Author name: Dr. Roger Lederer

Ornithologist and emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, whose academic and research interests are ecology, environmental science, science education and ornithology. Published over thirty scientific research papers, a textbook entitled Ecology and Field Biology, books entitled Amazing Birds, Birds of New England, Pacific Coast Bird Finder, Bird Finder, Birds of Bidwell Park, Latin for Birdwatchers, Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs, and The Art of Birds . Dr. Lederer has taught ornithology and ecology, worked with environmental organizations and schools on research and education projects, has traveled to over 100 countries, given many public presentations, and knows exactly what birds you will find anywhere in the world.

Birds Keeping Their Cool Summer of 2022

Many parts of the world have eperienced record high temperatures. In the U.S., 92 all-time record high temperatures had been set through July 16, 2002, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Globally, 188 all-time heat records were broken. At least 1,000 people have died from heat-related illness in Portugal and Spain as …

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Migratory Bird Act

When I was responsible for my university’s vertebrate museum, federal and state wildlife officers would occasionally seek my expertise in identifying illegally gotten and confiscated animal parts, especially those from birds. There were brass knuckles with eagle claws on them, songbird-decorated table centerpieces, and vests made of feathers. Today, Etsy  and Ebay sell real bird …

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Ornithotherapy

A recent European study entitled Biological Diversity Evokes Happiness determined that a ten percent increase in bird diversity increases life satisfaction as much as a comparable increase in income. So people are happier if they see more birds? I would think so. Generally, it is beneficial for us to experience more nature in our ever-disconnected-from-nature …

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Fulsome Fulmars

Just returned from a cruise on the North Atlantic. There are a number of seabirds nesting on cliffs during the short summer season such as murres, guillemots, gulls, kittwakes, and the colorful Atlantic Puffin. But getting away from the shoreline and traversing the open ocean there are fewer but perhaps more interesting birds like shearwaters, …

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Migratory Species Lighter?

A summary of recent research claims that “Migratory birds undertake long and challenging journeys that have selected for a suite of adaptations from sensory mechanisms that facilitate orientation to extreme feats of endurance that push physiological limits. Recent work on two distantly related species revealed that migrating individuals increase their flight altitude dramatically during the …

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