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 […]

Join The Christmas Bird Count

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 […]

Fall For Your Own Native Plant Meadow

  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 […]

What Do Birds Do In a Hurricane?

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 […]

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 […]

Who’s Migrating Now?

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

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 […]

Cuban Bee Hummingbird in Action!

Whoa!  Fabulous Slo-motion of a Bee Hummer in action from National Geographic.  Check it out!   See Hummingbirds Fly, Shake, Drink in Amazing Slow Motion Where human eyes see only a hovering spot of color, high-speed cameras capture the breathtaking maneuvers of a hummingbird in flight. http://on.natgeo.com/2sY92F8 Posted by National Geographic Magazine on Monday, 10 July […]

Pesky Critters in Your Backyard?

    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 […]

Why Hummingbirds Are So Cool

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 […]

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 – […]

Backyard Bird Reading

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 […]

Join Nestwatch and Help Nesting Birds

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 […]

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 […]

Nestcams!

NESTCAMS! explore.org hummingbird nestcam New nests to watch! See updates on nests you saw last month and see some new nests we are watching now.  Have a favorite nest cam?  Let us know about it! Laysan Albatross, Hawaii – who can resist these beautiful birds and their chicks? Red-tailed Hawks, New York – watch them building […]

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 […]