April Highlights
Monday April 30, 2012
I hope spring has been treating you well this month - the prime birding season is really heating up as the weather warms and brings back flocks of migrants. We've ... Read More
Bird Baths Illegal?
Sunday April 29, 2012
Birds in New York may have to look harder for a drink this summer, thanks to enforcement of a health code that prohibits standing water - including the water in ... Read More
Birding in Texas
Saturday April 28, 2012
Today I begin a new birding adventure - courtesy of the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau, I will be spending the next week in southern Texas, not only birding, but ... Read More
Whooping Crane Killed
Friday April 27, 2012
One whooping crane on migration will never make it to its nesting grounds in Canada this year. According to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, the bird was fatally shot in ... Read More
Bird of the Week: Tree Swallow
Thursday April 26, 2012
It may still be early in the breeding season in many parts of North America, but this week's featured bird may already be nesting - the tree swallow is the ... Read More
Ravens Remember
Wednesday April 25, 2012
Many backyard birders recognize individual birds that visit their feeders or take up residence in their bird houses, but do birds remember humans? According to Discovery News, a new study ... Read More
April Bird Photo Contest Finalists
Tuesday April 24, 2012
A grand total of 11 photographers got in on this month's bird photo contest action, and from the 26 total entries in the "Action!" theme I'm happy to announce the ... Read More
Mailbag Monday – Fishing Line and Birds
Monday April 23, 2012
Every Monday I feature a reader's question to highlight different birding issues, tips and information. This week, Claire from Oregon asks...
We have a lot of nesting birds near our cabin ... Read More
Shearwater May Not Be Extinct After All
Sunday April 22, 2012
A new species of shearwater discovered in 2011 from a Smithsonian specimen was at first feared to be already extinct, since live sightings had not been recorded since the specimen ... Read More
Piping Up for Plovers
Saturday April 21, 2012
Piping plovers, with fewer than two dozen birds in the state, are Wisconsin's rarest bird, but a new project hopes to encourage the birds to nest more readily and increase ... Read More
Tired Pelican Visits Berkeley
Friday April 20, 2012
While there is a statue of a pelican in front of Anthony Hall, these large birds are rarely seen on University of California Berkeley's campus, but a unique visitor was ... Read More
Bird of the Week: Black-Headed Grosbeak
Thursday April 19, 2012
This week's featured bird may indeed have a black head, but there's nothing gross about it - the black-headed grosbeak is a colorful and popular bird in western North America. ... Read More
Swan Kills Kayaker
Wednesday April 18, 2012
They may look beautiful, but large birds like swans can be deadly. According to Fox News, a 37-year old kayaker was killed by a mute swan in Illinois April 14 ... Read More
Stolen Penguin Recovered
Tuesday April 17, 2012
Dirk, the fairy penguin stolen over the weekend, has been safely recovered and returned home to Sea World in Queensland, Australia. According to CNN, the bird was stolen by three ... Read More
Mailbag Monday – Identifying Warblers
Monday April 16, 2012
It's Mailbag Monday time again, and there are a lot of reader questions to choose from! This week, Charles from New Hampshire asks...
A lot of our spring birds are starting ... Read More
A Taiwan Big Day
Sunday April 15, 2012
An recent big day event in Taiwan drew birders from around the world to help survey the avian diversity of the Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area in central Taiwan and ... Read More
Invasive Pythons Preying on Florida's Birds
Saturday April 14, 2012
Invasive predators are always a problem for native wildlife, and a new study has shown that birds in Florida may not even make it out of the egg before falling ... Read More
Once-Extinct Ducklings Hatched
Friday April 13, 2012
The Madagascar pochard is one of the rarest birds in the world - it was even believed to be extinct until 2006 when a small population was rediscovered. Today, however, ... Read More
Bird of the Week: Magnificent Frigatebird
Thursday April 12, 2012
This week's featured bird truly is magnificent - the magnificent frigatebird is a graceful, agile seabird that soars effortlessly over tropical oceans. It's not all about beauty, however; this pelagic ... Read More
March Bird Photo Contest Winner
Wednesday April 11, 2012
Time has gotten a bit away this month, but I'm happy to finally announce the winner of the "Just Ducky!" March bird photo contest - congratulations, Kate! With 60 percent ... Read More
Bird Song Volume Increasing
Tuesday April 10, 2012
The morning chorus of birdsong is a welcome sound to many birders, especially in spring, but in recent years the volume of that chorus has been increasing in urban areas. ... Read More
Mailbag Monday – Bird Mating
Monday April 9, 2012
Monday is the day when I touch on hot-button birding issues, answering readers' questions to give you exactly the information you want to know. This week, Jayson from Massachusetts asks...
I'm ... Read More
The Real Peeps
Sunday April 8, 2012
While you're enjoying your fluorescent marshmallow Peeps today, don't forget the real peeps - baby birds! While only baby sandpipers are called peeps, there are many other names for baby ... Read More
Zoo Searching for Missing Bird
Saturday April 7, 2012
Many birders enjoy visiting zoos to see exotic birds they might never see in the field, but one zoo is now searching the field for an exotic bird that doesn't ... Read More
Dyed Easter Chicks Cause Concern
Friday April 6, 2012
'Tis the season for peeping chicks, and far too often, these chicks end up in Easter baskets. While chicks and ducklings are not appropriate Easter gifts for many children, it ... Read More
Bird of the Week: Yellow-Throated Warbler
Thursday April 5, 2012
This week's featured bird is a most aptly named species - the yellow-throated warbler does indeed have a bright yellow throat, and when paired with relatively bland black and white ... Read More
Pale Male Loses Mate
Wednesday April 4, 2012
In late February just before nesting season was to begin, the iconic red-tailed hawk of Central Park, Pale Male, lost his mate Lima. According to the New York Times, Lima's ... Read More
April Bird Photo Contest
Tuesday April 3, 2012
It's a new month, and time to take action on a new monthly bird photo contest! And that's exactly our theme for April's photo contest - Action! Any photo of ... Read More
Mailbag Monday – Spring Migration
Monday April 2, 2012
Every Monday, I feature a reader's question to explore the mysteries of birding and provide the information you want to know. This week, Becky from Ontario asks...
I would like to ... Read More
2012 Championship Bird
Sunday April 1, 2012
After a grueling month of voting and eliminating 15 competing waterfowl species, congratulations go out to the wood duck - our 2012 Championship Bird!
In four separate rounds of voting, the ... Read More