Birdnote
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Nest Building
Make a gift to BirdNote through GiveBIG on May 2, 2012, and s-t-r-e-t-c-h your donation!Give now. And thanks! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Imagine building a bird's nest. An averageAmerican Robinweighs less than three ounces. An average person 1,000 times as much as a robin. A robin’s nest, made of grass and mud, weighs about seven ounces, so yours will weigh 450 pounds. You’ll need to collect about 350 strands of grass, each about four feet long. And don’t forget the...
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A Young Bewick's Wren Learns to Sing
Make a gift to BirdNote through GiveBIG on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, and s-t-r-e-t-c-h your gift!Here's how. Donald Kroodsma, an avian communication expert, offers great research on the songs of the Bewick's Wren. At this time of year, a very young male Bewick's Wren is beginning to learn how to sing. His father sings a crisp well-defined song, separated by pauses, but the young bird's song is fuzzy, unfocused, a little rambling. Each adult maleBewick's Wrenhas his own set of unique songs. A...
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Sapsuckers and Hummingbirds
The sapsucker is a type of woodpecker that notches rows of small holes in trees, causing sap to well out. The birds eat the sugary liquid flowing from these sapwells. Now tree sap is similar in sugar content to the nectar hummingbirds take from flowers. And it is no coincidence that just as theYellow-bellied Sapsuckersget their sapwells flowing in spring,Ruby-throated Hummingbirdscome migrating north. Several species of hummingbirds partake of the bounty of sap released by sapsuckers, even...
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Mapping Songbird Migration with Geolocators
Devices called geolocators are giving us new insights into how, when, and where birds migrate. They record daily changes in light levels at different latitudes and longitudes by recording the time of each sunrise and sunset. And by attaching them to migrating birds - like thisRed Knot-scientists can determine where the birds have been and for how long. Some migrants make lengthy fall stopovers that were previously unknown, and some wintering zones have been pinpointed with new accuracy....
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Unlikely Places to Go Birding
Birding is often best in the least likely places. At sewage treatment plants, watch for ducks and gulls - and raptors keeping watch over them all. Another place might be your local landfill or dump. The Brownsville, Texas dump was, for years, the only place in the US you could find thisTamaulipas Crow. For a more sedate birding adventure, visit a cemetery. Especially in rural areas and in the Midwest, cemeteries are often repositories of native plants, and thus magnets for migratory birds,...
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American Woodcock
At sunset, the maleAmerican Woodcock— a plump, robin-sized bird — walks slowly on short legs from the cover of the forest to a nearby clearing. After a few sharp calls, the woodcock takes flight. As it spirals upward, slim, stiff feathers at its wingtips create a curious twittering. At the apex of its flight, the woodcock circles, then descends in a slow spiral, putt-putting like a tiny car about to run out of gas. The woodcock’s odd looks and sounds have earned it many colorful nicknames....
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John James Audubon Birthday
April 26th is the birthday of John James Audubon - flamboyant, groundbreaking artist, dedicated observer, adventurer, and writer. John James Audubon grew up in France, but moved to Philadelphia at 18. Embracing the natural wonder of his new homeland, Audubon set out to paint all the birds of America.This "Audubon's" Yellow-rumpedWarbler was named for him, and he is also recognized as the man after whom theAudubon Societywas named.Learn more.
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Sage Thrasher and Sagebrush
The glorious song of the maleSage Thrasher rings out every spring from tracts of sagebrush throughout the West. Sagebrush was once widespread in the Great Basin region, and so were the thrashers. But huge areas of sagebrush were turned into alfalfa and potato farms, and the songs of the Sage Thrasheraren’t so common today. Sagebrush badly needs advocacy. Learn more about theImportant Bird Areasprogram that works to protect key habitats for birds.Here’s howyou can help.
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Mistaken Identity
ThisBand-tailed Pigeonmay sound like an owl, but it's a case of mistaken identity. The song of the American Robin could be confused with that of the Black-headed Grosbeak. And then, there’s the Black-capped Chickadee. At certain times of year, the male sings Fee-bee, fee-bee, even though it’s not a "phoebe." Listen to more bird songs and calls attheMacaulay Libraryof Natural Soundsat Cornell University.
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Birds in Shakespeare - With Rod Molzhan
Shakespeare's plays abound with birds. A Midsummer Night’s Dream names seven birds in one, short song. The Ousel-cock so black of hue, with orange tawny bill, The Throstle with his note so true, the Wren with little quill. … The Finch, the Sparrow and the Lark, the plain song Cuckoo gray, Whose note full many a man doth mark, and dares not answer nay. Learn more about this Chaffinch at RSPB, theRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds. And Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare.
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In Celebration of Earth Day
The populations of some birds have declined dramatically – more than 80% in the past 40 years. Here are a few: theNorthern Bobwhite, theEvening Grosbeak, theNorthern Pintail, and theBoreal Chickadee.Common Terns– like this one – migrate along both coasts and through the interior to their nesting grounds in Canada from their winter home in the tropics. What can you do this Earth Day, to help make the world a better place for birds? Find ideasat EarthDay.org.
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Restoring the Land - An Interview with Susan Freeman
Aldo Leopold, in A Sand County Almanac, described his family’s efforts to restore their land to its natural state. Leopold’s granddaughter, Susan Freeman, a piano teacher in Seattle, inherited that land ethic. When offered the chance to help restore a watershed on Western Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Susan and her husband Scott dug right in. Working to restore the five-mile-long Tarboo Creek, they’ve planted more than 5,000 trees so far. What could you do to help the natural world? Find...
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Brown Pelicans -- What We're Learning
During the winter of 2009-2010, thousands of Brown Pelicanswashed ashore on Pacific beaches, wet, cold, starving. Fierce storms, thought to be more frequent because of global climate change, probably made it difficult for the birds to feed. And storm-water runoff washed oil and pollutants into the water, destroying the birds’ natural insulation. Perhaps carpooling and using your car less can benefit birds like Brown Pelicans, which are on the receiving end of oil-based pollution. Learn more...
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Walk Down an Arroyo
Arroyo means "stream" in Spanish. With mesquite, yucca, and cactus along their edges, arroyos in the Southwest fill with water only a few times a year, mostly during the heavy rains of late summer. There’s a remarkable diversity of wildlife here, including thisPyrrhuloxia. Birds here are most active in the morning, except those that are nighttime specialists. The sounds of life in an arroyo are magical, day and night. Visit us onFacebook, and let us know what you think of the show.
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Limpkin - Bird of the Swamp
It’s dawn on a spring day inthe Big Cypress Swamp ofFlorida. Mist rises from quiet water into Spanish moss hanging from the cypress branches. A Limpkin is foraging for apple snails. When it touches a big, round shell, it grabs it quickly and pulls it from the water. Then, moving to solid ground, the Limpkinpositions the shell, and using the curved tip of its lower mandible, it scissors loose the operculum and pulls out the snail.Have you spent time in a cypress swamp? Tell us your story and...
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Kids in Nature
Unless kids are introduced purposefully to nature, they may understand the plight of the Amazon rain forest, but never dampen their feet in a local stream. They may never know the names and songs of the birds they see or understand the wonder of migration. Nature camps for children can invigorate their connections with the natural environment. Your localAudubon chaptermay have a kids' camp.NatureRocks.orghas lots of ideas for family activities.And check outCoyote's Guide to Connectingwith...
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Midway Project - The Plastic Gyre, with Chris Jordan
Artist Chris Jordan brings a deep energy to a huge environmental problem – the accumulation of plastic debris in the world’s oceans. He’sdocumenting its effect on the Laysan Albatrosses of Midway Island. Adultbirds mistake pieces of plastic for squid and fish, feeding them to their chicks – unwittingly, killing them. But Chris has faith in a culture’s ability to correct its course. “We act, when we feel something deeply…” See Chris Jordan’s moving photos of the albatrosses of Midway...
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Dry Tortugas Archipelago
From a bird’s perspective, the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico can be a lifesaver. Millions of migratory songbirds fly north across the Gulf and Caribbean each spring, headed for North America. If they run into heavy wind and rain blowing down from the continent, the Dry Tortugas provide their first landfall. In a storm, thousands of storm-tossed birds – warblers, thrushes, cuckoos, and others – seek shelter on theDry Tortugas. No doubt that thisBlackpoll Warblerwas happy to touch down...
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Birds Dress for Spring
It’s spring! And for many birds, it's a time to look their best to attract a new mate.ThisAmerican Goldfinch has recently molted. Its old, worn-down feathers have fallen out, and new ones have grown in. When American Goldfinches molt in the fall, they lose these brightly colored feathers. Their winter camouflage helps them blend in with the drab background of the season. If you’d like to make a gift to BirdNote,begin here.
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Follow Island Girl with Bud Anderson
"Peregrine" means "wanderer." And Island Girl, a Peregrine Falcon, has made the 18,000-mile round-trip journey from the high arctic of Canada to southern Chile three times. Bud Andersonof the Falcon Research Groupcalls her "a master of the air." Using satellite telemetry, he invites people to share in the adventure of Island Girl’s journey. With online maps, you can now follow this gorgeousPeregrinein her wanderings. She’ll head northward from Chile early to mid-April.Check it out!
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The Bird Songs of April
The month of April inspires poets, sometimes with contradictory results. T.S. Eliot describes April as "the cruelest month." Shakespeare strikes an upbeat note, writing "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything." Let April speak for itself. Listen to the birds. In Southeastern Alaska, the exuberant voice of aRuby-crowned Kinglet- - -In a Washington State marsh, aCommon Yellowthroat- - -In South Texas,thisLong–billed Thrasher- - -In a dense Midwestern shrub, aBrown Thrasherholds forth....
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High Island - Not an Island and Not Very High
Each spring, millions of songbirds migrate north from the New World tropics to nest in North America. It takes 15 hours on average to cross the roughly 500 miles of the Gulf of Mexico. If wind or rain slows the crossing, the birds are worn out and famished when they reach land. What will they find on gaining the coast? Along the upper Gulf Coast of Texas, many arriving birds – includingRose-breasted Grosbeaks, like this one – find respite onHigh Island, Texas. Learn more about the bird...
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What's Your State Bird?
All states have an official state bird, usually a pretty one or one associated with its particular region. Many state birds are quite common, although Hawaii’s chosen bird, the Nene, a type of goose, is endangered. The bird chosen by the most states - seven - is the Northern Cardinal, followed by the Western Meadowlark, picked by six. Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin chose theAmerican Robin.The California Gull saved the Mormons' first harvest in Utah and is commemorated by this monument...
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How Birds Produce Sound
Nearly all birds produce sound through an organ unique to birds, the syrinx.In many songbirds, the syrinx is not much bigger than a raindrop. Extremely efficient, it uses nearly all the air that passes through it. By contrast, a human creates sound using only2% of the air exhaled through the larynx. Birds whose syrinx is controlled by only one set of muscles have a limited vocal range. This Song Sparrow, using several pairs, can put forth a cascade of trills and notes.Listen again. Sign up...
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Ballet des Petits Poussins - By Mussorgsky & Ravel
Inspired by a talented friend’s painting called Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky wrote a piano piece as part of his famous work "Pictures at an Exhibition." The composition was later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. Have you ever watched a baby bird peck its way out of its shell? The determination to break through is astounding. Check out this video of chicks hatching atYouTube.com.
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A Natural Feast for Hummingbirds
Hoping to attract hummingbirds to your yard or balcony? One way is to grow native plants. Native plants provide cover, and they offer nectar in spring and summer. They also attract insects, the most important part of a hummingbird’s diet. Just add a source of water for drinking and bathing, and you’ll have a hummingbird haven. ThisAnna's Hummingbirdis feasting on red-flowering currant. Check out these guides to native plants of theEastand theWest. Or find aMaster Gardenernear you who can...
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Nocturnal Migration of Songbirds
If this week’s bright full moon pulls you outside, pause for a moment and listen. You just might hear migrating songbirds, flying overhead. Most songbirds do migrate at night, when fewer predators are out. The migrants stop, feed, and rest during the day. However, scientists believe that the main reason songbirds migrate at night is that the stars help orient them on their northward journey. Learn more about nocturnal migration atChipper Woods Bird Observatory.
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American Robin, Valiant Challenger
The maleAmerican Robin- fiercely territorial - belts out its distinctive cheery song to defend its breeding territory from invasion by other robins. Sometimes, the robin sees its own reflection as an interloper and challenges the “invader” over and over, even to the point of exhaustion or injury.It's called the "battering robin syndrome," although cardinals, mockingbirds, juncos, and other birds do it, too.Closing the curtains or stenciling stars made with Bon Ami paste onto the windows can...
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Rainwater Basin
For 20,000 years, spring rains and melting snow have filled the playas of the Rainwater Basin of south-central Nebraska. As winter ends, ten million waterfowl rest and feed here before continuing north. The seasonal wetlands form a funnel for birds heading from the Gulf Coast and points south to northern breeding grounds. In recent years, the number ofSnow Geesestopping here in spring has risen dramatically to more than three million birds. A third of North America’sNorthern Pintailsrely on...
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Burrowing Belted Kingfisher
TheBelted Kingfisherdashes through the air, warning intruders with its rapid-fire, rattling call. In spring, the best places to see Belted Kingfishers are along sandy banks -- they are busy digging burrows, where they will nest. The holes typically reach three to six feet into the bank, but some nesting holes can extend fifteen feet. Drop us a line and let us know what you think of BirdNote: info@birdnote.org.
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American Bittern
TheAmerican Bittern, a member of the heron tribe, spends much of its time in the dense cover of the marsh. Although they are found across the country, you’ll seldom see one. Bitterns are masters of camouflage. Their striped plumage perfectly imitates surrounding vegetation, and theyconceal themselves by freezing—holding their heads and necks upward at an angle that mimics the reeds. Have you seen an unusual bird or observed a bird doing something usual? Tell your story on ourFacebook page....
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The Delirian--Believe it or not
High above the clouds caressing the upper reaches of the mountains soars the most majestic bird you are never likely to see or hear: the Semi-Fixed-Wing Silver Delirian. With a wingspan of some four yards, a sleek metallic silver body almost as long as its wingspan, and huge winged feet, the Delirian visits once a year—April1—during its annual migration from its home in Tierra del Loco, a remote island promontory rising out of the southern Pacific.
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A Treasure Chest
Hummingbirds’ names evoke their exquisite qualities and variety, from brilliants to emeralds to sunangels-- to thisViolet Sabrewing. Central and South America are home to well over 300 species of hummingbirds! Find out more about hummingbird migration -- and what hummingbirds might be coming your way --atHummingbirdWorld.Learn how to attract hummingbirds to your yard atHummingbirds.net. Browse this lovelygallery of photosby William Zittrich and Jon Gallagher.
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Homing Pigeons
Pigeonfanciers from around the world race specially bred homing pigeons over distances up to 600 miles. These stalwart and intelligent birds course the skies at speeds greater than 60 miles an hour. In 2005,a homing pigeon flying home to a loft in Norfolk, Virginia earned the record for that year. It covered more than 250 miles at an average speed of 2,040 yards per minute, at times exceeding 70 miles an hour. Learn more about racing pigeons atPigeon.org. See a photo ofWWII homing pigeons.
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Little Blue Heron, Light and Dark
Two herons, one dark, the other white, feed at the edge of a wooded pond in the South. Both birds are Little Blue Herons. What’s going on here? Well, the white bird is a juvenile. These young herons forage with flocks of Snowy Egrets, which stir up prey. The white immatures mix readily with the white egrets and, by this mimicry, gain a better chance of getting a meal. By arraying the immatureLittle Blue Heronin white, nature helps the young bird survive the vulnerable early years of its...
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Lark Sparrow - Not Just Another Little Brown Bird
The Lark Sparrow is large, gorgeous, and unmistakable. Because of its beauty, a Lark Sparrow was chosen for the cover of Sparrows and Buntings: A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World.Lark Sparrowsnest throughout the West and Midwest, in grassy habitats with scattered shrubs, fields with brushy edges, and sagebrush. Today, with its numbers in decline, the species merits renewed attention and care. Learn more atAudubon.org.
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Wetland Birds Thrive
While nearly a third of North American bird species are in decline, many birds that depend on wetlands are thriving. Duck breeding populations in 2009 were an estimated 25% above historical averages. Conditions on the breeding grounds have improved since the drought years of the 1980s, but human action has also made a huge difference. You can help by encouraging yourelected representativesto protect wetlands. And you can buy aduck stampevery year.The 2011-2012 stampfeatures...
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House Finches Red and Yellow
House Fincheseat many kinds of seeds and fruits. A careful look at male House Finches at a feeder shows that, while most males show red feathering, some are decidedly more orange — and some even yellow. House Finches acquire their coloration from pigments known as carotenoids in the foods they eat. Get BirdNote as a podcast.Sign up now!
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The Nightingale
From Hans Christian Andersen... Long ago, in an emperor's garden, lived aNightingale. The emperor ordered the bird to be brought to him, and she was locked in a golden cage.When the emperor received a mechanical Nightingale, the realNightingale was banished. Years later, the emperor lay dying. Atthe window appeared the Nightingale, and she sang 'til Death slunk away. The emperor asked her to stay with him, but she knew her song sounded best in the green wood.Still, she visited him often, and...
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Why a Gorget Glitters
A hummingbird’s brilliant throat feathers are called a “gorget,” a term applied in past centuries to the metallic swatch protecting the throat ofa knight-in-armor. Light waves reflect and refract offthe throat feathers, creating color in the manner of sun glinting off a film of oil on water. Learn about thisRufous Hummingbird. And check out this stunning gallery of hummingbird photos byWilliam Zittrich and Jon Gallagher. To make a gift to BirdNote,begin here.
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Those Raucous Jays
A raucous call and a bold flash of blue at your feeder means a jay has arrived. East of the Rockies, your visitor is quite likely aBlue Jay(left). Out west, you’re probably seeing aSteller’s Jay.These daring blue dandies sound the alarm, announcing the approach of a predator. Often the loud call sends the predator packing. If not, a family of jays may gang up and mob the intruder. And, if that doesn’t work, the jay may mimic the call of a Bald Eagle or Red-tailed Hawk—birds at the very top...
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Black-throated Sparrow Sings in the Desert
The Black-throated Sparrow thrives in the open, arid habitats of the American Southwest. Nature maintains such native landscapes with frequent but relatively cool-burning fires. But decades of fire suppression have altered nature’s pattern, setting the stage for hotter, more destructive fires. Urban development, overgrazing, and invasive plants have further degraded the habitat. National Audubon lists theBlack-throated Sparrowamong its Top 20 Common Birds in Decline, and recommends a more...
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Why Are Bluebirds Blue?
Why are bluebirds blue? Unlike many other bird colors, blue is not a pigment but a color produced by the structure of the feathers. Tiny air pockets and melanin pigment crystals in each feather scatter blue light and absorb the other wavelengths. The even finer structure of the feather gathers the bouncing blue wavelengths together and directs them outward. That beautiful blue light leaves the feather of thisMountain Bluebird to dazzle the eye of the beholder -- a trick of the light. Learn...
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Dawn Song - Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson: The Birds begun at Four o'clock... As the first rays of sunlight fill the trees on a spring morning, a symphony of birdsong erupts. As early morning light extinguishes the stars, male birds begin to belt out their songs. One of the magical gifts ofspring isthe dawn song. Early in the morning, sparrows, chickadees, thrushes, finches, wrens, blackbirds,and warblers - like thisYellow Warbler -all sing at once.
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River of Birds - Arctic Tern
One of the world champions of long-distance migration is theArctic Tern. Arctic Terns nest across the far northern reaches of the continent during our summer, then fly south to Antarctica for the rest of the year. Some will circle the polar ice-pack before heading north again, completing a total round trip of more than 30,000 miles. Every year. Click on *Enlarge*, to see the full route. VisitArcticTern.Info to see an amazing photographic tribute to the Arctic Tern by Carsten Egevang.
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The Golden Pendulum - Montezuma Oropendola
In a clearing where an ancient Mayan city once stood, the Montezuma Oropendola perches and sings. His courtship display is astonishing: he swings by his feet and sings, his tail describing a golden pendulum – the very source of his name in Spanish – oropendola. Learn more about the Montezuma Oropendola atRainForest.org.
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Green Birds on St. Patrick's Day
You'd think that with so much green in nature, many birds would be a'wearin' the green for camouflage. Not just on St. Patrick's Day, but every day. Yet very few of our birds cavort in Irish green. There be some wee exceptions, however — some of the hummingbirds, with their backs of bright green, including thisfemaleRuby-throated Hummingbird.Learn how to attract hummingbirds to your yard atHummingbirds.net. And Happy St. Patrick's Day from everyone at BirdNote!
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Tree Swallows March North
Every March sees the spring migration of Tree Swallows. The swallows spend the winter along the Caribbean, in Central America, and in the warmest parts of South Texas and California. Some will nest as far north as northern Alaska and Canada.Tree Swallows nest only in cavities, such as old woodpecker holes or man-made nestboxes. The supply of such sites is limited, and competition is intense. Learn how tobuilda swallownestbox. Orbuya nestbox. Placement is of utmost importance!Learn more.
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Great Horned Owls Nest II
When Great Horned Owl eggs hatch, the downy owlets are the size of newborn chickens. Their mother broods them day and night. A few weeks later, the owlets can be left alone while both adults resume hunting at twilight.Great Horned Owl young remain in the nest for about six weeks, then climb out onto nearby branches. They begin taking short flights at seven weeks, and can fly well at 9-10 weeks. Learn more at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.
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European Starling - A Nightmare
You can findEuropean Starlingsin huge flocks from coast to coast, and from Northern Canada deep into Mexico. Yet not one of these iridescent-black, yellow-billed starlings is native to the Americas. One hundred starlings were released in Central Park in New York City in 1890.From that small, misinformed beginning, starlingshave nowmultiplied into more than 200 million birds across the country. Learn more about invasive species atAudubon.org.
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Flicker Attack
In early spring, a male flicker may drum on a metal stovepipe or other resonant surface to attract a mate and proclaim his territory. This doesn’t damage your house. If your flicker is drilling for food, you’d better check for carpenter ants or other insects! A flicker may also be excavating a nest cavity. If so, you can put up a nestbox nearby. The pair that adopts it will keep other flickers away. If it’s late spring or summer and you discover a big hole, there’s probably a brood inside,...
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The Secretive Varied Thrush
Except in winter, when it gathers in loose flocks to move to lower elevations, this shy bird prefers solitude. The intricate pattern of color on its wings resembles dappled sunlight on the forest floor. Naturalist Louis Agassiz Fuertes called the song of theVaried Thrush, “… as perfectly the voice of the cool, dark, peaceful solitude which the bird chooses for its home as could be imagined.” Help the Varied Thrush by choosing forest-friendly lumber for your next building project! Learn...
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Time Changes All Things
Not that long ago, Passenger Pigeons filled the skies. Some flocks, with more than a billion birds, took four days to pass overhead. Aldo Leopold called the pigeon “a biological storm.” Now they are extinct, gone forever from our world. But other birds remain. This spring, go out and delight in their songs! Learn more aboutAldo Leopold. Learn more about the Passenger Pigeon atChipper Woods Bird Observatory.
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Prairie Warblers - An Early Successional Species
Despite their name, Prairie Warblers nest in tree farms of recently planted pines, in fields overgrown with scattered shrubs, and in clearings under power lines. Biologists call these “early successional” habitats. They’re characterized by plants that are the first to return to land altered by clearing or fire.Prairie Warblersand similar birds have declined rapidly during the last 50 years, being pressed from all sides. But they’re now benefiting fromconservationon several fronts, including...
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Dancing with Birds - With Heather Murphy and Rhona Baron
Like migratory birds, the dances of North America travel from nation to nation. Beautifully colored songbirds may breed in the far north, but they winter in Central and South America. During a Zumba class, Heather Murphy realized this combination of dance, music, and culture might be used to attract the broader community to birds and nature. So she and Rhona Baron created the Dancing with Birds curriculum for schools. You can download the material including posters, soundtracks, and videos –...
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People Caring for IBAs - With Patrick Comins
Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Connecticut, explains why Long Beach and its adjoining salt marsh near the town of Stamford are so important for birds. Nearly 300 species of birds, including GreaterandLesser Yellowlegslike these, have been recorded at Great Meadows, designated by National Audubon as an Important Bird Area, or IBA. Search for an IBA in your state atAudubon.org. American Bird Conservancy offers info aboutGlobally Important Bird Areasin the US. See...
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Black-billed Magpies
The Black-billed Magpie is a familiar sight throughout much of the West. The magpie’s bulky nest is a rough sphere of sticks nearly three feet across, with entrance ports on the sides. These birds are survivors. The bison herds they once depended upon are greatly diminished.The species has taken a hit from West Nile Virus.And magpies have ahistory of run-ins with ranchers.Even so, the magpie has persisted. Learn more about this bird at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.
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Red-tails and Airports - The Sea-Tac Wing-tag Study
To protect passengers, planes, and birds at Seattle’s Sea-Tac airport, biologists Steve Osmek and Bud Anderson capture, relocate, and monitor Red-tailed Hawks. The birds are banded, wing-tagged, and released 80 miles north. Bud says, “Almost none of them come back to the airport. So we’re learning that the program’s very effective.” Learn more aboutRaptor Strike Avoidance at Sea-Tac International Airport. If you see a wing-taggedRed-tailed Hawkin the Pacific Northwest, please report it to...
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Northern Flicker - A Mostly Unlikely Woodpecker
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker, but one that hardly looks the part. Where most woodpeckers are a reliable mix of black, white, and bits of red, the Northern Flicker is buffy tan overall. (Depending on what part of the country you live in, you might see either the “Red-shafted Flicker” or the "Yellow-shaftedFlicker.")And if all this weren’t enough, it’s often found on the ground. Learn more at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.
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The Myth of the Kiwi
“Why the Kiwi Lost its Wings” is a myth from the Maori people of New Zealand. Kiwi loved the forest so much that he forsook his wings and beautiful feathers to dwell on the ground and devour the enemies of the forest. The Kiwi is the national symbol of New Zealand, as depicted on this postage stamp. The New Zealand dollaris even nicknamed "the Kiwi." Learn about the Brown Kiwi and more atSaveTheKiwi.
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Common Grackles Conservation
Despite their seeming abundance, the numbers of Common Grackles have shrunk by 60% in the last 40 years. Grackles prefer open landscapes with scattered trees, and their numbers peaked as eastern forests were cleared for agriculture in the 18th and 19th Centuries. As eastern forests grew back in the 20th Century,Common Gracklehabitat shrank. A far more alarming cause is active persecution. Grackles gather in large roosts near humans, and because they are perceived as agricultural pests, they...
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Navigating by the Earth�s Magnetic Field
How do birds navigate? They steer by landmarks and by the sun and stars. A keen sense of smell helps some birds chart their course. And, it turns out, migrating birds also find their way by responding to the magnetic field of the earth. Iron-rich magnetic crystals inside the upper beak of thisBobolinkhelp the bird orient itself to Earth’s magnetic north. Also, light hitting a specific protein in a bird’s eye may trigger a chemical reaction that varies depending on the direction of the...
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How Long Does a Robin Live
Mortality rate is high in our familiar songbirds. For robins, it’s around 50% each year once young birds have fledged. If a robin survives to midwinter, it lives an average of 1.7 years after that. The oldest robins in your yard might be about six years old, although one banded bird lived almost 14 years. Robins don't maintain their pair bonds over the winter, so they mate anew each spring. But if the same male and female return to the same territory, they are very likely to mate again....
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Leaping with Sandhill Cranes
With a graceful leap, wings outstretched, Sandhill Craneswelcome the longer days. The stately cranes are courting, renewing an annual dance they perform in earnest as the days lengthen into spring. Sandhill Crane pairs remain together for life, and their spirited dance plays an essential role in reaffirming this bond. Watch a video oftheir courtshipdance.
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In the Land of Odin - Featuring John and Carol Stansfield
The Norse god Odin had two ravens that perched on his shoulders. Storyteller John Stansfield and his wife Carol share a song about the land of Odin. In this summer camp song, it’s not a raven but a little bird that comes to sharpen its beak on a mythic mountain. Once every million years, a little bird comes winging Sharpens its beak and swiftly disappears, and swiftly disappears. ... Learn more about John Stansfield’s award-winningyoung adult biographies.
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Sizing Up Sharp-shinned Hawks
Sharp-shinned Hawksare swift, bird-catching predators. The male is jay-sized. The female stands a head taller and weighs almost twice as much. Female birds of prey are most notably bigger than males among hawk species that hunt very agile prey, such as other birds. The smaller male will tend to hunt smaller prey. The female takes somewhat larger prey, so together they can tap a wider range of resources. Sign up forweekly previewemail. Subscribe to thepodcast.
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'Alala - The Hawaiian Crow
'Alala, also known as Hawaiian Crows (although they're more like ravens), were once common on the Big Island of Hawaii. But the birds suffered from persecution by humans, degraded habitat, and disease, and by 2002, no 'Alala were left in the wild. Today, captive breeding is under way in Hawaii, and 2011 was the best year ever for the program. The total 'Alalapopulation now stands at 95 birds. While a previous attempt to return 'Alala to the wild came up short, we await the day when...
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The Crane Wife
Throughout history, the Japanese have viewed the crane as a symbol of good fortune. Because cranes mate for life, they also represent fidelity and honor. VisitSavingCranes.org, to learn more about the International Crane Foundation and the fight to savethe JapaneseRed-crowned Crane. Music in this episode courtesy ofDuo En.
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Corbin Klaft - A Friend to the Birds
Nine-year-old Corbin Klaft has a birdfeeder outside his bedroom window. "I want to see the birds, how they hunt and perch, what they do with their feet. The birds come and eat, and I try to identify them." Corbin has an idea for a birdhouse, too. "I'm going to make a regular bird house and then put a shield with a hole in it that predators can't get in." What's one of the best things about watching birds from your room? "It's experiencing nature but not scaring them away!" Learn more...
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Red-tailed Hawks Take the Bus
Travel into Seattle from Sea-Tac airport, and you might share the shuttle with aRed-tailed Hawk! To protect planes, passengers and birds, airport biologists Steve Osmek andBud Andersonare capturing and relocating raptors. They band andwing-tag the hawks, then release them in the Skagit Valley, far enough away that they won’t come back. And how to transport such big young birds? Enter Bellair Shuttle. The airporter agreed to carry the hawks, secure in covered animal carriers, north to safer...
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Spring Brings New Bird Songs
All winter long, our neighborhoodHouse Finches—like this one—have called to one another with their distinctive, sweet cheeps. And our residentSong Sparrows, with calls that sound like a tiny barking dog. But as the days grow longer in late winter, the lengthening light helps trigger a bird’s urge to really sing. The breeding cycle is beginning anew, with song and courtship and then pair-bonding, all leading to nesting.Listen again.
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Mating for Life
Most bird species in North America mate for a single breeding season. Some may team up again the following year, just because both stay in - or return to - the same territory. Fewer than one-fifth ofSong Sparrowpairs, likethese, are reunited. Hawks, eagles, and ravens have wide territories, thus few contacts with the opposite sex. Maintaining a relationship through the winter may assure breeding in the next season.
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Bald Eagle - National Symbol
Stretch your arms as far as you can, and imagine a bird whose reach is even greater! Sitting about three feet tall, the Bald Eagle has a wingspan of more than six feet.When you see a mature Bald Eagle, you’ll see a snowy-white head and tail with a dark brown body. Look closer and you’ll see lemon yellow eyes and a powerful set of legs and feet. To learn more about the intriguing ways of the Bald Eagle, visit Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.
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If It Weren't for Birds
If it weren't for birds, how many of us would take notice of the natural world? Birds are all around us. In our back yards or driving across country, most of the animals we see are birds.Many drawattention with their songs. Some birds hunt on the wing, and you’ll see one if you watch the sky.They sometimes flyin large flocks. Birds are unavoidable. How many fewer nature-lovers there would be, if it weren't for more than the 10,000 species of birds! Imagine a world without thisGreen Heron...
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Black-capped Chickadee
If you hang a simple feeder outside your window, you might attract thisBlack-capped Chickadeeand many other birds. Fill the feeder and install it close to any room where you spend time. Hang the feeder within three feet of the window to keep the birds from colliding with the glass. That way, if they do, the impact is less damaging since they haven’t gained much speed. Learn more at Cornell’sAllAboutBirds.
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Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
The 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count, February 17-20, is sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birdwatchers across the country count birds and then report the numbers on-line. Although it may seem that crows are everywhere, theNorthern Cardinalis reported on the most lists nearly every year, far above the crow. Well, if there’s a male cardinal at your feeder, it is pretty hard to miss! Birds reported in the highest numbers have been the European Starling and the American Robin. There’s...
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Consider the Ostrich
The flightless Ostrich is a bird of superlatives. It's the largest and tallest bird on the planet, growing to maybe eight feet tall, and weighing 250 pounds! It’s also the fastest creature on two legs, capable of running at 40 miles an hour. Ostriches have never been observed to stick their heads in the sand. When threatened, they’re more likely to run away. But ifan Ostrich senses danger and can’t run away, it lies down and remains still. Tell your friends about BirdNote! Copy this link and...
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Wood Storks and Climate Change
Wood Storks nest in trees, often in big colonies, and only when conditions are just right for them. Because of their feeding technique, they thrive in the early part of the dry season, when receding floodwaters concentrate fish in small pools. But this method of feeding is effective only when the rainy season is normal. In some years, increased droughts brought about by global climate change preventWood Storksfrom breeding at all. Learn more aboutWood Stork conservation. Have you ever seen a...
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Swans on Valentine's Day
Swans have long exalted the human heart. Among the world’s most magnificent creatures, swans inspire us, especially on Valentine’s Day. On a lake, an adult pair of swans glides serenely, side by side,a classic symbol oflove.And they have earned their reputation for fidelity. Swans mate for life. Their bond endures from year to year and the family group remains together until spring. No wonder swans have worked their way into many human images of love. Learn more about theseTrumpeter Swans.
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Rock Pigeon, Urban Bird
TheRock Pigeonis the quintessential urban bird. Early European settlers at Jamestown and Plymouth introduced it to North America in the 1600s, and it is now found across the entire country. Flocks roam parks and city streets and sit on wires and billboards. Be part of our flock of supporters, andmake a gift to BirdNote --begin here. Thank you!
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Old Abe, the War Eagle
Abe Lincoln's Birthday! An infantry regiment from Wisconsin hadaBald Eagle as its mascotduring the Civil War. Named “Old Abe”, in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, this eagle accompanied Company C in nearly 40 battles. After the Civil War, Old Abe retired to the Wisconsin Capital, appearing in parades and visiting veterans’ conventions. For more about Old Abe, visit theWisconsin Electronic Reader.
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Sanderlings
Here and there along winter shorelines, little flocks of pale, silvery shorebirds probe at the water’s edge, keeping pace with each wave’s ebb and flow. These are Sanderlings, small sandpipers that stay through the winter. Rachel Carson,in Under the Sea Wind, described Sanderlings as running “with a twinkle of black feet.” Learn more about the Sanderling at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.Check out this photo ofa whole flock of Sanderlings, taken bySimon Tan.
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The COASST Program - Interview with Julia Parrish
In the late 1990s, Julia Parrish started the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team or COASST. Julia says: “We train people to go out to their local beach and survey it. They are looking for birds that have literally washed in on the last tide.COASST offers people a chance to learn more about the birds. And that I think is the essence of citizen science.” Learn more aboutJulia Parrish’s workand how you might get involved. Cornelloffers many projects. There's more atWikipedia.org.
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Franklin's Gull - Sometimes a Seagull, Sometimes Not
Gulls are often called "seagulls," but many spend a lot of time far away from the sea. The Franklin's Gull breeds in freshwater wetlands more than 5,000 miles from its winter home at the ocean. After the breeding season, they ascend high in the sky for their long flight across the Equator to the coasts of Peru and Chile. Now deserving the name “seagull,”theFranklin's Gullsroost on the beach and dive for anchovies in the cold Humboldt Current. Habitats of the world are connected by the birds...
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Winter Field Notes - Reflections by Heather Murphy
Heather Murphy, a naturalist, watches for birds with the trained eye of a wildlife biologist, then makes a few field notes. From her journal: “I hear tzeet-tzeet-tzeet. Fast movement. Ah, a tiny kinglet. Which kinglet? Hm.m.m. No leaves anymore, so I easily see an olive-green back. And through my binocs, eye stripes! Aha! It’s the Arctic-loving Golden-crowned Kinglet." Peek into Heather Murphy’s journal, where you can see her drawings. See more of Heather’s work atWildTales.com.
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Yellow-billed Magpies and West Nile Virus
Like their cousins, jays and crows, the Yellow-billed Magpies of California were hit hard by West Nile virus. The disease reduced magpie numbers by half. Habitat loss and poisoning also threaten the birds. They’re now on Audubon’s watchlist of species of concern. Whether the magpies will develop immunity to West Nile, as some other birds have, is still not clear. In 2009, volunteers from Audubon California started conductingsurveys of the bird’s population. Citizen science can help keep a...
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Three Kingfishers
TheBelted Kingfisheris the one species of kingfisher found throughout most of North America north of Mexico. You’ll have to go to Texas to see two other kingfishers. The quiet call of theGreen Kingfisher— like this one — can be heard at wooded streams and ponds. ARinged Kingfisherperches up high and makes spectacular dives into the water, coming up with fish larger than those the Belted can handle. Learn more about other Texas birds atWorldBirdingCenter.org.
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Birds in Music
We have many examples of music inspired by birdsong, but there are also composers who have used actual bird sounds in their works, including Ottorino Respighi in his 1923 work, The Pines of Rome. When Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara composed "Cantus Arcticus" (also known as “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra”), he may have had in mindtheseWhooper Swans.In 2007, German producer Dominik Eulberg released a composition made entirely with sampled bird sounds. Listen to this show again.
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Flocking and Foraging
In winter, a foraging flock might include several species of birds: chickadees, kinglets, and even aDowny Woodpecker. Many bird species eat alone, so you might wonder why these birds have chosen to dine together. Different species flocking together to find food enhances the success of all. One species assists the foraging of others. Find out how to attract birds to your back yard at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. Join yourlocal Audubonchapter and learn how to help save habitat for birds.
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Snowy Owls Are Here - With Gerrit Vyn
In some years, great numbers of Snowy Owls come south from the Arctic to reside in fields, farmlands, and shorelines. In the past, it was believed that population crashes of lemmings on the breeding grounds caused many owls to come south.But their movements are more complex and unpredictable than that. The years that we see manySnowy Owlsin the south actually seem to be the result of an abundance of lemmings on the breeding grounds and thus, throngs of hungry young owls. Watch avideo by...
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Ecuador�s Nature Reserves - Paul Greenfield�s Thoughts
Ecuador is home to 1600 species of birds – twice the number in all of North America. Artist and naturalistPaul Greenfield, a long-time resident of Ecuador, has helped create conservation reserves, large and small. He feels that smaller reserves may have the best chance for long-term success. Small reserves, such as theMindo Cloud Forest Reserve– where the photo of thisToucan Barbetwas taken -- encourage local communities to play a full role in preserving and restoring habitat, and enable...
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The Elegant Black Tern
Elegant Black Terns breed in summer on secluded wetlands across the northern states and Canada. Because of major losses of wetlands in their breeding range –- especially in Canada’s prairie provinces –-Black Ternnumbers have dropped dramatically since the 1960s. The future of this beautiful bird depends on protecting and restoring high-quality wetlands. Recent research shows thatartificial nest platformscan enhance the terns’ breeding success.Learn more.
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Ptarmigan in Winter
Both the Willow Ptarmigan and theseWhite-tailed Ptarmigan, feathered mostly brown in summer, are utterly transfigured by an autumn molt. As snow begins to mantle their world, both species, now all white, blend in superbly.But the ptarmigan pulls another trick. It adds dense white feathering on both the tops and bottoms of its feet. And its claws grow longer. The bird grows snowshoes! It's not too late to order a BirdNote 2012 calendar, with photographs by Paul Bannick. Get yours today!
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Short-eared Owls
Flapping with deep, slow wing-motion, a Short-eared Owl appears almost to float above the ground. This owl has an extensive world range, including North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Still, it’s declining, due to development, agriculture, and overgrazing.American Bird ConservancyandPartners in Flightconsider this bird at-risk. But the federalConservationandWetland Reserve Programsare showing promise forShort-eared Owls, by preserving large blocks of habitat.Let your elected...
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Patrick Comins, on Being a Conservationist
Patrick Comins, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Connecticut, explains what being a conservationist means to him. "If you've ever seen aScarlet Tanageryou don't even have to describe how wonderful they are. It's this variety and diversity of birds that really got me interested. While a lot of birds may still be common, if we're not smart about our planning, we may be losing some of these." Learn more about Patrick and his campaign to save habitat onLong Island Sound.
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Cerulean Warblers Link Conservation on Two Continents
In winter,the Cerulean Warblerforagesin tree-tops of the Andes Mountains. In May, at the other end of a 2,500-mile migration, the very same bird sings from the tree-tops in the Appalachian Mountains. TheCerulean Warbleris one of the most threatened birds in the US. American Bird Conservancyis working to save this bird and its two homes.ABCpresents a roadmap for conserving birds in the Americas in their book, The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation.Learn more. Choosing...
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Ducks Unlimited Celebrates Anniversary - 75 Years!
This January marks the 75th anniversary of Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited – or DU – has grown to become, by many measures, the most effective wetland conservation organization in the world. To date, they’ve conserved more than 12 million acres of waterfowl and wildlife habitat in North America. So for hunter and birder alike, for all who care about ducks, geese, swans – and shorebirds, rails and many others – DU plays a vital role. BirdNote salutesDucks Unlimitedon 75 years of achievement....
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An Owl Is Mobbed
A pint-sizedNorthern Pygmy-Owl, not much bigger than a pine cone, hoots from a tree-top on a winter morning. Before long, this diurnal owl – a determined predator of small birds and mammals – will attract a mob of a dozen or more small birds.Mobbing may be a collective response to danger. But it’s not certain if the “mobbers” hope to drive away the predator, or simply draw attention to the threat. Sign up for theBirdNotepodcast!
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Feeding Frenzy
It’s late winterat Ding Darling National Wildlife Refugeon Sanibel Island, Florida. Many birds have finished nesting, and young birds are everywhere. This morning, wind and tide have conspired to strand schools of fish in backwater ditches. And the birds are taking advantage of it. It’s a feeding frenzy! [Seen in the *Enlarged* version of the photo:White Ibises,Great Egrets,Snowy Egrets, andAmerican White Pelican] Thanks to theNational Wildlife Refuge System, these birds – and many others –...
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Why Arctic Terns Have Short Beaks
The bill and legs of Arctic Terns are shorter than those of Common Terns. Because Arctic Terns breed in the Arctic and winter in the Antarctic, they are subject to much colder weather than are Common Terns.Birds' bills and legs lose heat, because they're not covered by feathers. Birds in cold climates have short bills and legs, lessening their exposure. Note the difference between the bill and legs of theArctic Ternon the bottom hereand those of theCommon Ternon the top. Tell a friend about...
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Piracy Among Raptors
One bird of prey may steal another’s meal, a behavior that biologists call piracy, or kleptoparasitism. The prey may change hands several times, perhaps from Northern Harrier toPeregrine Falconto Bald Eagle.ThePeregrine— like this one — may steal a meal, or have its meal stolen, or both! Visit your local Audubon chapter, to see where you might watch raptors this winter.Begin here.
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Gliding with Tropicbirds
With the strong, direct flight of a falcon, a tropicbird can catch a flying fish on the wing, or plunge like an arrow into the sea and - with its serrated bill - capture a squid. Three species of tropicbirds range through most of the tropical latitudes of the world’s oceans, and have done so for 60 million years. These are the Red-tailed Tropicbird,(like this one), the White-tailed Tropicbird, and theRed-billed Tropicbird.Learn more. Start the new year on a high note with agift to BirdNote.
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Great Horned Owls Nest
High in a leafless cottonwood, a female Great Horned Owl incubates two eggs. As light snow falls on her back, her mate roosts nearby. Since December, this pair has been hooting back and forth regularly at night.Great Horned Owlsnest in winter, because the owlets, which hatch after a month of incubation, must remain near their parents a long time compared to many other birds -- right through summer and into early fall. Become a BirdNote benefactor!Begin here.
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Where Are They Now - The Birds of the Dawn Song
Where have the birds of summer gone? TheSwainson’s Thrushis wintering in Central or South America, maybe as far south as Bolivia.Warbling Vireosare now spread through much of Central America, whileBlack-headed Grosbeakshave migrated to Mexico. ThisOrange-crowned Warbleralso makes Mexico its winter home, as do someAmerican Robins. January finds theWillow Flycatchertucked away in Costa Rica or Panama. As winter turns to spring, these singers will begin to fly north, where they will once again...
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Toucan - Tropical Icon
In the Amazon, a cacophony of birdcalls surrounds you. One piercing, cheerful yelp catches your ear. Could this be the same sound you remember from a Saturday morning in your childhood? TheCuvier's Toucancould have been the inspiration for Toucan Sam, the "spokesbird" for Froot Loops cereal. Its huge bill is surprisingly light, and enables the bird to pluck fruit -- or other birds' nests! --hanging from small, outer branches.That billmay scare off potential predators. And it may also help...
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Landowners Help Endangered Sage-Grouse
When it comes to saving endangered species, habitat is nearly always critical. For this Greater Sage-Grouse, a bird now endangered in parts of its range, it comes down to preserving stands of healthy sagebrush. And essential to saving sage habitat is the cooperation of landowners. Recently, Rob Wesselman and his family placed 1100 acres of their land –home to Greater Sage-Grouse– into a federal conservation program called State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement, or SAFE. Hats off to the...
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Kittiwake, Kittiwake
Named for its rhythmic calls, theBlack-legged Kittiwakeas it is known in North America - it's also known as the Common Kittiwake - is a dapper, oceanic gull. As described by Roger Tory Peterson, the tips of its pale gray wings “are cut straight across, as if they had been dipped in ink.” Unlike many gulls, kittiwakes spend most of the year at sea and are seldom seen inland. Watch avideo of kittiwakes nestingat Shoup Glacier in Alaska. Searchfor a show. Sign up for thepodcast.
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Blackbird, by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney and the rest of the Beatles most certainly grew up hearing Eurasian Blackbirds. Their song is beautiful, so it's no wonder the Beatles chose to weave it into one of their songs. But McCartney wasn't singing about the bird. He was singing about the racial strife in the American South in the 1960s. As he said later, "This was really a song from me to a black woman, experiencing these problems in the States: 'keep your faith; there is hope.'" Does theEurasian Blackbirdreally sing...
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Sounds of the Amazon
It's winter and time for a vacation. Let's head to the Amazon! With names like the Screaming Piha, the Blue-crowned Motmot, and the Black-necked Red-Cotinga, these are not your average birds. Insects are the background chorus for the Cuvier's Toucan and the Musician Wren. If you want to get away to it all, check out an ecotourismtrip withRareConservation.org.
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How Feathers Insulate
A single Canada Goose has between 20 and 25 thousand feathers. Some are designed to help the bird fly or shed water. Many are the short, fluffy kind, the down thatinsulates the bird from the cold. Birds survive in sub-zero weather by fluffing their feathers, creating layers of air and feathers. Just a fraction of an inch of this insulation can keep a bird's body temperature at 104 degrees, evenin freezing weather. Findyourlocal Audubon chapter and volunteer. Begin atAudubon.org.
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Jynx!
A birder may have a target bird so elusive that the bird becomes a kind of “jinx bird.” But there was a real bird by that name! The bird once called the “jynx” is known today as theEurasian Wryneck. When a wryneck is threatened, it twists its head like a snake and hisses. This behavior led to the wryneck being invoked in witchcraft to put a spell or a jinx on someone. Get pictures of the birds featured in the week to come. Sign up forWeekly Preview.
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John Burroughs I
John Burroughswas probably the most popular nature writer of the late 19th Century. Many consider Burroughs the founder of the modern nature essay. Yet Burroughs wrote not about nature on a grand scale, but about glimpses of nature close to home.He preferred to walk his own backyard woods - on Old Clump Mountain in the Catskills region of New York - than the alpine realms that now bear his name. Is there a child in your life who would find delight in a glimpse of nature?
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Bohemian Waxwings Visit
It's winter, and apples litter the ground. Afew still hang, frozen and thawed again and again. Suddenly a flock of hundreds of birds rises from the ground beneath the trees, swarming in tight formation, wing-tip to wing-tip.Bohemian Waxwingsare erratic winter visitors from their nesting grounds in the boreal forests of the north. They come in search of fruit to sustain their winter wanderings. Sign up forWeekly Preview Email& see photos for the week to come.
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Migration to the New World - Birds Lead First Americans
The wild music of migrating geese may have led some of the First Americans to the New World. Perhaps in witnessing the migration of waterfowl they imagined a new world of abundance below the southern horizon. They may have asked themselves: Where do the birds come from in spring and where do they go, as the year turns colder? Spurred by need and perhaps a haunting music, in following theflocks, they came upon a land of astounding natural bounty. More than we know, our lives have been bound...
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Winter Brings Falcons
AMerlin—like this one—hunts boldly from a high perch. APeregrine Falcon dives on a hapless pigeon, with an air speed approaching 200 miles per hour. TheGyrfalconcan fly down even the fastest waterfowl in a direct sprint. APrairie Falconblends in with its background. And the smallest North American falconof all, theAmerican Kestrel, hovers a field, watching for a mouse or large insect. You can find out where to find these birds at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.
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A Swirl of Snow Geese
Snow Geese nest from far northeastern Russia to Greenland, in the arctic and subarctic. They winter on the deltas ofrivers in northwesternWashington, areas along the Eastern Seaboard, and throughout the Mississippi Flyway.They're typically seen in large flocks.To see if Snow Geese winter near you, visit Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. Don't missthis amazingvideoby Barbara Galatti! Learn more aboutBarry Lopez.
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Why Do Chickadees Come and Go?
A chickadee comes in to the feeder, quickly grabs a seed, and flies away. It may return immediately, but it's more likely to wait its turn. When a whole flock of chickadees moves into the yard, it looks as if they form a living conveyer belt. One chickadee after another flies to the feeder and leaves with a seed.The birdstake turnsrather than squabbling over the seeds. Learn more aboutfeeding chickadees— including thisChestnut-backed Chickadee.
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Donald Duck - The Duck in the Sailor Suit
Today, we celebrate Donald Fauntleroy Duck, first sighted in Hollywood in 1934. Despite nearly 80 years on the big screen and more than 150 films and countless comic books to his credit, Donald’s plumage has never changed. Donald doesn’t migrate, but resides year round in Duckburg. To our knowledge, longtime sweetheart Daisy has never made Donald a father. But he does show a strong paternal instinct for a trio of unruly nephews. While he means well, he tends to get in over his head, but he...
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Peregrine Comeback
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, which came out in 1962, linked the pesticide DDT to the decline of many birds, including songbirds. ButPeregrine Falconsand other raptors had declined, too. When the birds ingested DDT, it caused their eggshells to thin and break under the weight of the incubating bird. With the ban of DDT, nesting success rebounded. Join yourlocal Audubon chapterand find outwhatyou can do tohelp all birds! Here's more about theState of the Birds.
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Birdbaths in Winter
Does the image of a frozen birdbath bring to mind a small yellow bird with ice skates? Birds need water in all seasons, for drinking and for bathing. When the water is frozen, you can thaw it with hot water. Or go the slightly more expensive route and add a heater. Learn more about providing for your backyard birds at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. To find your local Audubon chapter, visitAudubon.org.
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A New Year Dawns
Listen to the earth awaken, as dawn circles the globe. Learn more about acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, who recorded these sounds around the globe,at SoundTracker.
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Paul Bannick Photographs the Great Gray Owl
A few years ago, Paul Bannick went to photograph theGreat Gray Owl in Northern Minnesota. He writes: "I went out one morning before the sun had risen and found one owl that was in a particularly photogenic place. I watched that owl." Paul learned what the bird's habits were, and that give him the best chance to capture the image he wanted. Learn more about Paul's book, The Owl and the Woodpecker. Get your2012BirdNote calendar, featuring photography by Paul Bannick.
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Bird of the Year, From Lyanda Haupt
Many birders play a New Year’s game called "Bird of the Year." The first bird you see on January 1st becomes your theme bird for that year – one to bless your perspective, your imagination, your spirit. Author Lyanda Haupt was at first disappointed with her "bird of the year," aEuropean Starling. But she said: "As an urban dweller, I might turn to the starling as easily as any other bird for lessons in living with resilience and attunement to the natural world." Learn more about Lyanda’s...
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Millerbirds Return to the Island of Laysan
In September 2011, the research vessel Searcher sailed for Laysan Island from the Hawaiian island of Nihoa. It carried eight biologistsfrom American Bird Conservancyand the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – and 24 Millerbirds. Laysan was once home to Millerbirds, but they disappeared long ago, due to invasive rabbits. The rabbits are now gone, and on September 10th, the Millerbirds were released onto the island. Within a month, observers recorded seven singing pairs ofMillerbirdsand even two...
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The Majestic Gyrfalcon
Winter brings wondrous birds. Unrivalled among these is the majestic Gyrfalcon, a regal visitor from the Arctic where it nests. "Gyrs" are among the largest falcons in the world, with the female—the larger of the sexes—outranking even a Red-tailed Hawk in size. With a name that derives from an Old Norse word for “spear,” theGyrfalconwas a medieval falconer’s prize, reserved for royalty. If you liked this show, send it to a friend! Copy and paste this link in email: http://bit.ly/i7ZZup.
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Rare Sounds Saved by Macaulay Library
The tranquil song of the Kaua’i O’o graced the high, dense forests of Kaua’i until 1987, when it was heard no more. The voice of only one member of this family of birds, now all extinct, remains immortalized on tape. The Macaulay Library maintains the largest collection of bird sounds in the world – more than 160,000! These recordings give voice to more than two-thirds of the world’s roughly 10,000 bird species. Some of the birds recorded are now extremely rare or perhaps even extinct – like...
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Sandhill Cranes - Interview with Hank Lentfer
Hank Lentfer, author and lifelong Alaskan, helped establish a 4,000-acre refuge for Sandhill Cranes – theGustavus Forelands Preserve. Today, some 20,000Sandhill Cranesuse the preserve to rest and refuel. Along the way, they’ve helped Hank make his own journey – one from despair to hope. “It’s easy in the avalanche of grim news to feel isolated, but it’s in the act of joining others to speak for what you love that you can feel a kindred spirit with all these other people.” Learn more about...
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Birds on a Cold Night
As December days shorten, birds spend the long, cold nights in a protected place, sheltered from rain and safe from nighttime predators. Small forest birds, such as nuthatches and creepers, may spend the night huddled together in tree cavities. On cold winter nights, birds like this female Green-winged Tealfluff up their feathers for insulation, hunker down over their legs and feet, and turn their heads around to poke their beaks under their shoulder feathers. Usher inthe new yearwith...
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Julenek - Birds at Christmas
Birds are an important part of Christmas in Norway.On Christmas Eve, sheaves of wheat or oats are tied to a post or hung on the door, to feed the birds on Christmas morning. Birds and all wild creatures must be remembered this season! The bundle of grain, thejulenek, has become a symbol of Christmas in Norway, and a julenek hangs on nearly every door, decorated with bows and ready for avian visitors, including thisEuropean Robin. Happy Holidays from the whole BirdNote team!
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Carol of the Birds - With Nancy Rumbel
To celebrate the day, Nancy Rumbel, who composed and played the BirdNote theme music, performs "Carol of the Birds." This version was arranged by Nancy herself, with the accompaniment of Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadees, a Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Mourning Dove. Nancy plays the ocarina, oboe, bell, and harmonium. You can visit her website,nancyrumbel.com. Happy Holidays from all of us at BirdNote!
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Encounter with a Cassowary
In a tropical woodland in eastern Australia, you glimpse a Southern Cassowary, a huge flightless bird that must rate as the most prehistoric looking of all birds. Cassowaries are capable of making remarkable sounds, including the lowest known bird call in the world, barely audible to the human ear!Learn more about theSouthern Cassowary. For more about the sound, visit NatlGeo.com.See aphotoof acassowary and chick.
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Solstice Fires
In The Golden Bough, Sir James Frazer describes early Europeans building solstice fires at year's end to strengthen the sun. Seeing the sun steadily weakening, steadily falling in its arc across the sky, they did what they could to restore it to health. Birds and other creatures of the natural world respond to the length of winter days. Much of the rhythm and timing of birds' behavior, including migration and breeding, is determined by the length and intensity of the sun's light. Learn more...
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Pelicans Go Fishing
Unlike Brown Pelicans, which dive from above to capture fish, White Pelicans feed by forming a group. They swim in a line, and – while herding a school of fish – all dip their heads at once. The pelican’s broad bill spreads its huge pouch, as the bird pushes through the water. As each bird lifts its head, water drains out of the pouch, and the fish go down with a gulp. Both Brown andWhite Pelicanshave been declining. But fortunately, conservation has helped and their numbers have increased....
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Crested Caracara - Mexico's National Bird
The Crested Caracara, one of North America’s most charismatic birds of prey, is common in Texas, and an isolated population lives in Florida. They stride through the grass on long legs, as they hunt for small animals of all kinds. Mexico honors the caracara as the Mexican Eagle, the national symbol, and you can see it on theMexican flag. It’s a good choice. The bird was sacred to the Aztecs. And acaracarawill face off against a vulture twice its size!
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Buffleheads in Winter
Buffleheads have returned for the winter, down from the boreal forests of the north where they breed. These birds are monogamous and often return to the same wintering area. Buffleheads breed on small lakes and ponds in the boreal forest. In winter, the Bufflehead is most often found in coastal areas, in shallow bays and inlets. Learn more about the Bufflehead at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.Watch avideo of Buffleheads-- two males and one female.
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Chickadees in Winter
How do Black-capped Chickadees manage tosurvive the rigors of winter at high latitudes?For survival, chickadees have three things going for them: they’re insulated, they’re active, and they have a good memory. Thanks to a half-inch coat of feathers, theBlack-capped Chickadeemaintains its body temperature at 100 Fahrenheit, even when the air is 0. Learn more aboutfeedingchickadees and other birds. Greet 2012 with a newBirdNote calendar!
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Saving Newell's Shearwaters on Kaua'i
On the north shore of Kaua'i, endangered seabirdscalled Newell's Shearwatersnest in the mountains. After sunset, shearwaters fly out from the highlands to the ocean, using the moon’s reflection on the sea to guide them. But some mistakenly fly toward streetlights, lighted resorts, and even football stadiums, especially on nights when there is no moon. They too often collide with power-lines. In 30 years, their population has dropped by more than two-thirds. ButAmerican Bird Conservancyand...
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Why Birds Stand on One Leg
Birds' legs have an adaptation called "rete mirabile" that minimizes heat loss. The arteries that transport warm blood into the legs lie in contact with the veins that return colder blood to the bird’s heart. The arteries warm the veins. By standing on one leg, a bird reduces by half the amount of heat lost through unfeathered limbs. More about thisMarbled Godwit.Learn more aboutrete mirabile. Get your 2012BirdNote calendar!
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Pecking Order
Birds in flocks almost invariably develop a pecking order. An alpha chickencan peck any other in the flock, and a beta chicken can peck all others but the alpha, etc. Juncos and other small birdshave a pecking order, too.The pecking order—or dominance hierarchy—of a flock of birds is usuallythis: males are dominant to females and adults aredominant to young birds. Asa flock changes and birdscome and go, the pecking order changes.Learn more! Here's informationaboutfeeding backyard birds.
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Northern Saw-whet - The Christmas Tree Owl
Christmas tree plantations may not be the best habitat for wild birds, but they do hold an attraction – for Northern Saw-Whet Owls. These miniature owls seem to feel at home in the small evergreens. And when the birds are spotted, they’re most likely to remain motionless rather than fly away. So it’s not surprising that, a few years ago, aSaw-Whet Owlin Oregon took a long, strange trip. It was found in a Christmas tree by a family in British Columbia! So if you buy a Christmas tree this...
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Why Conservation Matters - Interview with David Yarnold
We asked David Yarnold, President of National Audubon, why bird conservation matters. He says that preserving wild places and preserving the links in nature's chains allow wildlife to thrive. Where birds thrive, you're going to have clean water and clean air, and that's good for kids, and it's good for birds. The sound that especially moved him was that of�Sandhill Cranes. Picture the sun coming up over the Platte River in Nebraska, and the sound of the cranes, lifting off in waves� Learn...
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Winter - Nature's Cold Storage
For birds and other animals with good natural insulation, winter provides a striking benefit as they scavenge. Bacteria function very slowly or not at all in the cold, preventing dead bodies from rotting. In northern latitudes, ravens and other scavenging birds take advantage of winter’s cold storage. When a caribou, moose, or deer dies in Canada, Alaska, or other cold place in the winter, it’s available to be eaten for months. Bacteria must wait until spring warms the carcass before they...
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Terry Tempest Williams Reads from Refuge
Author Terry Tempest Williams, having lost her mother to cancer, begins to mend in the company of birds and nature. Here is a paraphrase from Terry’s book, Refuge: There is a holy place in the salt desert, where egrets hover like angels. It is a cave near the lake where water bubbles up from inside the earth. Pictographs of waterbirds decorate the interior of the cave. Herons, egrets, and cranes. Human figures dance wildly. I kneel at the spring and drink. This is the secret den of my...
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Beaks and Bills
When you stroll the shoreline, notice the bills of a few birds—like the Long-billed Curlew (back)and Bar-tailed Godwit (front) seen here. Call it a "bill" or a "beak", the variety of shapes and sizes of the birds’ signature instrument is extraordinary. And crucial! A bird does things with its bill that other animals do with their forelimbs, including preening, nest-building, self-defense, and displaying. Learn about theLong-billed Curlew. There's more about the Bar-tailed Godwit atBirdWeb.
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Paul Bannick and the Polar Bears
Passion and strength of character often define those who go to great lengths to photograph birds. Photographer and naturalist Paul Bannick braved the threat of polar bears, when he went to the Arctic to photograph thisSnowy Owland other birds. See more of Paul's photos atPaulBannick.com. The2012 Birds of BirdNotecalendar features Paul's photos. Get yours!
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David Wingate and the Rescue of the Cahow
Once abundant on Bermuda, Bermuda Petrels – also known as Cahows – were drastically reduced by human harvesting and introduced predators. From the early 1960s and for the next 40 years, David Wingate dedicated his life to helping the Cahow regain a solid foothold. He ran the conservation program for the birds. Today, there are at least 99 breeding pairs of Cahows, and new breeding sites have been established. Learn more about theCahow. Here’s more ofDavid Wingate’s story. And more about...
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The Kauai O�o, Hawaiian Forest Bird
The Kaua'i O'o, a small forest bird, was once found on the Hawaiian Island of Kaua'i. Sadly, the O'o's song was heard for the last time in 1987. The native birds of the Hawaiian Islands have been hit hard by changes brought about by humans. Habitat destruction, introduction of non-native species, and slaughter of native species have taken a drastic toll on the animal and plant life of Hawaii and islands throughout the world. American Bird Conservancy is working to reduce the decline of...
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The Music of Long-tailed Ducks
Long-tailed Ducks are back for the winter from the north, where they nested on tundra ponds and marshes. These diving ducks spend the winter in deep salt water, often in sheltered bays.Long-tailed Ducksare far more vocal than most ducks, a feature that has earned them a host of charming nicknames, including "John Connally," "My Aunt Huldy," and, from the Cree language, "Ha-hah-way." It's not too late to get a BirdNote2012 calendar!
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Birds' Feet Don't Freeze
Have you ever watched ducks walking around in freezing temperatures and wondered why their feet don’t freeze? And how do birds, including thisNorthern Flicker, sit on metal perches with no problem? Birds’ feet have a miraculous adaptation that keeps them from freezing.Rete mirabile— Latin for "wonderful net" —is a fine, netlike pattern of arteries that interweaves warm blood from a bird’s heart with the veins carrying cold blood from its feet and legs. Throughout the year, the BirdNote...
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To a Green Leaf by Victor Scheffer
Dr. Victor Scheffer, biologist and BirdNote adviser, died this past September, at the age of 104. At the age of 100 he wrote a reflection, To a Green Leaf (abbreviated here). – “With the coming of frost and the long nights, you will die and fall to the ground. Your rusty brown remains will be recycled by the busy micro-morticians of the forest floor. More exactly, they will be reincarnated, for many of their elements are destined to reappear in other organic forms. Goodbye, small green leaf....
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Lessons from a Career in Seabird Research - Interview...
We asked Dr. Julia Parrish what lessons she has learned from 20 years of studying seabirdssuch as Common Murres. #1: Everybody can get out there and experience nature. It helps to define who you are and your part in the world. Lesson #2 is a conservation lesson. We have lots of impacts on birds. When you work with people who are having an impact that you’re worried about, they will often be able to innovate solutions to the problem that you as a scientist would never be able to think about....
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Christmas Bird Count 2011
In the year 1900, the holiday season was approaching. With that would come the Christmas “Side Count,” when, by tradition, you’d go out and shoot as many birds as you could. But a birder named Frank Chapman proposed that people go out and count birds, instead. Today, the Christmas Bird Count is the oldest bird count in the world. And anybody can participate. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll spot aSnowy Owl. Find out where the nearest count is atAudubon.org.
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Downy Woodpeckers
Coast to coast, border to border, forest to feeder, theDowny Woodpeckergoes about its business in 49 states. The smallest woodpecker in the United States, it turns up everywhere there are a few trees, except in the dry deserts of the Southwest and in Hawaii. Learn more about feeding backyard birds atAudubonAtHome. There's more information at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds, too.
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Magellanic Penguins - Interview with Dee Boersma
Professor Dee Boersma, working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Province of Chubut, has been studying theMagellanic Penguinsof Argentina. “In 1983, we realized that oil pollution was really a huge problem for these birds. We were seeing birds coming ashore, covered in oil. We started bringing this to the government’s attention. And in 1997, they moved the tanker lanes further offshore. Some years we get no penguins dead on the beach covered in oil.”Learn more. Visit...
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Ivory Gull and Conservation
Polar Bears symbolize the icy landscapes of the far north like no other animal. The bear’s way of life – its very survival – is inseparable from the Arctic pack-ice. Less familiar is a remarkable bird that shares with the Polar Bear this vital link to ice: this Ivory Gull. The gulls feed on small fish and other marine life, but also scavenge carcasses, including those left byPolar Bears.Global warming has brought increasing change to the world of ice-dependent species such as theIvory...
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Fancy Ducks
Take a walk around a lake in late November, and you’ll find male ducks in their most brilliant breeding colors.These ducks have lost their nondescript late-summer feathers, known as “eclipse plumage.” Male dabbling ducks - like thisGreen-winged Teal- look their finest in late fall and winter, the season of courtship and pair-bonding. Learn more about ducks at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. Order yourBirds of BirdNotecalendar today!
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Spectacled Eiders Dive in the Ice in Winter
Many Spectacled Eiders spend the winter in ice-free openings in the Bering Sea, above what was once the Bering Land Bridge. In spring, the ducks, which live only along the coasts of Alaska and far eastern Russia, fly to tundra lakes to breed and feed on aquatic insects. After breeding, they return to the sea. This cold environment is no challenge for a bird covered with eider down and dense waterproof feathers. But finding open water in the dead of winter is. Learn more about theSpectacled...
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When Birds Ruled the Earth
A bird known as Titanis walleri made its home in Florida just a few million years ago. Titanis, as its name suggests, was titanic indeed—a flightless predator, ten feet tall, with a massive hooked bill.Titanis and other birds related to it belong to a group some paleontologists call the “terror birds.” They were dominant land predators in South America for tens of millions of years. For more about Titanis walleri, visit theHall of Florida Fossils.
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Giblets and Gizzards
On Thanksgiving Day, if you passed the gravy and giblets, you held in your hands the turkey’s heart, liver, and gizzard. What is a gizzard? A bird’s stomach is divided into two parts. The first part is a lot like our stomach. But the second part is the gizzard. Birds that eat seeds have a gizzard with tough, thick, muscular walls. Such birds swallow grit, like sand or gravel, which travels to thegizzard, where it helps grind up the seeds.Sign up for the BirdNoteWeekly Preview.
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Turkey in the Straw - Happy Thanksgiving
Turkey in the Straw was a fiddle tune called Natchez Under the Hill before it was published with words. It became popular during Andrew Jackson’s presidency, which would put it on the scene about the early 1830s. We know thatWild Turkeysprefer woodlands to barns with straw. Nevertheless, we asked a few what they think of the tune. Here’s what we got: Gobble gobble gobble. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! From the team at BirdNote
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Birds and Dinosaurs
What is the connection between the blood-curdling roar of a Tyrannosaurus rex and the gentle song of a robin? A recent bonanza of fossils has intensified debate over how contemporary birds are linked to the extinct dinosaurs. The evidence and theories are complex.Many experts now believe that today’s birds are the surviving dinosaurs, a radical departure from the long-held view that both sprang from much earlier reptilian ancestors.Anchiornis huxleyi is the latest. Learn more atThe Daily...
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Falcons and Blueberries
Birds chasing other birds is a natural part of the avian world. But when you add a skilled falconer, that pursuit can disperse pest birds from airports and amusement parks, and protect a farmer’s fields. A blueberry farmer in Washington pays a licensed falconer to scare birds, mainly starlings, away from his crops. Pee Wee, aBarbary Falcon, along with his dozen cohorts, dive-bombs starlings and can save the farmer three to four tons of blueberries every day. One more way that birds benefit...
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More Eyes and Ears
A family of dapper Black-capped Chickadeescall as they hang upside down, pecking at alder seeds. Awren skulks and buzzes through the underbrush. A petite Downy Woodpecker whinnies nearby. Mixed-species flocks may include a dozen species and more than fifty individuals. More ears and eyes mean better detection of predators. Find your localAudubon chapterand learn more about birds. Here's more about Black-capped Chickadees. Get your 2012BirdNote calendar!
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The Birds and Plants of Hawaii
Three-quarters of Hawaii’s native flowering plants probably came from seeds that hitched rides with birds. Sticky or barbed seeds adhere to the feathers. Other seeds travel in mud caked on a bird’s feet. And still others cross the ocean in the stomachs of birds. The most likely seed-carriers were strong fliers. Or perhaps the seeds hitched a ride on the ancestors of thisAkiapola’au, blown from the North American continent to the islands. Today, both the flora and fauna of Hawaii compete for...
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Basalt as Shelter
As the winter sun sinks over the Coulee Lakes, hundreds ofGray-crowned Rosy-Finchessuddenly appear, an undulating cloud that swarms into the upper levels of the basalt cliffs. The finches nest high in the mountains in summer, and roam the countryside in large flocks in winter. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches roost for the night in a colony of abandoned swallow nests on basalt cliffs.Watch a video of a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finchforaging. Get your 2012BirdNote calendar!
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Precious Poop
Seabird poop, known as guano, has been used to enrich soil, to make gunpowder, and believe it or not, as a skin treatment. Bird poop is a valuable commodity. South America’s Pacific Coast has some of the world’s largest deposits of guano, from species including the Peruvian Pelican, the Peruvian Booby, and thisGuanay Cormorant. Early Andean people used guano as fertilizer, and after 19th century European colonists discovered its value in making gunpowder, more than one war was fought over...
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Stability and Change in Nature - Interview with Julia...
For two decades Julia Parrish of the University of Washington has studied the seabirds– like this Common Murre –of the Pacific Northwest Coast. What are her conclusions after 20 years? “I have been so often surprised and proved wrong. I’ll have a concept or hypothesis, make a prediction about what we should see, and then I go back to the field and something else happens. So I have learned to become humble about explaining what’s going on in the system. I’m constantly reminded that Nature is...
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Birds of Paradise
It’s morning on the island of New Guinea, and the lowland forests erupt with the crowing calls of Birds of Paradise. Male Raggiana Birds of Paradise perform elaborate displays to attract females, sometimes even hanging upside-down with their wings pointing upward. Forty-three species of Birds of Paradise are found on or near New Guinea.There’s a world of birds out there. To find your local Audubon and go on a field trip,start here. Bring birds inside with the 2012Birds of BirdNote Calendar!
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Great Horned Owls Calling
It’s late autumn, and a fledgling Great Horned Owl calls to be fed. Judging from the young bird’s persistence, the parents seem to be responding only with calls, not with food. These entreaties can go on for weeks. Both parents let the fledgling know that it’s time for him to feed himself. They’ve been bringing voles and rabbits for months. Silence and surprise are keys to the owls’ success as hunters, so it’s hard to imagine the juvenileGreat Horned Owlimproving his chances by being so...
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The Return of the Snowbird
Although you may seeDark-eyed Juncosin the summer, come fall many more - those that have been nesting in the mountains or farther north - arrive to spend the winter. These juncos often visit birdfeeders for winter feasting. Dark-eyed Juncos forage on the ground. The flash of white tail-feathers when one is alarmed alerts othermembers of the flock, and is also part of the courtship display. Order yourBirds of BirdNotecalendar today!
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Bird Feeders and Whaling Ships
In the opening lines of Moby Dick, the narrator, Ishmael, confesses to “a damp, drizzly November in my soul.” One sure way to brighten November’s damp and drizzly mood is to welcome birds into your yard with birdfeeders. Hang suet in a wire cage to attract aNorthern Flickerlike this one. Just add water, and you’re all set. Learnhow to invitebirds to your yard at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. Sign up for the BirdNotepodcast!
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Northern Shrike, Butcherbird
The Northern Shrike breeds in the tundra and taiga of the north, but migrates south into the lower 48 for the winter. It has a pleasing and rhythmical song, which it sings even in winter. But its song belies a rather bloodthirsty feeding habit.The shrike impales its prey on sharp thorns or barbed wire, where it can pull it apart and consume it. To learn more about this songbird-raptor, visit Cornell's AllAboutBirds.
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Bald Eagles and Common Murres - Interview with Julia...
For 20 years,Julia Parrishof the University of Washington has been studying seabirds on the Pacific Northwest coast. During this time, the population ofBald Eagleshas rebounded. What does the growing eagle population mean forCommon Murres? When an eagle flies over a nesting area of murres, the murres leave the island for the safety of the water. Females leave their eggs behind, and gulls come and eat the eggs. But the murres have started to innovate, to nest in places that eagles – and gulls...
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Birds Are Evolving Rapidly - Today
House Finches are evolving rapidly and visibly. In 1941, some captive House Finches from California escaped near NYC. They spread rapidly and are now found across most of the US. We know the finches have evolved, because those that survive differ from their parents. Size is one example. MaleHouse Finchesin recently established populations are larger than the males that escaped. Females have become smaller and survive better than larger females as nestlings. Evolutionary changes are occurring...
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Tom Pincelli, The Birding Priest
Father Tom Pincelli is a Catholic priest known to many as "Father Bird." He's a birder and conservationist in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Southern Texas. One of his favorite birds is thisGreen Jay. TheRio Grande Valley Birding Festivalstarts today.Can't make it to Texas?There may bea festival near you.Find outat BirdWatchersDigest.com.
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Aplomado Falcon - Species Recovery in the Works
Aplomado Falcons were once widespread residents of the American Southwest, but by the 1950s, they’d disappeared entirely from the region. Loss of habitat, loss of prey, and pesticides all played a role. But in the 1980s, a groupcalled The Peregrine Fundbegan breeding captiveAplomado Falcons. Over the next 25 years, 1,500 fledglings were set free in South Texas. At the same time, conservation pacts with private landowners provided more than two million acres of habitat. Learn more...
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Is It the Same Robin?
Early October bringsAmerican Robinsto feed ontree fruitand berries. Are the robins you see now the same robins that you saw in your garden last summer? Some robins do remain year ‘round. Others spend only the winter, having nested farther north. John James Audubon may have been the first to band birds, in order to learn more about migration.Learn more about banding birds from thePatuxent Wildlife Research Center. Get your 2012BirdNote calendar!
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Paul Bannick - Getting to Know your Subject
Paul Bannick, naturalist and wildlife photographer, gives this advice: Most of the work of taking a photograph is done in advance, and it involves both research and field work. Learn as much as you can about the habitat. Pay attention to the landscape, where the light comes from. And strive to have as little impact as possible on the bird’s environment. (ThisWhite-headed Woodpeckerprefers open, Ponderosa pine forests.)See more ofPaul’s photos. Buya 2012Birds of BirdNote calendar, with photos...
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Project FeederWatch
Project FeederWatch, sponsored by Cornell and National Audubon, is a window on the birds of winter. Through Project FeederWatch, scientists are able to track the movements of birds - including thisPine Siskin - and understand trends in population and distribution. Participate by counting birds at your own feeder.The count starts in November and lasts through the winter. There is a small fee to participate. Register today.
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Bird Scare - Interview with Carl and Rita Comfort
When it’s time to pick their four acres of wine grapes, Carl and Rita Comfort would rather the birds didn’t beat them to it. Without some form of bird control, they could lose about 10% of their harvest. So at their vineyard,Comforts of Whidbey,they broadcast the distress calls of birds, to keep would-be grape-eaters – like theseEuropean Starlings– at bay. Before the Bird Scare machine, they tried the blast of a cannon, but you can imagine what the neighbors thought of that. Now, the calls...
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Pygmy-Owls' False Eyes
This Northern Pygmy-Owl appears to have eyes in the back of its head. But why? One theory is that large false eyes may create the illusion that the owl is much bigger than its 6-inch size. A more current theory is that the false eyes help protect the pygmy-owl’s true eyes. Small birds will mob this diurnal owl, even striking it, directing some attacks at its eyes. If the large false eyes can take the brunt of these attacks, little harm will come to thePygmy-Owl’svulnerable true eyes. Feast...
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The Lowly Starling
Much maligned as a pest and cursed by many as an "invasive species," theEuropean Starlinghas had many fans, too. Eugene Schieffelin introduced about 50 pairs into the United States in the 1890s. And Rachel Carson noted thatthe starlingcarries “more than 100 loads of destructive insects per day to his screaming offspring.'' No less a figure than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart kept a pet European Starlingand wrote a poem about it when it died.Read the poem.
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Boreal Chickadees Stay Home for the Winter
Boreal Chickadees live in the boreal forest year-round. How do they survive the harsh winter? First, during summer, they cache a great deal of food, both insects and seeds. Then in fall, they put on fresh, heavier plumage. And their feathers are denser than most birds’, creating a comfy down parka. Most impressive? The chickadees lower their body temperature at night from 108 degrees to just 85 degrees, conserving their stores of insulating fat. Hats off to theBoreal Chickadee, a truly...
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The Spooky Shearwaters
Some early sailors, visiting remote Pacific islands, surely feared that the ungodly wailing on shore meant they had been tricked to the gates of Hell itself. In truth, they stood among courting pairs of seabirds called Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. These birdsnest on islands in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. During courtship, pairs perform long duets of eerie wailing. For more about the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, visitTernIsland.com.Happy spooky Halloween!
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The Crows' Night Roost
Have you noticed groups of crows flying overhead in the late afternoon, wheeling and diving? These are American Crows with a purpose. They’re headed to their night roost, a giant slumber party. Up to 40,000 crows in one space is not uncommon for a winter-time roost. Gathering at dusk, crows land in a tree, then scuffle and squawk, filtering down through the branches.For more about the crow, visit Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.Learn aboutthepopulation explosionof crowsin urban areas across the...
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Clark's Nutcracker - Nature's Arborist
High in the mountains, aClark’s Nutcrackerburies acache of whitebark pine seeds. This will be nearlyits sole source of food until the next summer. But some of those cached seeds will germinate, spawning a small grove of pines. Whitebark pines are one of more than 20 species of pines worldwide that rely almost exclusively on birds like nutcrackers to renew their forests. Learn more & see video atLee Reentz’s blog. Like this show? Share it onFacebook. Or copy this link in email:...
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Surfin' Bird Meets Surfbird
The Surfbird – nothing like the "Surfin’ Bird" of 1960s Trashmen fame – makes its home along the Pacific Coast. An oddly constructed sandpiper, the Surfbird forages on rocky jetties along the coast. The bird’s winter range ranks among the longest and narrowest of any bird, from Kodiak Island to the southern tip of Chile. Despite their extensive range,Surfbirdsare considered a bird of conservation concern by AmericanBird Conservancy, because the habitats they frequent are subject to oil...
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Saw-whet Owls Hoot and Hoot
Northern Saw-whet Owls are common in forests across southern Canada and the northern U.S. In early autumn, many move southward, making a large concentration especially in the region of the Great Lakes. To our ear, the “advertising call” of the male, made mostly in spring and summer, sounds awfully repetitive, a bit like the back-up signal of a vehicle. At less than three ounces, theNorthern Saw-Whet Owlis one of the smallest owls in North America.
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Tropical Wake-up Call
If you lived along the forest�s edge in Central America, every morning might begin with a cacophony of rhythmic guffaws, whistles, screeches, and screams.�Plain Chachalacas�and�Great Kiskadees �like this one�join in the chorus.�View a series of photos of the Plain Chachalaca taken by Texan�Greg Lavaty. Like this show? Share it with a friend from�Facebook. Or copy this link into email: http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=901
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What Sudden Oak Death Means for Birds
A California landscape – rolling hills dotted with oak trees. One year-round resident is the Oak Titmouse. In 1985, a pathogen called Sudden Oak Death began attacking California oaks. As the oaks die, they’re cut down in an effort to stop the spread of the pathogen. ButOak Titmicerequire standing dead trees in which to nest and live trees in which to feed. Learn more about theconservation planof California Partners in Flight. Download theentire planas a PDF. Learn how you can help,...
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October Migrants - Look Who's Back!
In the October sunlight,aLincoln'sSparrow sings energetically from a hedgerow. Soon aFox Sparrow chimes in. Both nested in Alaska last summer, but will spendthe winterfarther south. TheSnow Geese are moving, too. A massive movement of birds takes place in the fall. The exodus of summer visitors to the tropics has given way to a surge from the north.And predators can’t be far behind. Follow birds through the year with the2012 Birds of BirdNote calendar!
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Who Was Anna?
TheAnna’s Hummingbird is the only hummer that stays in the Northwest and West for the winter.How did this lovely jewel get its name? Anna’s Hummingbird was named for Princess Anna de Belle Massena.John James Audubon himself was charmed by her,but it was actually naturalist Ren Primevre Lesson who named the bird in her honor. Learn more about this dazzling jewel at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds.You'll finda recipe for hummingbird nectar atSeattleAudubon.org.
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Landscaping for Wildlife II - Interview with Russell Link
Russell Link of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife tells how to go about planting to attract birds. He suggests that you take a walk in your neighborhood to see what plants do well. Concentrate on providing structure in the landscape, from ground covers to shrubs to mid-sized trees to larger trees. Native plants provide food and cover for birds, like thisSteller’s Jayof the West. Learn more about Russell’s book, “Landscaping for Wildlife.” Here’s more about creating a...
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Rufous-collared Sparrow - Tico-Tico
The song Tico-Tico no Fub, like Carmen Miranda, came to us from Brazil. Believe it or not, the song is about a bird. The Portuguese lyrics tell the story of the tico-tico, a local name for the Rufous-collared Sparrow. Like so many birds, tico-tico was named for its song. In the song, the bird keeps coming back to the singer’s yard to dine on her cornmeal, piled in a backyard granary. Tico-tico loves her cornmeal.Learn more atFireflyForest.net.
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Gull Identification I
Relatively few gull species are common nesters in the Lower 48.But in October, both the variety and number of gulls increase dramatically. Gulls that nested in Alaska or Canada fly south to spend winter in more temperate climates.Western Gullsare present in the Westall year, mostly near the coast.Mew Gulls turn up in the winter along the West Coast, and Herring Gulls can be seen in the East. October isan ideal time to learnwhich gull is which. Seen here, top to bottom, are Western,...
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Lights Out Toronto - Saving Birds
Urban light creates a fatal attraction and disorients migrating birds, which often fly around until exhausted and drop to the ground. Or they may strike a building or window. To prevent these needless deaths, the city of Toronto has created a “Lights Out Toronto” program. Lights go out in city-owned buildings after work and on weekends. And theirBird-Friendly Development Guidelinesoffer common-sense lighting practices for managing a tall building or a ground-level home.Learn more. And here’s...
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Responsible Birdfeeding
A clean feeder is a life-and-death matter to some birds. To protect the birds at your feeder, clean it at least once a week, more often if necessary. Rake the ground underneath, too. ThesePine Siskinsare especiallyprone tosalmonellosis, a bacterial disease. Learn more about feeding backyard birds at Cornell'sAllAboutBirds. Here are somegreat suggestionsabout feeding birds safely, fromCalifornia Partners in Flight.
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The Lobstick Family of Whooping Cranes
The celebrities of the Whooping Crane world have to be the Lobstick family, named for the Lobstick marshes where they nest in Canada. The Lobstick male, at 33, is the oldest Whooping Crane in the wild whose age we know for certain. AndTom Stehnof the US Fish and Wildlife Service tells us the Lobsticks have raised 17 chicks in 29 years. Still, increasing the population of Whooping Cranes is slow going. Healthy wetlands in Canada and in Texas – where the cranes winter – are essential to the...
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Paul Bannick - Owls and Woodpeckers
Photographer and naturalist Paul Bannick, whose photos appear frequently on this website, has spent a lot of time observing woodpeckers and owls, including thisGreat Horned Owl. Paul notes: “Woodpeckers are called ‘keystone’ species…a species which alters its habitat to the benefit of other species...”VisitPaulBannick.comto see more of Paul's photos. Purchase a2012 "Birds of BirdNote" calendar, with photos by Paul.
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The Little Red Spot on a Gull's Bill
In the mid-20th Century, Dutch scientist Niko Tinbergen studied nestingHerring Gulls. He noticed that newly hatched chicks were fed by their parents only after they pecked at the adults’ bills. Tinbergen devised experiments that varied the shape and coloration of the adult’s bill. It became clear that the red spot on the adult gull’s bill was a crucial visual cue in a chick’s demands to be fed, and thus its survival. Learn more about Herring Gulls. Here's more aboutTinbergen’s research.
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