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Here in the U.S., we’re still on the more temperate side of Memorial Day, after which summer unofficially begins and one may wear white shoes with impunity. Yet if you roasted this weekend like we did in western New York, you’re probably a little scared of what July and August will look like! Save your [...]

Here we are immersed in the fullness of May. I wonder how many recognize just how special this time of year is, not just because of the massive migratory spectacle but also for May’s pulchritudinous profusion of flowers and deliciously moderate climate. Lest ye take the magic of this month for granted, heed instead the [...]

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 [...]

It is May! For those in the northern hemisphere migration fever is upon us and employers who employ birders are wondering where everybody is. Have the birds really started moving where you live? Both Mike and I were on the road this weekend. I was in Chicago (actually, I might even still be here by [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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! [...]

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 [...]

The month may be winding down, but March Madness is reaching a fever pitch. Sure, college basketball is a big deal, but I’m thinking about the burgeoning spring. Think your coworkers would be up for an office pool to pick the next early migrant to arrive? Perhaps you don’t work in that kind of environment, [...]

Now that late winter has eased into early spring, it seems owls are in the air. I’m hearing all kinds of owl howls, from Saw-whets at (where else?) Owl Woods and Short-eared Owls from New York to the Galapagos Islands. One birder known to many of us even had her life Barn Owl turn up [...]

Ah, spring is here (at least on my side of the world.) Rather than wax with my usual eloquence on vernal splendors, I’d like to share a silly song that always comes to mind this time of year. My kids just loved the movie Lost in the Woods by Sisbro Studios. Laura and Robert Sams [...]

Faith and Begorrah, I’ve made it through another St. Patty’s Day without ingesting corned beef, cabbage, or green beer! My liver lingers on in the same (sorry) state in which it entered the weekend. Can you say the same? My weekend was devoted to a seemingly endless celebration of my son’s 8th birthday, which meant [...]

Friends, birders, countrymen (and women)– lend me your ears. I come not to praise winter, but to bury it. Those of us occupying the boreal half of the planet can give Old Man Winter an exuberant sendoff this weekend, while you on the austral side can say so long to summer. How will you be observing the [...]