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 […]
Photo Credit: Jeremy Black Wait, how can that be? When a rare yellow cardinal showed up in Alabama in January, emails and Messenger pings started arriving – even from friends I know don’t have a deep relationship with birds. Seeing this brightly colored yellow cardinal got a lot of people’s attention! But why […]
New nestcams to watch and keep up-to-date with the birds you love! In addition to nests with eggs and chicks, last year’s Manikan-cam is back and highly recommended if you want to see some fancy mating dances. Decorah Bald Eagle Cam, Explore.org Bald Eagles in Decorah, Iowa have 3 eggs. It’s still winter in Iowa […]
The year 2018 marks the Whooping Cranes Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, nature lovers around the world are joining forces to celebrate the “Year of the Bird” and commit to protecting birds today and for […]
Birding Resolutions for 2018 It’s a new year and a great time for some birding resolutions. Cuban Tody Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Need some help? We asked some friends to share their birding resolutions for 2018. They run from the simple to the challenging, so take a look and get your own inspiration! […]
Colder weather means Owls! But while they may be around, its more Barn Owl Photo credit:Stan Tekeila likely you will hear rather than see them. So, get a jump on owling this year by learning the sounds of some of the more common species of owls which may be in your area. The best […]
Join the Christmas Bird Count Make your holiday season extra-special this year and do something important for bird conservation by participating in the Christmas Bird Count. Every year from December 14 through January 5 people around the world get outside and count the birds in their area or even just their yard. When […]
To ensure you attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife in Monarch Butterfly Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel abundance to your yard, there is no better choice than planting a meadow with native plants. Not only is a mature meadow a stunningly beautiful sight of waving flowers with butterflies and birds darting in and out, but it’s […]
The iconic image and story of Harvey, the terrified juvenile Coopers Hawk who desperately fled the onslaught Harvey, the Coopers Hawk Photo Credit: William Bruso of hurricane Harvey by landing on the passenger seat of a Houston taxi cab was a welcome story of hope. Harvey was rescued by the driver, taken to Texas Wildlife […]
Birds at the beach never cease to amaze. Not only are Marbled Godwit and American Oystercatchers Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel they capable of migrating extremely long distances non-stop (some manage several days at a time and thousands of miles over open water), there are different species on the move year round. Fall is a […]
Who’s Migrating in Summer? Piping Plovers, Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Spring and Fall migration get all the press. After all, songbirds like warblers or goldfinches traveling in spring look spectacular and move in large numbers. And they can often be seen in our own backyards. But migration continues throughout the year, with different species of […]
Keeping Hummingbirds Safe Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Everyone loves feeding hummingbirds! It’s easy to do and they return the favor by returning repeatedly to your backyard. There are some specific safety issues you should keep in mind when feeding hummingbirds. Our readers have asked us about two specifically which are common potentially fatal […]
Whoa! Fabulous Slo-motion of a Bee Hummer in action from National Geographic. Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/NGM/videos/10155540538188336/?hc_ref=ARS0ost7tcA-fms-M4oxhFQCs1LeZOk2uHUiH4zbZhI5KrM8rYx6KL-vTsRt8lvgD48&pnref=story
Squirrels got your goat? Hawks or the neighbors cats using your feeder as a buffet table? Maybe that resident woodpecker is using your house for hammering practice? Whatever the issue is there are often simple and humane solutions! For example, getting the right feeder can help control unwanted birds, or eliminate bees and […]
Hummingbirds are definitely cool. Maybe its their size, Bee Hummingbird Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel or some of the extraordinary iridescent colors, or maybe their extreme energy. Ever wonder how fast they can fly or breathe? What they weigh? How long they live? Fret no more! All this and more can be found in 25 Fun Facts […]
Osprey and chicks, explore.org It’s still nestcam season and chicks are growing. Some have already fledged and others are just hatching. Keep up with the action right here! NEW!! Ospreys, Maine – check in on a nest full of growing chicks! NEW!! Black Guillemot, Maine Atlantic Puffins, Maine – […]
Nesting birds on the ground in your yard? What kind of bird does that? We love this humorous essay many of us can relate to. When it comes to finding out where the birds are nesting in your yard, sometimes info is gotten the hard way. Then It Struck Me and Not Very Gently, by Murr Brewster for […]
ID Warblers With a Free Downloadable Guide Warblers are in our midst right now and for some of us, every year it’s a similar challenge to make the correct ID of all the different species of this popular songbird migrating A downloadable Warbler Guide from Princeton University Press through, or nesting in our area. The […]
Join Nestwatch and Help Nesting Birds Nobody knows better than you what goes on in the nests in your backyard. If you are curious about the birds nesting in your yard and pay particular attention to Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila them, Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great project called Nestwatch that can use your […]
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Manakam This month we have nestcams and a cool manakin lek-cam! If you have never seen manakins displaying, check out this amazing live cam that, if you are lucky, will have Lance-tailed Manakins displaying at their lek. Unlike a nestcam, the action will be sporadic, but don’t miss seeing these amazing […]