Common Yellow-throat Illustration by David Sibley When cities are quiet, we can easily hear the birds around us. This illuminating article from the New York Times helps us learn about 13 birds we live in close proximity with but may never have seen. With stunning images by David Sibley and informational sonograms of bird calls from Donald Kroodsma, this article […]
Film: A Melodic Journey Through Northern Colombia Emerald Toucanet, Colombia Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Colombia is one of a handful of countries with an extraordinarily large and diverse group of bird species. In the film The Birders: A Melodic Journey Through Northern Colombia, you can spend an hour chasing some of these birds with biologist and bird […]
Birdwatching Solo Photo Credit: John Chao If you’re sheltering at home, or at the very least practicing social distancing – and especially if you live in an urban environment – getting outside to see spring migration may seem like a challenge at best. Migration is starting, and is it safe or even wise to go birding? It’s critical […]
Chestnut-breasted Coronet Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Top components of a winter birding getaway are often a warmer climate and seeing new and endemic birds. I have made a number of trips to Ecuador, but I have made a number of trips to Ecuador, but one of the most interesting was when I visited several of […]
BirdCast Live Migration Map/ Cornell Lab of Ornithology We can’t tear ourselves away from these amazing real time migration radar maps from Cornell’s BirdCast showing where birds are migrating at night, the intensities of the migration and what direction. If you want to track where most of the nocturnal migration is taking place, or want to have a reasonable chance […]
Canada Warbler Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel When warblers make their way north from Central America in spring, they follow time-honored migratory pathways. Their timing and location depends on a variety of factors including weather, geography and food supply. But arrive they will each spring. And if you want to set yourself up for the best views of […]
Pied Kingfisher, Eilat, Israel Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel If you find it difficult to tear yourself away from spring migrationwhere you live, you are not alone. But experiencing migration in another part of the world can be an amazing experience. If you are serious about birding, Israel is one of those places that should not be missed. […]
Waterfowl are mating in winter and they can be found in huge flocks — sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands! Seeing great rafts of ducks and geese can be a good antidote for the often extreme temperatures and conditions you need to endure to do it. But seeing hundreds or thousands of birds at one time is possible to […]
Have a blast birdwatching and make a contribution to science by joining a Christmas Bird Count in your area. Photo Credit: Camilla Cerea/Audubon This marks the 119th year since Audubon co-opted the annual bird shoot and make it into a much bird-friendlier bird count! This year you can join over 70,000 people in the US, Canada, Latin America, […]
Red-tailed Hawk Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Fall raptor migration is amazing! For the serious hawk watcher, it is the time to get really spectacular flight photos and see raptors en route in often high numbers. If you are new to hawk watching and want to plan a trip or a day outing, keep an eye on […]
Birds are everywhere! And that makes seeing them something you can do pretty much anywhere you are at the time. Purple Sunbird, Abu Dhabi Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Every family vacation, business trip or outing can be an opportunity to see and learn more about birds. Globally there are currently over 11,000 species of birds recognized and tracked […]
Peregrine Falcon Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Most of the best hawk watching sites in North America are fairly well known – Cape May NJ, Hawk Ridge in Duluth, Hawk Mountain PA and River of Raptors in Veracruz, for example. But if you are a photographer wanting excellent shots of migrating hawks, you may be disappointed […]
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 […]
Where to Find Ducks Now Harlequin Duck Photo Credit: Deborah Winter is the best time to see waterfowl in their breeding plumage. Look nearby for open areas of water in ponds, reservoirs and even near the beach, and you are likely to see some unusually beautiful winter visitors hanging out. Visiting a […]
Where to Watch Winter Waterfowl Photo credit: Marvin deJong Winter is the best time to see waterfowl in their peak plumage and often in super large numbers. There are waterfowl hotspots around the country, and we have selected a few from various parts of the US so you can plan your own winter waterfowl outing. […]
Where to Watch Migrating Hawks Hawks are migrating and there are lots of places to see them! Below is a short selection of locations in the US and one in Canada which are easily accessible and are great places to see raptors migrate. All these hawk watches have people who count the species and numbers […]
migra Where to See Migration Want to go to a birding hotspot to see spring migrants? Looking for a place to see a lot of species during migration? You might not need to go too far from home to see high volume migration. Take a look at a few of our recommendations: The Gulf of Mexico is […]
Grasslands and the Very Cool Birds In Them Grasslands are much more than just open space. They are vital habitats for many species — including some Bobolink amazing birds. Unfortunately, grasslands are one of the most endangered habitats on earth. They provide rich fodder for grazing cattle, but also host 29 species of birds that […]
The cold days of winter have moved in with a vengeance this year. Winter can be a brutal time to spend outside looking for birds, but if you know where to go and what to look for, it can be an enjoyable adventure! Waterfowl are in abundance across much of North America in winter. They are […]
Each year tens of thousands of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures leave their breeding grounds and head south along ridges and coastlines. Fall hawk migration is a really big draw for anyone who likes hawks, as they are really easy to see and there are a lot of them. Hawks like to follow […]