Simple ways to help wildlife during the holidays
With the rich bounty of the season surrounding them, people are constantly reminded of the gracious plenty of the holidays. But what of wildlife-will their Christmas and New Year's be merry? "Winter is...
View ArticleBig weekend is coming up for backyard bird counters
Casual birders and professionals alike are dusting off their binoculars in anticipation of this weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual event in which amateurs help gather valuable data for...
View ArticleNature Watch: Cardinals abundant in Christmas Bird Counts
My first Christmas Bird Count was in 1939. I recall that December morning as if it were yesterday. One of Rochester’s finest field ornithologists, Howard Miller, allowed me, a preteen birder, to join...
View ArticleBackyard birds of winter
Tweet 0 Email Report Photo 1 of 12 Chickadee, among typical birds likely to be attracted to a woodland, New Jersey backyard feeder.White-breasted nuthatch, among typical birds likely to be attracted to...
View ArticleBring birds to your backyard with free kids' bird bath or bird feeder clinic
This Saturday, April 5, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. all Home Depot locations will offer a free Kids Workshop Clinic on building bird feeders and bird baths; each child will get to build and take...
View ArticleNew Hampshire Birds Singing Spring Songs
Birds typically have several different calls or songs that they use for different purposes. When a threat is present or a bird is startled, it will often react with an alarm call warning others in the...
View ArticleTake part in this year’s upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count
You can take part in a family-friendly, educational activity that is lots of fun, costs nothing, and helps your local birds. Each year, tens of thousands of people take part in the Great Backyard Bird...
View ArticleWhat chickadees can tell us about climate change
PHILADELPHIA -- About 15 years ago, Villanova University biology professor Robert Curry was looking for a project that would allow his students to investigate something interesting without much travel....
View ArticleDEC offers tips on making birdfeeders disease-free during the winter
Want to help the birds during the winter? Keep your bird feeders clean and help your hungry feathered friends avoid such maladies as "Songbird Fever." Salmonellosis or "Songbird Fever" is among the...
View ArticleHow to Attract Birds
Songbirds' natural habitats are dwindling, and you can help by making your backyard a safe haven for all of your favorite birds. When you provide birdseed, set out a birdbath and create nesting spots,...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Digital face recognition may extend to birds
Can a computer tell one bird from another, or identify birds by individual markings or feather patterns? More accurately, can a computer be programmed to...
View ArticleIf you go: Birds to watch
If you go: Birds to watch • IF YOU GO Birds to watch Bald eagle, pelican, common snipe, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, mallard, pintail, Canada geese, American white pelican and various species...
View ArticleGet Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count
The 2014 Great Backyard Bird Count will be held February 14-17 – are you ready to join in? About the GBBC The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a citizen science project organized by the National...
View ArticleGrackles invade bird feeders in Charlotte
I have received a few reports recently of “invasions” of blackbirds at feeders. I think most of these reports refer to common grackles, the large, slim, iridescently plumaged blackbirds. Like most...
View ArticleBird Notes | Huntington Beach State Park a prime winter bird-watching site
Great winter birds may currently be seen throughout our area — and beyond. As is generally the case, numerous avian species may currently be found at Huntington Beach State Park. Recent observations at...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Owl courtship starting in central Virginia
In the coming weeks, you’ll likely hear nature’s realm filled with low-pitched hoots and calls. They herald the annual spring onset of courtship of several species of owls in central Virginia. Dense...
View ArticleWildlife: Backyard homes for cavity nesters
Last week, a day after the morning low temperature plunged to 9 degrees, the sky cleared and the thermometer rebounded to 45 degrees. That balmy afternoon, bluebirds, chickadees, titmice and Carolina...
View ArticleGardener: What to feed birds that don't fly south for the winter
By now, you've likely noticed, not all birds head south for the winter. Some hardy souls stay put, toughing out these cold, gray months of the year, while making them a bit brighter for the rest of us....
View ArticleIs it bad to feed bread to wild birds?
The weatherman predicted flurries, but there’s a foot of snow on the ground. In the backyard, the empty bird feeder dangles from the pole while a horde of birds waits expectantly. Where did they all...
View ArticleDiggin' In: Join the Great Backyard Bird Count
Plump, ripe berries are a bird's best buffet when Old Man Winter makes nutritious insects a hard meal to find. Faithfully-filled feeders are fantastic, too, because birds need the oil and fat from...
View ArticlePflugerville part of birding ‘central flyway’
Where might someone spot a coot, killdeer, harrier, yellow-rumped warbler, or even a widgeon? One would have reason to guess “a Dr. Seuss book” but the answer, actually, is “Pflugerville.” The Travis...
View ArticleReaders pick their favorite backyard birds
Just in time for this year's 17th annual international Great Backyard Bird Count, here are the results of an informal reader poll on favorite backyard birds. (Details on the GBBC follow at column's...
View ArticleSuet is Chicken Soup for Winter Birds
When the winter snows and winds come howling through New Hampshire, there's nothing like a bit of hot chocolate or some good old fashioned home-made chicken soup to warm the body and the soul- for...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways Flyways and Byways: Some avian species are preparing for a...
With summer’s arrival, our backyard birds leave behind the tempestuous rite of...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways Flyways and Byways:
Photography has always been a favorite pastime with bird-watchers, whether in their own backyards or on a field trip....
View ArticleGracious hosts easily attract winged guests
So many people have to-do lists for things that need to be taken care of around the house. One of the items on mine for this weekend is to refill the bird feeder. It’s a simple act, but a full feeder...
View ArticleMake your backyard a wildlife habitat
Imagine sitting in your backyard as colorful birds chirp and flit about and bountiful butterflies scout blooms for nectar. With the right plan and the right plants, you can make your backyard into a...
View ArticleGreat Backyard Bird Count
In February, gardeners long for spring while birders cherish the cold weather. "Winter is an excellent time to look for birds," says Rock Moeslein, assistant education director at the Virginia Living...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: How to learn about unusual species sighted in Virginia
Uncommon and rare birds find their way to our area each year, and we’re never sure why. It could be some internal...
View ArticleMarcia Davis: Suet suits a wide range of backyard birds
Gary and Lois Thacker of Maryville are enjoying athletic performances by two birds trying to tackle a swinging suet feeder. No matter how hard they try, the robin and the cardinal just can’t seem to...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Increasing winter ranges
Since 1966, more than half of our wintertime avian species in North America have widened their winter ranges, according to a recent report from the National Audubon Society. Analyzing 40 years of data...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Why we feed birds
Why do we feed birds in our backyards? I’ll give you the reason at the top of my list: I find it endlessly fascinating to watch the activity of bird life throughout our small but verdant neighborhood...
View ArticleJohn Switzer commentary: Bird feeders neglected in mild weather
One diversion a lot of us rely on during the winter months is feeding wild birds. We are always on the lookout for an unusual visitor or two. I’m afraid, though, that most of our experiences so far...
View ArticleBackyard Wildlife: Giving birds a nutritious meal
I’ve always enjoyed tending a bird feeder – reveling in the feathery beauty, satisfied I have provided a hearty meal. As a wildlife gardener, however, I have to concede that there is a more...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways Flyways and Byways: Northern bobwhite quail
Northern bobwhite quail in our city backyards — really? If you lived in...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Track winter bird species
For backyard birders, winter’s focus is all about attracting a variety of birds to your feeders. You can add some spice to backyard birding by joining an important program sponsored by the Cornell Lab...
View ArticleWho goes this way? Sitta carolinensis
You know him when you see him. Still, you're always surprised. A small bird walks headfirst down the trunk of a tree. Or maybe he changes his mind and walks straight back up or turns left or right. It...
View ArticleWinter is prime time for bird-watching
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - February makes gardeners pine for spring, but birders bask in the cold weather. "Winter is an excellent time to look for birds," says Rock Moeslein, assistant education director at...
View ArticleKentucky Afield Outdoors: Winter backyard birding basics (State of Kentucky)
(Source: State of Kentucky) Department of Fish and Wildlife Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Winter backyard birding basics Press Release Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015 Revision Date: Thursday, January 15,...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Attracting bluebirds
For many birdwatchers, the eastern bluebird is a favorite species to invite into their backyards. This species, as well as purple martins, tolerate humans in their habitats and have come to rely on us...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways: Backyard feeders
In November, it’s high time to have feeders open for business for our backyard birds. A reliable water source, such as a birdbath or water drip, is also important for resident and overwintering birds....
View ArticleWildlife: Time to fill the bird feeders
When morning low temperatures dip into the 30s, it's time to get serious about filling backyard bird feeders. Here's a guide to wild birds' favorite foods. Black-oil sunflower in tubes or hopper...
View ArticleCommon grackle is more than just a common nuisance
Common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) are self-assured birds that walk proudly with their heads held high. When seen close up in the sunlight, their black feathers shimmer with iridescent blues,...
View ArticleJohn Switzer commentary: Backyard birds enliven winter
The Carolina chickadee, possibly the smallest bird at the backyard feeder, also might be the bravest. Chickadees also sample all the seeds and have the endearing trait of grabbing one seed and flying...
View ArticleFlyways and Byways Flyways and Byways
The winter doldrums have arrived. These are the chilly months after migrant songbirds have long departed for warmer habitats in the Southeast, Caribbean and the Americas beyond. Until late March, we’ll...
View ArticleFlyways & Byways: Get ready for free-for-all around backyard birdfeeders
This winter when snow blanketed our backyards, tube and platform feeders got a real...
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