I recently read What the Robin Knows by Jon Young and this book made a surprisingly substantial impression on me. Like most nature lovers, I’m always looking for ways to not just expand my knowledge of flora and fauna but also to interact with nature more deeply and skillfully. Field guides are usually more helpful regarding [...]

This time of year, avian excitement is occurring ALL OVER THE WORLD! Let’s not waste precious time with introductions or niceties… see anything amazing this weekend? I blitzed Cobb’s Hill Park for a taste of migration, coming away with some lovely, lovely birds. While spotting six thrush species in a morning–four at once visiting a [...]

The second Sunday of May reminds us how important it is to show the mothers in our lives how much we appreciate them. If you’re reading this, you’re probably planning to celebrate this touching Hallmark holiday with a Mother’s Day bird walk, Mother’s Day gifts of field guides and feeder supplies, and maybe even a [...]

With the arrival of May, we turn from bird love to migrant mania. Forget March Madness… this is when things get crazy for those in sync with the endless sojourns of countless species. Make the most of this special time! Speaking of making the most of special times, I’m taking my (very, very, very lucky) [...]

April didn’t deliver many of its vaunted showers in my area this year. I’d fear for May flowers if so many weren’t already in bloom. How is the season in your corner of the world? My best bird this weekend has to be the Hermit Thrush that’s been hanging around my backyard for the last [...]

Some thrill to the feeling of spring in the air. Others crave something more primal such as love. Well, friends, can’t you feel it? Love is in the air… bird love! We’ve been talking about it–often in rather graphic terms–all week. Don’t pretend you’re not a little bit curious… This weekend, Corey and I will [...]

Life is a lottery, and some folks are born with more substantial… attributes than others. If you’re feeling insecure about certain aspects of your personal topography, you’re certainly not alone. Humans are hardly the only organisms that look for more in prospective mates than just loyalty, kindness, and a great sense of humor. Birds in particular can become [...]

Yesterday marked the celebration of Earth Day, a holiday most of our readers observe every day. Here’s a question for all the proud naturalists and tree-huggers out there: Does Earth Day feel special to you or like more of the same? My Earth Day was cold and rainy, which didn’t bode well for the next [...]

Apparently, once you remove all those feathers, a Great Grey Owl looks a heck of a lot like a vulture. Note to self: do not remove feathers from owls.

This month strikes me as the oddest April in my memory. Then again, April is always an odd month. Robert Frost certainly thought so… The sun was warm but the wind was chill. You know how it is with an April day. When the sun is out and the wind is still, You’re one month [...]

Beware breeding and nesting swans! That’s one of the valuable takeaways from this tragic tale out of Chicago of a man drowned by the very swans he cared for. Also of interest is how Mute Swans are employed to deter Canada Geese. Which would you rather: slovenly geese or homicidal swans? (Hat tip to Meredith!)

Maybe this is simply an innocent but tragic story of how Western water policy can hurt birds, but the title of the article strikes me as a veiled threat. Am I paranoid?

The second weekend of April holds special meaning for citizens of the United States, and by special, I really mean dire. But like it or not, most of us have filed our tax returns. At last, we can turn to more important issues like earning enough money to pay next year’s taxes! As promised, I [...]

April may be volatile, but this month offers plenteous pleasures intermingled with its abundance of showers. Was T.S. Eliot being sarcastic when he penned the line, “April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land… ?” As far as I’m concerned, watching spring advance one bud, blade, and bird at a time makes [...]

Early April is a special time for most, especially those of us in the Northern Hemisphere that love each emerging sign of spring. The month and this particular period is all the more auspicious for me and mine, as so many friends and families celebrate spring birthdays. Today happens to be mine, so send some [...]

Most weeks, we tend to focus on the movements and migrations of birds. However, with upcoming Easter and Passover festivities and America’s all-important Spring Break, now is a good time to focus on the peregrinations of people. Where are you going this weekend? Will you see birds there? Share your plans in the comments below! [...]

Now that we’re in April, the time has come to wrap up all the bird (and non-bird) competitions the month of March is famous for. Over the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Facebook page, Pileated Woodpecker and Snowy Owl are locked in a figurative death match… obviously, the owl would win a literal one, but won’t [...]

This odd weekend began with the end of March, which didn’t exactly go out like a lamb, and ended with the beginning of April. Only January commences with more fanfare and merriment than April. Did you enjoy any particularly amusing April Fools jokes? We’re especially interested in ones involving birds and nature. My best birds [...]

This is almost too thrilling to believe. I bet Carrie will be so excited…

Take a look at the fascinating photo below. Process the undoubtedly complex emotions it inspires, then try to imagine the story behind it. Then click through to Pharyngula to learn the tentacled truth. PZ Myers is enjoying this just a little too much…