If you offer a feeder for wild birds, how do you know which types of food to use? Many types of foods attract birds to feeders and feeding stations, including seeds, nuts, fruit, nectar, and suet. Each type of food appeals to different species to varying degrees. Deciding which types of birds you desire to attract helps determine which types of feeder food to stock.

Brown Pelicans are highly charismatic, as well as acrobatic. Watching these titans of the ocean glide effortlessly just inches above the rolling breakers is truly an impressive sight. The steep plunge dives made by these birds is arguably more even impressive - as they plummet from heights up to 60 feet straight into the frigid ocean in the hopes of catching fish.

When they rest on the water, or assemble in groups on land to preen and sleep, they appear as docile and approachable as the family dog. However, it's probably best to observe a bird such as the Brown Pelican with its 7 foot wingspan, and huge bill - from a healthy distance.

Thursday, August 24th marks the birth centennial of one the greatest naturalists of the 20th century – Roger Tory Peterson. Peterson was a talented artist, naturalist, and teacher who wrote and illustrated the first modern field guide - "A Field Guide to the Birds", first published in 1934. Afterwards, Peterson continued on to a successful career in nature writing, painting, lecturing, and photography.

Throughout his career, Peterson's work inspired and educated millions to learn and appreciate more about the natural world. Peterson is regarded as the pioneer of the modern field guide, and is credited as a seminal force in the early environmental movement. Peterson earned numerous honorary degrees and major scientific and environmental awards in his lifetime, including the Congressional Medal of Honor and two nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Peterson passed away in 1996 at home in Connecticut.

This week, Peterson's birth centennial will be honored and celebrated with the publication of the "Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America" by Houghton Mifflin. I recently had the privilege of reviewing the new forthcoming Peterson guide. This outstanding, innovative, and informative guide serves as a fitting tribute to the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson, and I highly recommend the "Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America" for every birder's library.

Illustration © The Marital Trust B u/w Roger Tory Peterson

Bird feeders attract lots of birds, but with so many different feeder designs, how does a birder know which type of feeder to use? A new article about bird feeders list some of the common designs, their advantages, and which types of birds might visit them. You can read about everything from the popular tube feeder design to less common oriole feeders.

Photo RJV ©