A recent article in the New York Times posits an idea as to why people get fat; it isn’t their fault. Instead of blaming food choices, lack of exercise, slow metabolism, or simple gluttony, the authors believe that the availability of “junk food” makes us fat. High calorie fast food, snacks at the movies and …
Lark may mean “spree, frolic, merry adventure,” 1811, slang, of uncertain origin; or possibly a shortening of skylark, sailors’ slang for playing rough in the rigging of a ship (larks were known for their high-flying). The bird got the name in the 14th century. The Horned Lark, Eremophila (desert loving) alpestris (of the mountains), is not restricted …
“Ukraine is internationally important for wild birds: 434 species, 18 globally threatened birds, 19 species for which the country hosts more than 15% of the European population (over 60 percent of the Slender-billed Gull species resides in Ukraine) and 141 Important Bird Areas covering 2.5 million hectares. All of them are under the threat of …
Hundreds of birdwatchers from all over England and even mainland Europe recently descended on the tiny island of Bryher on the Isles of Scilly (pronounced si-lee) southwest of Cornwall, England, to catch a glimpse of a tiny bird from the U.S. which has rarely been seen in the U.K. In Mid-October, 2022, “twitchers” arrived in …
There are approximately 240 species of woodpeckers in the world, distributed in a variety of habitats across the world, excepting Australasia and Antarctica. Although they make oral sounds- calling- they use drumming – pecking rapidly at a tree, post, metal chimney – to defend their territories. There is an excellent article, Evolutionary and Biomechanical Basis …
Thirty-three leading science and conservation organizations have released the State of the Birds report for 2022 and the results are mainly grim. There are some not so well known birds on the list such as the Ashy Storm-Petrel and the Cassia Crossbill, but many are familiar species: Allen’s Hummingbird, Chimney Swift, Ruddy Turnstone, and Tricolored …
I often receive emails asking advice on caring for a sick, injured, or baby bird. I offer what advice I can and also suggest they contact their local wildlife rehabilitation center or wildlife official. There are a plethora of reasons birds get into these conditions but this email was unusual. The bird, a Dark-eyed Junco, was …
Birds are homogeneous when it comes to egg laying, that is, they all lay eggs, differing from mammals which birth their young alive, with two exceptions (spiny anteater and platypus – the monotremes) and reptiles, mostly egg layers, but with a number of live-bearing species as well (sea snakes and boas, for example.) Live-bearers are …
I have blogged about birds flying into buildings and windows before and the problem persists simply because there are more and more buildings and windows. It is especially severe during migration time in the northern hemisphere. Not only buildings and windows but power lines, towers, and wind turbines also pose dangers. Exacerbating the hazards from …
Well, election season is upon us and poll takers abound, asking questions about people’s political leanings. The word “poll” arose around 1300 from the word polle, meaning head or top. Later its meaning extended to individuals, like people or sheep. By 1620 it meant the counting of heads or votes, as in an election. By …
