Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Wink

Anas streperaAnas streperaThis male Gadwell (Anas strepera) flashes his nictating membrane, or third eyelid. Many birds have these to clean and protect the eyes. They are semi-transparent, evidently, and some diving birds (this one’s a dabbler) have slitted ones for underwater work.

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