“Monument Birds”… and some squirrels!

In our recent visit to Washington DC, we found our nation’s capital to be a city bustling with important and vital activities. The National Mall and surrounding areas are a wondrous credit to our forefathers, and more current political leaders, with so many stories of our nation’s history to teach us. National Park Map Our experiences there were eye-opening, awe-inspiring, magnificent, and incredibly informational about the beginnings and leaders of our country. 

We were very grateful to have some special tours, arranged through our senator, Brian Schatz and his staff. The most amazing one was a V.I.P. Department of Interior tour led by an amazingly knowledgeable National Park ranger who was very passionate about the many memorials and monuments on her tour. 

During our visit there, as I began to take photos, I thought of my first blog topic - monument birds!

World War II Memorial / Washington DC / June 2016 

World War II Memorial / Washington DC / June 2016

Yes, there are the ever-present eagle symbols but I mean, of course, the real birds (and squirrels) making the parks, pools, and green areas their home. 






It was fun to capture the wildlife placidly carrying out their lives amid the backdrops of monumental memorials! There is so much green space, open areas, and water balanced with the large momentous granite and marble stone memorials the birds and squirrels are perfectly able to survive.

Eastern Gray Squirrel / Lafayette Circle / June 2016

Mallard Duck / Reflecting Pool / June 201

Canadian Geese / Tidal Basin / June 2016

The animals may be attracted to all the human activities around but surprisingly, and miraculously, I did not see any one feeding birds or squirrels. I think all the people are so busy being awed by all that they see every time they turn around that the birds and squirrels are able to just fade into the foreground! So hopefully the wildlife there is eating naturally.

At Lafayette Park, across from the White House, there were many squirrels. We were forced to walk into this park because when the President is present, the roads on either side of the White House are closed off to visitors. So we sat, gazed at the White House, and saw squirrels - black and gray! The black and gray are apparently the same species of Eastern Gray Squirrel.

Eastern Gray Squirrel / Lafayette Circle / June 2016 

Eastern Gray Squirrel, black variety / Lafayette Circle / June 2016

An article on the origin of the Black Squirrel in Washington DC

Eastern Gray Squirrel / near Lincoln Memorial / June 2016

Eastern Gray Squirrels / Federal Circle Metro area / June 2016

North American red squirrel / near Korean War Veterans Memorial / June 2016

I also saw squirrels closer to the monuments. 




One was enjoying the cool of the stone.












Around the deserted Old Post Office Tower building / Federal Circle Metro area, behind the gates, two squirrels were chasing each other. It was almost like the pair was running home!











I sighted a possible North American Red Squirrel near the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Mallard Ducks / Reflecting Pool / June 2016

In and around the large Reflecting Pool, there were many families of Mallard Ducks. The ducks were very happily prolific. The adult females all seemed to be close together so it was hard to tell who the mother was. 

Mallard Ducks, female and young / Reflecting Pool / June 2016

Mallard Ducks / Capitol Reflecting Pool / June 2016

Mallard Ducks, female and young / Capitol Reflecting Pool / June 2016

This mother at the Capitol Reflecting Pool couldn’t have been the mother to all those babies could she? 

The ducks were active even as the sun set!

Mallard Ducks / Reflecting Pool / June 2016

There was a black bird with her young; unfortunately I didn’t photograph the feeding of the young which I did observe. 

Unknown black bird with young / near the Washington Monument / June 2016

Crow / on Korean War Veterans Memorial figure / June 2016

There were Crows arrogantly claiming disrespectful perches at the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Crow / on Korean War Veterans Memorial figure / June 2016

There were Pigeons but luckily not many. How do they keep the pesky and pooping pigeons away from all those memorials and monuments?

Pigeons / The Mall / June 2016

There were also Canadian Geese enjoying the Tidal Basin. Perhaps the geese appreciate a larger waterway and/or salt water.

Canadian Geese / near Thomas Jefferson Memorial / June 2016

Canadian Geese / near Thomas Jefferson Memorial / June 2016

I believe there is a Cormorant among the geese at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial!

Canadian Geese / near Thomas Jefferson Memorial / June 2016

On one of our last days, we spotted two different songbirds in, and near, the United States Capitol grounds. One was singing within the grounds.

Unknown song bird / U. S. Capitol grounds / June 2016

Unknown song bird / lamp post across from U. S. Capitol grounds / June 2016

We saw this unusual song bird on a lamp post outside the United States Capitol grounds. 


I spent a great deal of time trying to identify the bird but could not. Perhaps it is a Northern Mockingbird? The song and wing coloring sound and look correct but overall it doesn’t match in appearance. Bird identification It looks like a White-Collared Blackbird but that bird is only found in Asia. 

I was lucky to capture the song bird’s complex song and unusual behavior!

Unknown song bird / lamp post across from U. S. Capitol grounds / June 2016

Hopefully some day you are able to go (or go again) to Washington DC to view all the wonder of our nation’s capital and the city's centers of government, museums, memorials, and monuments. 

While you are there, as always, “watch out for nature” and see the birds and squirrels living there oblivious of their auspicious urban home!