Flaco, an enormous Eurasian Eagle-owl is New York City’s latest celebrity. In February, vandals cut open Flaco’s cage at the Central Park Zoo. He escaped, but having never lived in the wild, there was concern that he wouldn’t know how to hunt and feed himself since he had been fed by humans his entire life. Despite […]
Who doesn’t love owls? Not only are they wonderful to see, but they also control the rodent population. And many owl species, like this Barred Owl, will use nest boxes. But they can be easily put in harm’s way if their welfare isn’t considered. This is the time of year to be getting nestboxes for owls out, […]
Dogs are enthusiastic and loving. But wildlife doesn’t see our gentle canine companions through the same lens we do. Dogs, coyotes and foxes are all part of the canid family, and birds and many other animals see them as predators. The presence of a dog of any size merely passing by a nest on the […]
Owls are unusual and secretive birds. Most are active at night, so finding an owl is always an exciting event – and often requires some patience and skill. The best ways to find an owl are to go outside and wait to hear their calls at night then follow the calls; or during the day […]
Check out this great video from Audubon about sharing our beaches with beach nesting birds – many of whom have little ones to care for. We can all #sharetheshore!
Piping Plover chick Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Tiny and aggressive, Piping Plovers migrate from Central America and the Bahamas to the US and Canada to breed each year. But pressure from human disturbances and development on or near their nesting areas, has pushed some of these birds to nest in unlikely and unsafe areas. […]
Northern Cardinal Fledgling Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Nesting season’s most asked question is: “I found a baby bird on the ground – what do I do? ” Well, that’s not entirely scientific, but the question gets asked a lot right now! We expect to see baby birds in the nest being fed and cared for, but what […]
A wayward Robin (not the North American thrush kind, but the tinyEuropean kind found widely throughout the UK), showed up at the Beijing Zoo recently. Dubbed a Brexit refugee by some, he has become another avian celebrity – not unlike the Mandarin Duck (a China native) who arrived in New York City’s Central Park. Popular with photographers, the […]
Snowy Owls – those spectacularly beautiful all white owls – are being seen again this winter in the US. Project Snowstorm is once Snowy Owl/ Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila more tracking dozens of owlsthis year across the US to obtain more data and information on the behavior, movements and lifestyles of these mysterious and beautiful birds. The Project Snowstorm site has lots of info […]
Photo Credit:Meghan Kearney, USFWS This month in the Year of the Bird, we encourage you to get your kids or kids you know out into nature. If you love birds, teaching a child how to bird can create both an understanding of and interest in nature which can translate into a lifelong passion for him […]
The Year of the Bird in June – Take Action and Use Less Plastic! Dead Albatross chick with stomach full of plastic Photo Credit: Chris Jordan Time was when discussions surrounding plastic and birds often revolved around taking bags (often plastic) to the beach and gathering up the myriad detritus of birthday balloons, plastic […]
Cool Video About Nesting Shorebirds Shorebirds are nesting on our beaches, and in many areas we are already sharing the beach with tiny hatchlings. Many towns rope off nesting areas on the beach so shorebirds, who lay their eggs on the sand — in a little depression they create called a “scrape” –can have a […]
The Year of the Bird in April – Birds Need Your Help 2018 is the Year of the Bird, and in April, birds really need your help! The Year of the Bird celebrates the 100th anniversary of signing into law the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which has protected billions of birds on migration – from Peregrine Falcons to Magnolia Warblers, […]
PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS courtesy of the ABA Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes first. Code of Birding Ethics 1. Promote the welfare of birds […]