the stories I follow March 1, 2026

The stories and sites that I like to follow are typically related to nature, the outdoors, adventure travel, wildlife or anything else along these lines. It's those kinds of news stories that I like to start my day with.  

Of course, I jumped on the "Punch" bandwagon!  I did not expect to learn lessons while seeing what the monkey was up to daily. I found it interesting to realize the true reason why he was given a stuffed animal. While his story easily touched my heart, it was not easy to do a watercolour painting of him and his stuffed monkey. My third try was true at painting faces that everyone could love! I used numerous online photos as references. 

Of course, I jumped on the "Shadow & Jackie" bandwagon! This is my second year for following this pair of Bald Eagles.  Between following my own Bald Eagles here in Calgary and also this pair, I have learned lots about everything and anything related to this species. I have painted numerous Bald Eagles, I even wrote and illustrated a book about an Eaglet.  This is my watercolour painting of "Jackie" as she takes her turn to sit on the two eggs. Their nest overlooks Big Bear Lake in California.  I snapped a screen shot mid day yesterday from the live webcam so I could use it as my reference.  

Of course, I follow eBird! I like to see what people are seeing at the many local birding locations.  I checked the site this morning and when I saw what people were seeing at Griffith Woods I jumped on the bandwagon deciding that's where I would go today!  Well, I did not have the luck others had.  I even stopped to chat with a guy who showed me what he saw so far this morning.  He printed what he saw in a little black book, he had ten different species sightings.  These are the three sightings I had:

a female Mallard Duck

a male Common Goldeneye

one of many Black-Capped Chickadees

The wonderful scenery sights were numerous so I feel lucky in the sense I saw those!