POISONED BIRDS In 1959 Tom Lehrer recorded his notorious “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” song. I hope no one does that intentionally but many birds die each year from ingesting toxins. A recent study indicates that two-thirds of California Condor fatalities result from ingesting led shot from the ground or as part of the carrion […]
Ever since the advent of agriculture there have been problems with birds partaking of the harvest. There are all kinds of methods today to try to deter crop predators, the most well known being, of course, the scarecrow, which has existed for at least 3000 years. Approximately 2,500 years ago, Greek farmers carved scarecrows in
I am speaking of the salamander, not the politician once seeking the Republican nomination. In the valley and on the coasts of California the California Newt is pretty common in the moist springtime. Growing up to eight inches long and colored orange-yellow-brown, it is easy to find. Like a number of animals, its bright
One blog I talked about bird scarers- the human ones. Obviously a boring and tedious job that probably paid minimum wage. So farmers devised a human substitute, the scarecrow. Why it’s not a “scarebird” or “scarestaring”, I don’t know, but the Egyptians were apparently the first to utilize one about 3000 years ago. The Greeks and
In the late 1800’s bird feathers, and especially plumes, were literally worth more than gold. The feather trade was active, supplying plumes and even whole birds as hat decorations. Egret colonies were decimated, the adults stripped of plumes while the nestlings starved. “When the Audubon Society first formed in 1886, plume hunters were decimating North American bird
The Audubon Society- saving birds Read More »
This is the time of year when birds begin their reproductive cycle in the northern hemisphere. People find eggs, nests, and baby birds and try to help them. Generally, that is not a good idea. Only 10-20% of songbird eggs ever result in an adult bird. The eggs might be infertile, die during incubation due
Leave Baby Birds Be 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 »
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
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 »
