OK, you have read all my blogs for a year, right? So how much do you know about birds? Try this quiz. Don’t Google the answers – try to do it off the top of your head first. How many avian species are there in the world? How many species are flightless? What’s your state […]
Ornithological Quiz – what do you know about birds? Read More »
Wondering what to do in the winter? Build a birdhouse or two. With the disappearance of orchards and other trees and the replacement of old wooden fence posts with fiberglass ones, there are fewer sites suitable for birds to build a nest in. There is one thing we home dwellers can do: provide habitat. Landscaping
This House is for the Birds Read More »
Virtually everybody watches birds at times, but not everybody is a birdwatcher. There is no clear definition of this term coined in 1901, but if you actually watch birds with some interest, whether serious or casual, you are a birdwatcher. Maybe you spend a minute looking our your kitchen window observing a flicker or robin probing
Birding and Birdwatchers Read More »
From spring to fall there is enough natural food around that birds don’t seek feeders. As winter approaches and natural food becomes less abundant, bird feeders become appealing. There aren’t many special tricks to attract birds to feeders, but here are some suggestions to help attract the most birds of the greatest variety to your
A new report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals that about one in five Americans watches birds. There are about 48 million birders; of those 48 million, 42 million bird around the house, while 20 million bird around the house and away from home. The majority of birdwatchers simply watch birds from
Who Watches Birds? Read More »
Last blog I talked about the use of bird names and that we in the U.S. use common names. Where did these names come from? Some are obvious – the Acorn Woodpecker stores acorns in trees and the Yellow Warbler is, guess what color? The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has a very long tail and the Belted
More on Bird Names Read More »
]What’s in a name? All animals and plants have official scientific names, established by international committees such as the IOC Bird List. Many plants and animals have common names as well. The problem with common names is that they vary by region so that one animal might have twenty different names. Various species of sunfish
What’s in a (Birds) Name? Read More »
One of the nicest things about birdwatching is that it is cheap. You don’t have to travel much if at all, you don’t have to buy expensive gear, there are no admission charges, and you don’t have to stand in line to get in. No wonder 70 million people in the U.S. consider themselves birdwatchers
Birds, Binoculars and Field Guides Read More »
I always enjoy taking out beginning birdwatchers because it opens their eyes to a new world and helps them to appreciate nature. Of course, with a group of newbies I often confront issues with some participants. “Yes, it would be nice if you brought binoculars.” “No, your dog can’t come along.” “Maybe your two-year old
Beginning Bird Watchers Read More »
