News Archive

Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 articles.

A small, blue and yellow bird, called a Kirtland's warbler, held in a researcher's hand
December 14, 2008

Jacked about Pines ›

Kirtland's warblers are so abundant in some parts of this ecosystem that it is hard to believe that the Kirtland's is the rarest songbird in North America, nesting almost exclusively in about 16 counties in northern Lower Michigan.

A camera icon and the text "image coming soon"
November 15, 2008

And Less Well-known Sap Feeders ›

If you read Mary Deinlein's profile of the yellow-bellied sapsucker that appeared in this series in 2003, you know that we have learned a lot about the sap feeding habits of this highly specialized woodpecker. But as they say “Here is the rest of the story!” “A singular habit…and one with which all...

small bird jumping on a branch near berries
October 01, 2008

Kissing Cousins ›

Hanging upside down on branches, stealing insects from the undersides of leaves, this acrobatic and gregarious bird is always a welcome sight. Though a common visitor to backyard feeders throughout the southeastern United States, we still have much to learn from this charismatic songbird. Throughout...

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September 14, 2008

An Island of Their Own ›

As soon as they step off the boat onto Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the eight California Channel Islands, a distinctive, metallic call greets visitors. This call belongs the island scrub-jay, a large, strikingly blue bird with a whitish-gray breast and a prominent black bill.

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June 14, 2008

Noble in Its Proper Place ›

The rock pigeon is the official English name for our common city pigeon. It is as noble as any animal when you view it in its proper place.

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April 01, 2008

Daring to be Different ›

The game of survival is all about carving out your niche and being successful in it. Within the natural world, few birds play this game better than the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus).

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February 15, 2008

A Closer Look at an Ordinary Species ›

To many bird enthusiasts, the white-throated sparrow is just an "average Joe." In fact, I suspect that few birders living in Canada and the eastern United States have celebrated the long-awaited addition of the white-throated sparrow to their life lists.