Category Archives: migrants

A New Effort to Reduce Bird-Window Collisions on Campus


This was the inaugural post on the blog I started 7 September, 2009: Bird-Window Collisions at OK State. I didn’t think that 14 years later we’d finally have an opportunity to assess the efficacy of window treatments to reduce collisions … Continue reading

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Wildlife of the real Gilligan’s Island(s)


Please don’t ask how I come up with these things because I can’t explain it, but I found myself wondering if anyone had ever eBirded Gilligan’s Island? Rabbit hole: entered. Quick history: Gilligan’s Island was a goofy comedy brainchild of … Continue reading

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My lifer Whooping Crane – something I thought I might never see


It’s been a long time coming, but I was recently guided to my lifer WHOOPING CRANE by my nephews Benjamin and Matt Hack (+ special guest star Matt’s friend Kaitie) at a lake near Dexter, Michigan. This is an ENDANGERED … Continue reading

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One to watch: Nick Russo’s Ecology of Bird Movement and Dispersal


via Research Follow the link above to the Nick Russo’s website Ecology of Bird Movement and Dispersal. Interesting work and a lot more to come I’d wager!

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The Wild Side for April 2019


Check out the latest newsletter of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Wildlife Diversity Program. Note: Only do this if you want to learn cool stuff about wildlife in the Sooner State and how to support them through your education … Continue reading

Posted in animal behavior, bat conservation, bird banding, birding, birds/nature, Endangered Species Act, environment, evolution, IUCN, life, Links, migrants, monarch butterfly, National Audubon Society, No Child Left Inside, Partners in Flight, population estimates, population monitoring, professional development, skepticism and science, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The nightjars are returning! — A Feathered Reptile


The world needs to better appreciate the unique style of of Gretchen Newberry and her use of art in her #SciComm! This just in! The last of the migrants are on their way back, as evidenced by this announcement by … Continue reading

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Handbook of the Birds of the World newsletter #50


The August newsletter of HBW Birds Alive– a milestone as the 50th in this series – has just been released. I’ve already lost track of how many new things I just learned in a few minutes’ browsing. Highlights:    

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Beach-nesting birds: assault from all sides


Their fortunes tied to the tides, many species of coastal birds nest directly on the beach. Here Nature seems to conspire against them in these places we so often associate with idyllic relaxation. On North America’s temperate Atlantic Coast, beaches … Continue reading

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Historical data – shorebirds and a sea turtle on the Virginia Coast Reserve


Long ago my life was quite different. I spent a lot more time outside and I traveled to some pretty wild places. I did not, however, carry a camera with me. Back in those days, you might have a compact … Continue reading

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The Wild Side newsletter – March 2018


The Wildlife Diversity Program of our Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation publishes a great little e-newsletter: The Wild Side. This month’s issue hearkens to the extraordinary ecosystem diversity our state packs into its relatively modest area: mixed-grass prairie, Ozark caves, … Continue reading

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Vicarious early winter in Vermont


Snow squalls sweep across the mountains in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. ./ © K.P. McFarland Fear not, during these short days and long nights of December, we’re still finding plenty of life in the fading light. Once we pass … Continue reading

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10 August 2017 – no casualties


Both hummingbird carcasses still in evidence. The whole bird from the southeastern alcove has been decapitated, presumably by the ants. The tail from the southwestern alcove made things a bit more interesting by being gone.  I wasn’t too surprised by … Continue reading

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Handbook of the Birds of the World – newsletter #37


So much exciting new material in the latest update from HBW Alive!  Here’s a teaser: Nº37, July 2017 Analytics: the new powerful tool with all your stats, graphs and maps! My Birding started out by offering a bird sighting recording … Continue reading

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2016 Partners in Flight Landbird Conservation Plan


The updated Landbird Conservation Plan from Partners in Flight has just been released. As with previous iterations, the emphasis is on applying objective criteria to determine those species in most need of conservation, delineating the habitats within ecoregions important for … Continue reading

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2016 State of the Birds


It ain’t much better than the last one.  Check out the press release for the 2016 State of the Birds Report to see the gains and losses in conservation, and consider options for the future. (Complete and well-organized overview here.) … Continue reading

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HBW Alive Newsletter #21 – March 2016


The latest newsletter of the Handbook of the Birds of the World has been released and it, as usual, is chock full of fascinating discoveries*, insightful synthesis, and stunning multi-media features. *For example, I just learned that a flightless owl … Continue reading

Posted in animal behavior, bird evolution, birding, birds/nature, editorial, Endangered Species Act, environment, Epidexipteryx, evolution, Great Auk, HBW Alive, history, hummingbirds, IUCN, life, migrants, paleontology, skepticism and science, vultures, wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Birding Community E-Bulletin: March 2016


The Birding Community E-bulletin is distributed to active and concerned birders, those dedicated to the joys of birding and the protection of birds and their habitats. This issue is sponsored by the producers of superb quality birding binoculars and scopes, … Continue reading

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eBird News – March 2016


Team eBird has announced a Global Big Day on May 14th, 2016.  I can hardly wait – I love stuff like this! Program description and additional information are available at eBird News.  

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Waterthrush Podcast #24: FOY Season


There’s a new episode of The Waterthrush Podcast available.  Check it out to learn about 4 big ideas to advance science, the biggest big year ever, and what this FOY stuff is all about.

Posted in Bird Education Network, BIRDATHON, birding, birds/nature, environment, evolution, IUCN, life, Links, migrants, National Audubon Society, skepticism and science, The Waterthrush Podcast, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bird Education Network – BEN Bulletin for January 2016


BEN – Bird Education Network Some Lessons from the Jr. Audubon Clubs by Paul J. Baicich From the very start of the anti-feather-trade bird-protection movement of the late 1800s, there was an interest in winning over the sympathies of children. … Continue reading

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