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 […]
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In the News: A Yellow Cardinal?
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 […]
Nestcams!
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 […]
It’s the Year of the Bird!
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
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! […]
How To ID Owls By Sound
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 […]
Great Views of Shorebirds Now
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 […]
Nestcams!
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 – […]
Birds to See Now: Greater Prairie Chickens
Birds to See Now: Greater Prairie Chickens In spring, one of the US’s rare birds puts on a show, as Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila Greater Prairie Chickens look for mates. Males in the area gather on their traditional performing “leks” also known as “booming grounds” to display on the grasslands for seemingly uninterested females. To […]
Purple Martins Are Coming Your Way!
Purple Martins are Coming – Be Ready! Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Purple Martins are on their way north and looking for nesting sites. With their enchanting song and effective insect removal efforts – especially when there are chicks in the summer – these birds are a delight to have around. And if you want to […]
Family Fun: 3 Easy DIY Bird Feeders
Winter is a time when birds need a lot of help finding food – especially later in the season when the available Photo Credit: Heather Katsoulis native berries and seeds are long gone. Keep your feeders up, but why not try some seriously simple new ways to feed birds in your yard? Take a look […]
Duck Mating Behavior
Duck Mating Behavior When you are watching ducks and other waterfowl this winter, get ready for a lot of action, because it’s also mating season! Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila Waterfowl mating behaviors can be pretty weird – ranging from the slightly unusual to the outrageous. We found a few videos you might enjoy for a little […]
Confusing Fall Warblers
Confusing Fall Warblers It’s that time of year again when even the most experienced birder might be puzzled by the fall plumage of warblers. For new birders, fall warblers can be a real challenge as not only are they much quieter (so it’s often difficult to make the ID with sound), but their molt takes […]
Family Fun: Owling Adventure
FAMILY FUN: Owling Adventure What kid (or adult for that matter), wouldn’t love to see an owl in the wild? Due to their nocturnal habits (most owls are only active at night), and well-camouflaged feathers, owls can be difficult to spot. During the day, owls roost in thick trees and shrubs, and often hold completely […]
What Are Those Hawks Doing?
What Are Those Hawks Doing? Cold weather doesn’t seem to put much of a damper on hawks when its time to mate. Now is a great time to listen for mating calls and look up to see the amazing aerial displays some raptors make. You can see some hawks like Red-tails circling overhead and flying […]
Easy Ways To Make Your Backyard a Bird Hotspot
In winter birds need fresh open water and lots of calories. You can make your backyard a very popular spot in winter with the addition of a heated birdbath and food with high fat content. Nothing beats food with a lot of calories to keep a bird warm at night and there are plenty of […]
Cool Spots To Watch Winter Waterfowl
Hooded Merganser Waterfowl are in abundance across much of North America in winter. They are looking for mates so are in their prime plumage, making for great sightings. As long as the bodies of water in your area are not completely frozen over, you are likely to find ducks near you! But there are some […]
Family Fun: Join the Christmas Bird Count!
It’s that time of year again! Time to be part of the Christmas Bird Count which is a really fun thing to do with the entire family! In its 115th year this year, from December 14 through January 5, National Audubon Society organizes groups of people across the entire US who spend one specific day […]
Watch Ospery Migration Live Online
Watch Osprey Migration Live Online! Compared to other birds of prey, Ospreys start their migration south early. Ospreys cannot tolerate cold weather and they start their trek to warmer climes in August before temperatures start to drop. In recent years scientists have been attaching transmitters to Ospreys, enabling them to track their movements in real […]
Radar Birding: What It’s All About
Radar Birding: What’s It All About Stay on the cutting edge of birding with RADAR data! Meterologists have being using RADAR stations throughout the country to track and predict weather patterns for decades. But recently, birders have been using RADAR technology to track and understand bird movements! Here is a brief guide to getting started […]