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Like it or not, the holiday season is here. Merry happy whatever it is you celebrate! And lest you overlook avifauna in the midst of your caroling and carousing, remember that the Christmas season and birds go together like latkes and sour cream (at least in my household!) Not only do we have the birds [...]

‘Tis, as the say, the season to be jolly. So why am I so harried and anxious? Must be because I haven’t finished my holiday shopping… it may be fair to say I haven’t even started it yet! Luckily for those of us who love birds, ’tis also the season for Christmas Bird Counts. Here’s [...]

December owns an outsize reputation among months due to its status as the Northern Hemisphere’s gateway to winter, though hosting Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, and sundry other holidays doesn’t hurt either! Ironically, as climates change and seasons shift, this month just doesn’t seem as cold as it used to be. Nonetheless, those old December poems [...]

Now that American Thanksgiving has passed, we in the States can join the rest of the world in turning our full attention to the upcoming Yule celebration. The impending season of giving can trigger intense anxiety punctuated by bouts of conspicuous consumerism, but you don’t need to succumb to rampant materialism. Why don’t you take [...]

After weeks if not months of preparation, Christmas is finally here! Regardless of your faith or culture, you can’t deny that Christmas dominates our collective imaginations this time of year. Even bird watching becomes decked with boughs of holly thanks to the annual international Christmas Bird Count. You undoubtedly have something special scheduled this weekend… [...]

Do you realize that you have only 9 more shopping days (and counting) until Christmas? Maybe you don’t celebrate the modern Yule holiday or maybe you’ve prudently purchased all the presents you’ll need for loved ones both naughty and nice. No matter what your situation, I suggest you give yourself the gift of nature this [...]

December is here, and with it has come over a foot of snow in my part of the world. Can boreal birds be far behind? They better not be! How do you embrace the extremes of December? What are you doing that this weekend and will birding be involved? Share your plans in the comments below! [...]

December has arrived, delivering its bounty of holiday frenzy and frozen precipitation. Your experience of this month may of course differ, but mine is colored (white) by the snow already deposited upon my doorstep. But December is a festive month, rich with holiday cheer. It’s also a birdy month in many parts of the world. [...]

Happy holidays! I’m running around like a maniac trying to get everything in order for Christmas Eve, not so much for myself but for my kids and kin. I can only hope that you’re looking forward to a more relaxed and enjoyable weekend. Speaking of which, what are you doing this weekend? Will you be [...]

The holidays are well and truly upon us. So, if you live anywhere near my latitude, is winter weather. The silver lining to these dark clouds packed with snow and sleet is that winter birds are close behind! What are you doing this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments [...]

I’m in the middle of a book review blitz so pardon me if I cut right to the chase: where will you be this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below. I will be engaged in family activities this weekend that will probably keep me away from interesting avifauna. [...]

December has finally arrived. While this year slowly eases into the next, most folks feel they need to spend every free moment preparing for the holidays, usually through epic feats of conspicuous consumption. But there is another way! The best gift you can give your loved ones is to enter the holiday season as friendly, [...]

So Christmas is here. Hanukah is here. Kwanzaa is here. No matter whether or what you worship, you undoubtedly have some festivities to indulge in this weekend. You may even have a Christmas Bird Count scheduled. Whatever it is you have planned, do try to burn off some of those holiday calories by getting outside. [...]

As the holiday season hurtles towards us, it’s fair to say that if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, you’d best get to it! The rest of us can begin celebrating early, although those of us laid low by the current global economic instability may not be in much of a mood to be [...]

Perhaps the question should be, “Where are you shopping this second weekend of December?” But those of you feeling the pressure of the holiday season breathing down your neck should take heart… you still have a couple of weeks left to get things done! So are you going to ignore the insanity of commercialism and [...]

The solstice may not have arrived yet but around here, winter birding season has begun. If signs are auspicious in your area, take a break from holiday shopping (it’s too early yet anyway!) and turn your eyes to the skies. What will you be doing this weekend and will you be watching birds? Comment below [...]