Karen Parrow

@kdparrow

Bird nerd. Hobby photographer. Desert dweller. PNW native. Cat foster parent of Nimbus, Stormy, and Monsoon.

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Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 21h

A pyrrhuloxia (desert cardinal) at Whitewater Draw #Arizona for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #50ShadesOfGray. We were there to watch the sandhill cranes take their morning flight then hung around for a bit and found this gorgeous bird. His mate was nearby but didn’t come out for a photo. 🪶

A gray bird with a striking red mask and upright spiky crest is perched in a bare shrub. It has a seed in its heavy yellow beak.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 1d

A little round of find the #warbler for today’s #BirdOfTheDay. Between fighting my camera for focus and this little hermit warbler insisting on behaving like a hermit no great images were captured. But, it was a lifer so the photo remains saved. 🪶 #Arizona

A small bird is hiding in the pine needles in front of a tree trunk. It blends in nicely with the lichen/moss.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 11d

A greater yellowlegs for the #BirdOfTheDay theme of #FabulousWaders. I couldn’t decide between the tight crop or the image showing the full bird so I included both. #Arizona 🪶

A side view of a small shore bird wading through a still pond. The still water makes the bird’s reflection very clear. A small drop of water has just fallen from its bill creating a small ripple.

A close up of the first image showing just the head and bill of the bird - emphasizing the reflection and the impact of the drop of water that fell from its beak.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 12d

I dug back in the archives to 2012 for this #Firsts for #BirdOfTheDay. I was doing some fall garden cleanup when a flock of pine siskins landed nearby and ignored me for the most part. I always let the lavender go to seed after that encounter. 🪶

Small songbird resting on an open hand, showing detailed brown, black, white, and yellow feathers from above.

A flock of 10 or so pine siskins foraging on the ground. They blend in quite well with the bark chips. Two are on an outstretched hand eating bird seed.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 14d

An adorable burrowing owl #LookingUp near Phoenix, AZ for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #OverTheRainbow. 🪶 Fun fact: burrowing owls have evolved long legs and are great runners.

A small owl stands erect next to a burrow backed by a green field. The owl is sideways to the camera and is gazing skyward.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 15d

A lifer for me and several others at #BolsaChica last fall. A juvenile tri-colored heron for #BirdOfTheDay #EgretsAndHerons. It was less active than the reddish egret dancing about, but certainly wasn’t still like I’m used to with Great Blue Herons.

A side view of a rusty colored heron with white underparts as it walks through a marsh in warm morning light. Its movement creates ripples across the water.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 16d

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay is #YourChoice. Here’s my favorite pic of #SandhillCranes in Willcox, Arizona. Drought is dramatically decreasing the wetland area where these birds overwinter. We owe it to wildlife to protect their habitat. 🪶

A Sandhill Crane leaps out of a sparkling blue lake in the early morning sun. The sun catches the water droplets created by the leap. A second Crane looks on with just its head and neck in the frame.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 17d

The view I usually manage to capture.

A small bird faces away from the camera showing off its speckled butt feathers.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 17d

One of my former foster kitties had amazing whiskers too.

A black kitten with a white mustache and an abundance of white whiskers stares into the viewer’s eyes while her head is scratched

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 17d

Sanderling caught in a moment of stillness.

A teeny shorebird stands still on a sandy beach gazing out to sea.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 29d

What do you suppose this junco found to snack on? Alpine Lakes Trail. About 10,000’. Great Basin National Park. 🪶

A small bird in the shadows faces the viewer with at least part of a segmented insect in its beak. The bird is framed by partially sunlight pine branches

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· 29d

Bristlecone Pine. Bit of a hike at 10,000’+ to get there. Absolutely worthwhile. These trees can live 5,000 years. My understanding is the dark vertical streak represents some living tissue still hanging on. #GreatBasinNationalPark #Nevada #BristleconePine

A trees devoid of needles stands against a brilliant blue sky. There are reddish and tan stripes running vertically up the trunk. The branches are short and stubby.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 26

Sometimes my foster kitty Stormy say yes to pets; sometimes no. Today though she said, “Fly!”

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 22

Stormy came to me as an older feral kitten. She’s always been curious, but cautious. This clip shows the night before she started head butting me. It took 4 months of gentle patience. We still have work to do, but she made a giant leap toward finding a forever home with a patient, loving person.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 22

Stormy, my foster kitten, communicates consent. She wants connection, but not always on my timeline. Sometimes she says no. It isn’t rejection. It’s her way of staying safe. Honor it & build trust. She’s learning her voice matters-that people listen. Listen and she’ll tell you how to love her.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 11

Will you look Monsoon’s beans?!

A white kitten paw with a black pad, a pink bean, two pink beans tipped in black, and a black bean. The paw is being held down the beans resemble a teddy bear.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 11

But I can be friendly to these ‘not coyotes’ as long as I TNR them too? They are not very friendly to people. Sadly we have lots of real coyotes - that’s why I brought the 2 in the last picture inside. (And their sister) If interested, you can find adoption info for Stormy & Monsoon on my page

A large and feisty white cat with black spots (like a cow) is sitting at an outdoor feeding station at night. The text on the picture says, “Spot, the older sibling”

A big and kinda mean tuxedo cat is walking into a humane trap so he can be neutered and have his tail looked at because it is missing fur on the tip. The text on the picture refers to him as Mr Big Balls. (It’s not clear from the picture, but friends, they are big)

Two tuxedo kittens nestled together in a plush bed. There are 4 little paws stacked together in unity. The tuxie on the left has a white face and boopable black nose. The one on the right has a black face with a white mustache.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 10

Stormy wants everyone to see how high she can jump and to let you know she and her sister would love to find forever homes. They’ve been with me since December and are in 📍Phoenix. Vetted, spayed, and microchipped. Rescue org and adoption info in my pinned post. Boosts & shares much appreciated

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Apr 8

Is my foster kitten broken? 🤣😻🥹 Gotta love a kitten who can sploot! Monsoon has been in my care since December and would love to find her forever home. Boosts and shares welcome. 📍Phoenix, AZ. More details in my pinned post.

A tuxedo kitten lying on a carpet with her back legs fully extended in a position referred to as a modest sploot. For size reference she posed next to two slippers. She is, in fact, two slippers long.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 26

Stormy is still learning that the world can be a safe place. She watches first, thinks it through, and then—when she’s ready—takes a small step forward. Quiet homes, patient people, and a little time will help her continue to come out of her shell. 📍Phoenix | Available for adoption. More info ⬇️

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 19

Stormy doesn’t rush anything— not trust, not love, not you. She watches first. Learns the room. Then, almost without you noticing… she stays. She’s not the one who demands attention. She’s the one who chooses you. And that choice? It’s everything. 🖤🐾 Boosts appreciated. 📍Phoenix #adoptdontshop

Black-and-white kitten lounging along the back of a beige couch, one front paw draped over the edge. She looks toward the camera with alert green eyes and a curious expression.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 19

Spot will not be part of the insane kitten factory we have going on now in Phoenix. TNR is a caring way to help community cats. I hope to get Tuxie tonight still. And then Mr Big Balls. Now accepting help getting him. He’s bold. And very spicy.

A white cat with black ears is in a humane trap. They’ve pushed the newspaper toward the camera but look calm otherwise.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 18

Nimbus and Stormy are leaping in support of the runamucks!

Two kittens leap into the air in a hallway while chasing a toy above them. The black-and-white kitten Stormy jumps from below while her sister Nimbus, a cream-colored kitten, stretches high toward the toy overhead.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 18

Let’s see those beans! These are Stormy’s. She’s usually shy about showing them, but really wants to find her forever home so she acquiesced. Adoption info in my pinned post #adoptDontShop #rescueCats

A white kitten paw with solid black toe beans extends out as Stormy, a tuxedo kitten, sprawls on a couch.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 18

Wow! Magnificent whiskers. Monsoon would like to share hers too.

A black cat gazes at the viewer with gold eyes and a very full set of white whiskers set off against her black body. Her head is getting gently scratched by her foster mom.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 18

Wish me luck. TNR night for the tom who fathered my 3 fosters, their older sibling (the only survivor of momma cat’s first litter) and a new Tuxie. #TNR

A tuxedo cat is slinking along an outdoor wall in an entryway

A large tuxedo tomcat with a partially degloved tail has his face buried in the cat food to add to his considerable girth and to power up his feistiness.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 17

Here’s their slo-mo.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Mar 17

Nimbus has launched into her forever home 🚀🐾 Her sisters Stormy (fearless toy hunter) and Monsoon (thoughtful cuddler) are still looking for theirs. 📍 Phoenix, AZ 🐾 adoptable through scars-az.com @jortsthecat.bsky.social boost appreciated 🧡 #AdoptDontShop #AdoptableCats

Close-up of a black-and-white tuxedo kitten named Monsoon lying on a couch, looking directly at the camera with wide green eyes and long white whiskers, her front paws tucked forward.

Black-and-white tuxedo kitten Stormy stands on top of a glowing decorative lamp on a bedside table, peering down curiously. A plush yellow lion toy and a small security camera sit beside the lamp.

Cream-colored kitten Nimbus stretches upright on her hind legs reaching toward a toy above her in her new home, her body extended in a playful jump.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Feb 20

Chaos, softly lit. Elevated, illuminated, unbothered. Peak Stormy. #AdoptDontShop #rescueCats

A tuxedo kitten is balancing on all 4 paws on the top of a nightstand lamp. She’s gazing into the soft glow of the light.

Karen Parrow@kdparrow· Feb 19

Big Spoon and Little Spoon aka Nimbus and Monsoon would love to find a forever home together. They, along with sister Stormy are being fostered through www.instagram.com/scars.az?igs...