Birds are cool! We are fortunate to get to see and hear a wide variety of them here in Northeast Ohio, from the seasonal migrators to our local avians. Aside from geese, there's hardly a bird I dislike, and there's a few I'm particularly fond of that I'm excited to share with you here. I simply love sitting on my back porch by the birdfeeder watching them flutter in and out; it's so peaceful. 

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, I've now got turkey on the brain, so here's my top ten favorite birds! 

10 Wild Turkey

9 Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

8 Mallard Duck

7 Great Horned Owl

6 Great Blue Herron

5 Downy Woodpecker

4 Peregrine Falcon

3 Northern Cardinal 

2 Raven

1 Bald Eagle

(Honorable mention goes to a Mr. Larry Bird, the biggest bird!) 

You'd think that by now, after several iterations of my top ten list, I'd be prepared for the difficulty involved in picking and ordering just ten items. It's harder than it seems, and no matter how much thought I put into these, I'm never fully satisfied. I can all but guarantee I'll slap my head on my drive home from work thinking about a favorite birdy I neglected to include. 

I'm no serious birdwatcher, but I have a deep appreciation for nature and our local wilderness. Maybe I'll get more into it in 2024 and see how many I can sight through the year; it actually sounds like a lot of fun! I have this awesome old book full of pictures and descriptions to use as a guide, and I'd happily leave my phone at home when pursuing new birds to check off the list. Birds are so easy to overlook with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but when you stop to take a moment to enjoy the little things, it truly is refreshing!

Anyways, what do you think? How does my list of favorite fowl compare to yours? Do you also dislike geese? And what does a fellow need to do to see an owl? As always, thanks for reading!