Cape May Warbler in Magee Marsh, Ohio. Photo by Gretchen Dowling Want to learn more about birds and birdwatching? Subscribe to our newsletter ! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year….
A willow flycatcher in Maine. Photo by birdware Want to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletterlots of bird watching tips, news and much more! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of…
A bearded vulture swallows a large bone. By Francesco Veronesi from Italy [CC BY-SA 2.0]via Wikimedia CommonsWant to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletterlots of bird watching tips, news and much more! In the Since You Asked column in every issue of BirdWatching, editor-in-chief Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their…
Sedge wren in a damp meadow. Photo by May Haga Want to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletter. In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year. We featured the Sedge…
A blue bird with strange colors. Photo by Scott Yerges In the Since You Asked column in every issue of BirdWatching, editor-in-chief Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our August 2018 issue. Is it a Mountain Bluebird? I photographed it at the end of September in Yellowstone…
Sandpiper on stilts. Photo by Dalila Saric Subscribe today to BirdWatching Magazine for more information on migration, tips for attracting and identifying birds, and much more! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of…
Tennessee Warbler. Photo by Sfisher Want to know more about birds? Sign up to our newsletter, full of birding tips, migration information and much more! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the…
A Whimbrel in Pasco County, Florida. Photo by hunter58 World Shorebird Day – an initiative launched a few years ago to raise awareness of shorebirds and the need to conserve them and their habitats – takes place on Thursday September 6. “About 50 percent of the world’s shorebird species are in decline and their vital…
Broad-winged hawk. Photo by Marian McSherry Subscribe today to BirdWatching Magazine for tips, birding hotspots and more! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year. We featured the Broad-winged Hawk, pictured above,…
Black warbler. Photo by Tom Mast Want to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletterlots of bird watching tips, news and much more! In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of eBird distribution maps that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year….
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the 37 years I’ve lived along a major migration route, I’ve attracted about half a dozen species of warblers to my suet, jelly, and orange feeders. Visits were rare and only during the severe cold spells of spring migration. In…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the “Since You Asked” section in each issue of BirdWatching, editor-in-chief Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our September/October 2018 issue. A European paper wasp rasps wood fibers to build a nest….
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Want to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletterfull of birding tips, news and more! In the “Since You Asked” section in each issue of BirdWatching, editor-in-chief Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here are two…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Want to know more about birds? Subscribe to our newsletterfull of birding tips, news and more! In 2014, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative identified 33 bird species that were once quite abundant but are now in steep decline. Among them…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email When I fill my feeders during a snowstorm or when the temperatures drop below -20, I’m always happy to see my chickadees already there, waiting for me. They creep in for seeds still at room temperature and suet not yet frozen…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email When we moved into our home in 1981, in a long-established neighborhood, many of our garden trees showed serious signs of age. Our house didn’t seem to be in danger and even though my mother-in-law had advised us to take them…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the ‘Since you asked for it’ section in every issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behaviour. Here’s a question from our November/December 2018 issue. Q: Last year I took pictures of moulting goldfinches…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Evening Grosbeak, pictured above, in…
A rare sighting of Black Scoters in Austin, Texas. Photo by Lora Render In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Black Scoter, pictured above, in our…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Sunflower is the perfect seed to feed birds – or so I’ve been telling people since I started feeding backyard birds in 1981. It attracts a wide variety, from chickadees and sparrows jays and grosbeaks. Sunflower’s high protein content is nutritious…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the ‘Since you asked for it’ section in every issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behaviour. Here’s a question from our January/February 2019 issue. Q: I took this photo of an American White…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the ‘Since you asked for it’ section in every issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behaviour. Here’s a question from our January/February 2019 issue. Q: Can a bird’s eyes change color? Erica Cameron,…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In 2012, editor Julie Craves wrote for us about the ecological costs of traditional coffee farming and she explained why shade-grown coffee is a better alternative for supporting birds and other wildlife. Recently, the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center launched a #DrinkBirdFriendly…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Pine Grosbeak, pictured above, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the ‘Since you asked for it’ section in every issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behaviour. Here’s a question from our January/February 2019 issue. Q: I was getting so many large birds in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Short-eared Owl, pictured above, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In July 2018, I started a blog post with the photo above and these words: “I came across this scene the other day. I won’t divulge my reaction! Outdoor men and women often seek vistas. Landscape photographers often do the same….
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured Ovenbird, pictured above, in our March/April…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the “Since You Asked” section of each issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our March/April 2019 issue. Q: Introduced Dappled Lanterns are infesting our region. A recommended control…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Today, April 22, is Earth Day. Earth Day Network’s theme this year is “Protect Our Species”, so the organization is drawing attention to endangered and threatened species: bees, coral reefs, elephants, birds, insects, whales, and more. “Nature’s gifts to our planet…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Naturalist and TV personality David Mizejewski of the National Wildlife Federation has just released the second expanded edition of his practical book Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife. Below is an excerpt from the first chapter of the book, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In ‘On the Move’, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Black-and-White Warbler, pictured above, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the “Since You Asked” section of each issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our January/February 2018 issue. Q: What are turkey mites? — Mary Kennedy, Columbia, Missouri A:…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the “Since You Asked” section of each issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our March/April 2019 issue. Q: I thought people weren’t supposed to eat apple seeds because…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email A few years ago, one fall morning, while viewing the “Magic Hedge”, a rare bird magnet at the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary in Chicago, I found a beautiful collection of birds feeding on the ground in a flower bed. Panning with…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In ‘On the Move’, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Connecticut Warbler, pictured above, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year. We featured Philadelphia Vireo, pictured above, in our May/June…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email When my wife and I moved into our home in 2000 in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, she set out to create a garden that would attract birds, by planting it with native shrubs and plants. Later, when we needed to replace a few…
Red-headed woodpecker. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren [CC BY 2.0]In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year. We featured the Red-headed Woodpecker, pictured above, in our July/August 2019 issue….
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In On the Move, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where interesting birds are at different times of the year. We featured Eastern Phoebe, pictured above, in our July/August…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Birds collide with buildings, especially windows, with astonishing frequency. A 2014 study in the journal The Condor found that between 365 and 988 million birds are killed each year by collisions with buildings in the United States. And in 2019, research…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email One night last winter I heard a great horned owl, grabbed my recording gear and ran out to the back porch. Two owls in my yard hooted back and forth; a second pair to the west responded. My yard must be…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Now that September is here, it’s time to count the shorebirds! World Shorebird Day 2019 is Friday, September 6. This year, the World Shorebird Count will take place September 3-9, 2019. Wherever you live, we encourage you to participate. Shorebirds are…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In ‘On the Move’, our regular migration column, we feature pairs of range maps from eBird that you can use to compare where birds of interest are at different times of the year. We featured the Horned Grebe, pictured above, in…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email A recent study published in Science concluded that 29% of the bird population of the United States and Canada, i.e. 3 billions birds – have been lost since 1970. And a report just released by Audubon concludes that climate change is…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Bread may be the “food of life” for some human cultures, but it is not nutritious for birds. What should you feed your backyard birds? Black Oil Sunflower, which is easy to open with its thin shell and contains more oil…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email It is vitally important that as many of us as possible shelter in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, but we birdwatchers cannot simply turn off the desire to observe birds, butterflies and other wildlife. I am doing my birding from…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email As a responsible buyer, I began to wonder about the effects of genetically modified crops on the environment and whether GMO crops are sold in bird food, such as tallow. From this year, certain genetically modified foods sold for human consumption…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In the “Since You Asked” section of each issue of BirdWatching, editor Julie Craves answers readers’ questions about birds and their behavior. Here’s a question from our May/June 2020 issue. Q: I have a robin’s nest on my property and have…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email The next July/August 2020 issue of Bird watching includes an excerpt from the terrific new book Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy, professor of entomology and wildlife ecology and well-known expert on native plants. In the excerpt, he sings the praises…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Whether you started birding since the pandemic began last year or have been part of the birding scene for decades, you’ll want to attend this weekend’s 24th Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). People around the world will count the birds they…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email The breathtaking beauty of orioles inspires many of us to turn our backyards into oriole docking stations. Feeders are the simplest and most effective decoy for migrating orioles. Birds occasionally consume sunflower seeds and suet, but they prefer sweeter foods. Oranges…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email One spring morning a few decades ago, I heard horrific screams and ran out to see a Cooper’s hawk tear up a still-living robin on my neighbor’s back lawn. The robin was howling and its mate, facing the hawk from less…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Eh ? What are you saying, little bird? My saddest moment as an ornithologist was when, about 10 years ago, I saw a golden-crowned kinglet sing. The bird was only about 10 feet away when I saw its little body vibrate…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Oregon State University researchers have good news for the well-meaning masses who place bird feeders in their backyards: small songbirds that visit feeders seem unlikely to develop an unhealthy addiction to them. “There’s still a lot we don’t know about how…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Those of us who live in cities and suburbs may not think about attracting bluebirds, which are usually found in wilder or more rural settings. When bluebirds nest or overwinter in cities or towns, they tend to be found in cemeteries,…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Hot weather and drought, and the fires they promote, are becoming more extreme around the world. People facing these hardships may be unable to consider the extreme weather conditions that burden wildlife, but those of us who can help the birds…
The Cornell FeederWatch Cam is located at the Treman Bird Feeding Garden at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York. It is equipped with an Axis P1448-LE camera with an ETS ML1-WPW microphone and is based in Sapsucker Woods and near a 10-acre pond, so it attracts a wide variety of species. The…
The Bella Hummingbird Nest Camera is located in La Verne, California and switches between the nest and a feed camera. The owners of the cameras have enjoyed watching female hummingbirds nest and raise their offspring in their ficus trees since around 2005. They installed a webcam and started streaming in 2012. The camera’s namesake, Bella,…
The Panama Fruit Feeders are located on the grounds of the Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Antón, Panama. The site is in the low mountains of Cerro Gaital, approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, and enjoys spring-like weather year-round. Canopy Lodge specializes in bird-focused nature tourism. It houses several feeders on site so guests…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In October 2020, I set up a trail camera on a tray feeder hoping to document a flying squirrel, but instead recorded a great horned owl using the feeder as a perch. chase. Without the camera, I wouldn’t have suspected he…
The Savannah Great Horned Owl Camera is located approximately 80 feet above one of six Audubon International certified golf courses at The Landings on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia. The Nest Cam is introduced to the public by Skidaway Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A pair of Great Horned Owls began using the…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email On November 6, 2021, I learned that a female hummingbird belonging to the genus Selasphore — either an Allen or, much more likely, a Rufous — had come to a manger on my block in Duluth, Minnesota. The next morning, a…
The Ventana Wildlife Society, an organization dedicated to releasing captive-bred California condors since 1997, operates the Big Sur Condor Nest Camera. The organization installs cameras in the nests of its sanctuary and sometimes in the wild. Birds are most active from late morning to early afternoon. Additionally, if you see a condor while looking at…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Mother Nature is ready to push the “refresh” button via the springtime rhythms of birdlife. One way to witness the wonders of the natural world and do good at the same time is to participate in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email As of spring 2018, the BirdCast website, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Colorado State University and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, offers live bird migration forecasts and maps that show with elegance the movements of migratory birds across North America. Daily…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email In 2022, the impact of light pollution is the focus of World Migratory Bird Day, an annual global campaign that celebrates the migration of birds across countries and continents. Throughout the year, the organizers will pass on the message to “dim…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Summer bird feeding requires such careful attention that many people close their feeders for the duration. It is not necessary if we are careful to help the birds and not to hurt them. March and April are dangerous for winter finches,…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email June is the peak of bird breeding season in the United States and Canada. Both countries serve as bird nurseries for hundreds of species at this time of year. This is also a risky time, and most chicks do not survive…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy now offers expert advice for adults who want to help kids connect with nature. A new online course from Bird Academy contains six lessons with dozens of field-tested activities to cut kids’ screen time and…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email Almost all of us have photographed birds through a window at one time or another to verify an identification, document a rare bird, or create a memory of a cool sighting. Unfortunately, images through the glass can be marred by glare…
Share this: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this article Share by email For the 123rd year, the National Audubon Society is hosting the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Between December 14 and January 5, tens of thousands of bird-loving volunteers will participate in counts across the Western Hemisphere. The 12 decades of…
Bird songs and calls make up an integral part of outdoor soundscaping, yet can sometimes be hard to discern amid traffic and industrial noise. Use these 81 free chirping and singing bird sounds in your audio and video projects for unlimited use! From forest ambience to coastal birds, each sample runs for 3 minutes giving…
Take a relaxing journey through the rainforest on board one of our gondolas, and spot rare animals such as the Kuranda tree frog (Litoria myola). From above, marvel at this tropical paradise from an elevated perspective! Bird‘s-eye views are photographs taken from above a subject, typically by using an aerial drone or aircraft, though you…
Whip-poor-wills provide one of nature’s most soulful melodies, yet many remain unaware that these nocturnal forest birds are now disappearing from our forests. birds that are active at night have developed various adaptations for survival, including large eyes, camouflaged plumage and enhanced senses. Some even freeze if approached during daylight hours! The Whip-poor-will The onomatopoeic…
Wood Thrushes have an easily recognizable flute-like song in the forest that stands out in summer, providing an easily recognisable summer sound. Their cinnamon brown and speckled coloring helps them blend in on forest floors where they forage for food. Transport your audience into an ancient forest, majestic swamp or forested stream with these high…
Birds sing to communicate with one another and with their environment. Different species produce distinctive calls and songs, often more intricate in terms of song than call. Sounds of birdsong can be both soothing and alarming; Chickadees emit high seets when they detect aerial predators like raptors. African shrikes Shrikes of Africa are some of…
Jungle Bird is a tropical-inspired tribute to one of the oldest natural spirits. Joshua Ivanovic, Lolita Goh and Divyesh Chauhan have recreated much of its original ambience at their new digs; with classic cocktails like Planes Trains Automobiles on offer along with innovative offerings like Rummin’ Round the World which recognizes all nations producing rum….
Birds that hunt or migrate at night require special adaptations in order to survive. Torpor, which involves lowering core body temperatures in order to save energy, and having camouflaging or freezing up plumage may all aid their efforts and allow them to remain unseen by predators. Even with its dull coloration, the mockingbird is a…
Bird sounds can provide valuable clues to their identification, though it’s important to keep in mind that calls often consist of repeated noises with slight pitch variations – it takes practice to become an expert bird sound expert! Ludwik Tomialojc, Tomasz Wesolowski and Wieslaw Walankiewicz began extensive bird research in Bialowieza Forest in 1975; all…
The Amazon rainforest is home to over 1,300 bird species, many of them unique to this area. Take a look at these gorgeous birds and learn their fascinating characteristics! New research shows that many Amazonian bird populations are declining as a result of climate change, particularly insect-eating species. 1. Macaw Macaws are one of the…
Discover the best techniques for effective conservation of birds with this comprehensive guide. Learn how to become an advocate for bird conservation and make a difference in protecting our feathered friends. Introduction Birds are one of the most fascinating creatures on our planet, with their beautiful colors, unique songs, and incredible migratory patterns. However, due…
