Do all different types of wildlife get along? Despite predation and invasive species, the answer is generally yes - until humans get involved. According to the New York Times in a recent op-ed, human forest management to encourage white-tailed deer to flourish has had a severely detrimental effect on birds, particularly different types of warblers that nest on the ground or low in trees and shrubs - areas that are now denuded by an overly abundant deer population.

White-tailed deer do not directly harm birds, but their foraging habits strip entire areas of brushy cover and destroy breeding habitat just as effectively as human development. This can be just as harmful to birds as introducing an invasive species or a new, uncontrolled predator such as feral cats. Fortunately, limited studies have shown that fencing areas to exclude deer leads to rapid improvement of bird populations, though such projects can be prohibitively expensive.

Do you think wildlife management should seek to undo the overpopulation of deer? Share your thoughts in the comments!

White-Tailed Deer
Photo © Chauncey Davis

With the end of the Harry Potter books and movies, animal shelters in England are overcrowded with pet owls. According to the Huffington Post, the birds have been trendy pets for years (they are legal pets in Europe, though not in North America). Now that the novelty has worn off, pet owners are realizing the incredible amount of work owls require, and many birds are being abandoned in the wild, where they do not have the skills necessary to survive.

J.K. Rowling has urged her readers to "adopt" owls by sponsoring sanctuary birds instead of purchasing pets.

It takes a great deal of care for a rescue center to rehabilitate an owl that has been improperly treated and may be suffering from malnutrition, illness or weak muscles from lack of exercise. Different facilities are valiantly working to help the birds, however, but these movie-inspired pets are not unusual. When popular animal movies are released, shelters brace themselves for an influx of unwanted pets shortly thereafter - the movies Babe, 101 Dalmations and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles all had similar effects on the pet industry.

Instead of trying to adopt a pet owl, learn about real owls and how they deserve to stay wild!

Snowy Owl
Photo © Jeff Skevington

Both birds and blossoms captured the photographic imaginations of 10 different photographers this month, and it has been my honor (and happy frustration) to narrow down the 24 entries to these three finalists...

• A dark-eyed junco in a weeping cherry tree by dbifulco.
• A white-winged dove in a blossoming peach tree by LARogers.
• A song sparrow in wind blown lupine by Kate.

All of these photos are superior, colorful shots that highlight both the birds and the blossoms in outstanding ways, but which one will be this month's winner? Your votes will decide - visit the forum to see the full-size photos, then cast your votes in the poll below! The winner will be announced in early June.

Many thanks to all our entrants, and congratulations to all three finalists!

A brown hummingbird may not seem attractive, but this week's featured bird - the brown violet-ear - is an elegant tropical species that is indeed mostly a dusky brown. It is this bird's namesake purple auriculars that make it stand out, however, as well as its narrow but colorful gorget.

Do you agree that this bird's simple plumage is as stunning as any rainbow-colored bird? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Brown Violet-Ear
Photo © Gary Ashley