Oology is the study of eggs, mostly their shells. In the 19th and early 20th century it was a hobby, like stamp and coin collecting. Eggs were collected from wild birds’ nests, holes made in both ends, and the material inside blown out. They were displayed, sold, and traded, like many collectors’ items today. I’ve […]
Oology – the study of bird eggs Read More »
We use bird names or references everyday in our lives. Here are a few lists I have come up with. Can you add to them? Birdy Sayings, Proverbs, and Descriptions A little bird told me. That’s for the birds. A bird’s-eye view. A lame-duck politician. Scarcer than hen’s teeth. Madder than a wet hen. The
Birdy Words – from Birds they Came Read More »
When I arrived in northern California in 1972, I discovered that there were no Northern Mockingbirds but they are very common now. Mockingbirds expand and contract their ranges with the climate, preferring warmer ones, and they have been increasing in numbers in California since the 1940s. The House Finch, common over the U.S., has, over the
Birds and Climate Change Read More »
Each year over 500,000 birds die worldwide due to oil spills. The recent BP oil rig disaster or the coast of Louisiana is a major ecological disaster, and the effects have been devastating. Louisiana is the southernmost point on the Mississippi River Flyway. The coastal areas provide a critical link between North American nesting grounds
Birds and Oil Spills Read More »
A number of people write to me asking about the field of ornithology, from young grade-schoolers to retired businesspeople. Their interest in birds leads them to think they want to pursue the field of ornithology in some way. So let’s talk about that. What do ornithologists do? Well, an ornithologist studies birds, but there is
To Be an Ornithologist: watching birds as a job Read More »
A well known blackbird is the Brewer’s Blackbird. This common blackbird gets its name from a prominent 19th Century Boston naturalist who started his professional career as an M.D. with a degree from Harvard and later developed a passion for birds. As a teenager he began sharing his field observations with J.J. Audubon. Audubon
Blackbirds and Black 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 »
Glass has been around for nearly 3000 years, but it’s only been a bit over 100 years since the invention of sheet glass, making mass production of windows possible. Birds and windows have been in conflict ever since, if not before. Every year at this time I get lots of questions on my website, ornitholo.wpenginepowered.com
Birds and Windows Read More »
After seeing so many wonderful birds in the wilds around the world I wonder about those kept in cages, Birds have been raised in captivity for many years for pleasure or profit. (For today’s discussion, I’m excluding birds like chickens raised for food.) I have met folks from Bird Clubs and have spoken at their meetings. They
Birds in Cages – should they be? Read More »
There are more than 90 million pet cats in the U.S., the majority of which roam outside at least part of the time. In addition, millions of stray and feral cats roam our cities, suburbs, and rural areas. So how much of a problem are these feline predators to our feathered friends? Well, quite a
