical milkweed, commonly called Bloodflower (asclepias curassiavica), are quite rare; so you can safely enjoy their beauty. Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone, Apollo, PA. Attracting woodpeckers, like this male Red-bellied Woodpecker, is a real treat! Photo submitted by Mary Beth Phillips of Penn Hills, PA.The firey colors of these Autumn Blaze Maples stop you in your tracks! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.American Goldfinches entertain backyard birdwatchers with their unique ability to eat upside-down! Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA.This striking Black-billed Magpie, at approximately 23" long, is hard to miss. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.This beautiful Fritillary was captured in Colorado, but exactly what species is it? A number of Fritillaries are often indistinguishable. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.Mark Pihl of Fox Chapel, PA, has been watching this female Red-tail for years! Red-tails eat mostly mammals, so they're not as big of a threat to birds at feeders as are the Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawks. This female Downy Woodpecker has found a suet feast! Photo submitted by Joan Wahler, O'Hara Township, PA.This Western Meadlowlark appears in a classic pose, belting out a tune from atop a tall tree. Beautiful! Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.The Harringtons of Aurora, CO, enjoy watching Black-capped Chickadees at their feeder.If the bold colors of the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak don't catch your attention, his melodic song certainly will. This beauty is on many a backyard birder's wish list. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO. The chrysalis of the Monarch butterfly becomes transparent just before the butterfly emerges...won't be long now! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone, Apollo, PA.The absence of small black spots (scent glands) on the wing veins tells us that this is a female Monarch. Photo by Joyce Perrone, Apollo, PA. What a beauty! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone, Apollo, PA.This Ruby-throated hummingbird is in for a real treat! Photo submitted by Tony Miga of Cheswick, PA.Java Sparrows are actually large finches. Aren't they striking? Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA, was lucky enough to watch Java Sparrows on Maui.An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is attracted to the butterfly bush in Joyce Perrone's Apollo, PA, garden.This guy (or gal?) showed up at the side patio at 3:00AM and bent the feeders to the ground. Luckily, this is not a common occurence! Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA. This bear got a little too close for comfort on a hike in Shenandoah National Forest! Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA.In this beautiful shot of a sunset over the ridge-tops in Shenandoah National Forest, it's hard to tell where the ridges end and the clouds begin! Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA.Identifying caterpillars is a lifelong endeavor. They can appear cute or downright scary! Photo by Joyce Perrone from Apollo, PA.Do you think this male Downy Woodpecker is looking for a tasty insect meal within the crevices of this telephone pole? It's a good bet. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.Hermit Sphinx caterpillars like this one feed on Bee Balm, Mints, Bugleweed, and Sage. Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Can you find the Red-crested Cardinal? This species was introduced from South America around 1830. Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA, captured this shot on Maui.Having easy access to food can make the difference between life and death as birds like this Carolina Wren battle to survive the cold. Photo submitted by Marc Connolly, Allison Park, PA.This Gray Squirrel is dining on ear corn on a Squngee feeder. It's very entertaining to watch as the bungee cord takes a squirrel up and down! Photo submitted by Anna Murphy, Pleasant Gap, PA.We think fat and happy aptly describes this little chipmunk in Kathy Brooke's backyard in Natrona Heights, PA; and we know what those chubby little cheeks are full of!More Squngee squirrel action. Photo submitted by Anna Murphy, Pleasant Gap, PA.Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA, photographed this Myna, a member of the starling family, on Maui. This spectacular Barred Owl has made its home in a Brentwood backyard! Photo submitted by Paul Kostyak, Brentwood, PA.This Red-shouldered Hawk visits Diane and Howard Jernigan's O'Hara Township backyard. Photo submitted by Diane Jernigan, O'Hara Township, PA.The raspberry-red color of the plump, male Purple Finch is certainly eye-catching. Note the strong, chunky beak...perfect for cracking open sunflower seeds. Photo submitted by Mark Pihl of Fox Chapel, PA. A close look at the magnificent Red-shouldered Hawk that the Jernigans are lucky to have in their backyard! Photo submitted by Diane Jernigan, O'Hara Township, PA.One never forgets the thrill of spotting a Pileated Woodpecker outside the window! Photo submitted by Mary Beth Phillips of Penn Hills, PA.Birds with abnormal plumage are rare, but this leucistic pied Northern Cardinal was a regular at Bill Murphy's feeders. To read a great article about leucism, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm. Photo submitted by Bill Murphy, Pleasant Gap, PA.Another look at the leucistic pied Northern Cardinal. Photo submitted by Bill Murphy, Pleasant Gap, PA. Robins are great for "behavior watching." They're easily accessible, and they carry on their day-to-day activities in plain sight. This one's enjoying a worm for breakfast. Photo submitted by the Harringtons, Aurora, CO.A peaceful scene from Shenandoah National Forest. Photo submitted by Kathy Brooke of Natrona Heights, PA.Oftentimes, out-of-state visitors to the shop tell about the species they watch at home. I'd love to see this Black-headed Grosbeak at my feeders here in Pittsburgh! Photo submitted by the Harringtons of Aurora, CO.Bold little Black-capped Chickadees with their inquisitive, friendly personalities are one of the easiest backyard birds to train to eat from a human's hand. Photo submitted by the Harringtons of Aurora, CO.Mark Pihl of Fox Chapel, PA, is lucky to have Purple Finches visiting his feeder. Their numbers are declining in the northeast (possibly due to the increase of House Finches).How handsome this male Northern Cardinal looks against the green landscape! Photo submitted by Mary Beth Phillips of Penn Hills, PA.A colorful male Northern Cardinal brings life to a winter scene! Photo submitted by Mary Beth Phillips of Penn Hills, PA.A walk in the garden never ceases to amaze. Image by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Blue Jays, although common, always prove interesting to watch. Photo submitted by the Harringtons of Aurora, CO.Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA, captured these interesting visitors in her garden.Have a pond? Chances are you'll see dragonflies! Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.Adult dragonflies capture live prey in a "basket" formed with their legs! Prey is eaten on the wing or while perched. Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.A picture is worth a thousand words. Picture submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.A nest on the windowsill provided a clear view of these American Robin hatchlings! Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.Feeding hungry young Robins is no small task. Good thing both parents share the responsibilities. Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.A mother Robin doesn't wander far from her nest. Notice the rumpled feathers on her breast from nest-building and incubating. Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.A mother Robin is very attentive. Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.These young Robins are just about ready to fledge (leave the nest). Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.Sign of a job well done! Photo submitted by Cathy Pelusi of Allison Park, PA.Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA, gardens for wildlife and is rewarded with butterflies galore, including beautiful Monarchs like this one!Can't you just hear this House Wren belting out its tune? Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone from Apollo, PA.We dare say that the chrysalis of the Monarch butterfly quite resembles a jewel! Photo by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we think this is a beautiful as well as fascinating shot! Photo submitted by Joyce Perrone of Apollo, PA.The rewards of a butterfly garden are many! Photo sent in by Joyce Perrone from Apollo, PA.Oh, baby! This baby Northern Cardinal has hit the jackpot! Photo by Joyce Perrone from Apollo, PA.
Have you looked out your window today?