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 …
