Sometimes the strangest things happen on Conservancy preserves. Recently, I saw this brightly colored bird (see photo). I was pretty sure it was someone’s loose parakeet. The bright colors really stood out. Conservancy Board member Mike Bradbury officially identified it as a Budgerigar. It is a native of Australia, but my guess is that this guy was someone’s released pet. It’s a non-native, so it is not something we’d find particularly appealing for Conservancy purposes. But still, it was a surprise and a colorful addition to the preserves, even for a moment or two.

Big bird
Photo taken by Conservancy staff at a Conservancy preserve, 2025. With this article is a photo of a Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) in flight. It’s on one of the Conservancy’s marsh complexes. While the Conservancy has prepared the preserves mostly for the benefit of the Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), …