Bird on a Frozen Big Bear Lake in CA

Grout Bay, Big Bear Lake, California and a frozen over lake

With California's Big Bear Lake nearly frozen over this January, ducks and other water birds clustered together in the one area free of ice. The flocks of birds attracted a predator.

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immature harrier hawk beside prey

Harrier hawks typically prey on other birds. This day an American coot was its victim. However, in a cold winter environment, this meal meant survival for the immature harrier. 

The small area of open water was filled with mallards, ruddy ducks, northern shovelers, teal, grebes, common golden-eyes, buffleheads, CA gulls and mergansers.

mallards and ruddy ducks just feet from the harrier and coot

The other birds were more curious than frightened by the hawk. They seemed to understand that as long as the harrier was paying attention to the coot, they were not in any danger.

See more of the ice and winter in Big Bear, CA and the
New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade

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The Earth Minute is all about taking a moment to connect with the world around you. Linger in one place for a few minutes and be amazed at the life around you.

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Looking for just a few minutes at one spot at Sepulveda Wildlife Basin we spotted:

• American coots
• song sparrow
• double-crested cormorant
• mosquito fish
• a true bug

You can find an Earth Minute anywhere, just stop and focus outside of yourself.

Green ant

More Earth Minutes with...
The tiny: Green Ants; Valley Carpenter Bee, Illinois Butterflies
The shy: Bewick’s wrens, Great Horned Owl Taking Shelter

The common: Western Fence Lizards, Los Angeles River
The unusual: Strange Art on an Australian Beach, Wind Across Mongolia, Encounter with a Lace Monitor, Trees Dreaming

Another Moment in One Place
More of Sepulveda Basin and the Los Angeles River 

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