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Phillip's Fetching Birds 2011
A compact desk calendar for birdlovers. See what's inside.

New! A Call for Entries to bird photographers around the world...

Birds of Earth 2011

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The Fall Shorebirds of Seapoint

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About the calendar

Mysterious Puzzlebird Contest — August 2010

Last month's puzzle consisted of one of those notoriously difficult-to-identify Empidonax flycatchers.

And the answer is Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. First in with the correct answer this month was Richard Frechette, congrats! Also receiving a calendar for best correct answer this month is Michael Smith who writes: I rule out Alder and Willow because they have very little eye-ring and I see a decent one in this bird. I rule out Least on body shape and bill size. Least has the appearance of having run into a wall - flat-headed. Yellow-bellied because of the coloration, bill size, and eye ring. And it looks like you photographed it in spruce forest which is the habitat they prefer. Kudos to everyone who got it right. I'd also argue that even without much yellow showing on the belly, none of the other eastern flycatchers like Acadian Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, or Eastern Wood Pewee are anywhere near this green a bird. Honorable mentions to Michael Czarnecki, Marie Harris, Paul Minkevitch, Bruce Cole, Betty Tingley, Mark R Hoffman, Zhong Huang, DonC, and Mandy Greene.

This month's new puzzlebird is literally something the cat dragged in, thankfully unharmed! The photos come courtesy of Pam Miller from Center Barnstead, NH. who was looking for an ID for her "Birdo." This chick is currently being well taken care of and readied for release by the York Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick Maine which rehabs many many orphaned and injured birds (and could use your support). What do you think it is?

Email your entry to puzzlebird@fetchingbirds.com by August 28th, 2010. Winners will be announced in next month's You've Got Birdmail and on this page at the end of August.

If you've got any tough or tricky-to-ID bird photos, sequence shots, or anything you think might make a good head-scratching contest, guest puzzlographers are welcome to email photos for the monthly puzzlebird contest. If published, I can't pay you money, but I will send you a free 2011 calendar and provide a link to your website or photostream along with full photo credit. Photographers retain all copyright to their images.

August's Bird of the Month

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