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Frozen Sea Leads to Hand-Feeding Pelicans

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:15:28 +0000

The largest pelicans in the world, dalmation pelicans, are at the mercy of cold weather in Russia. According to BBC News, the birds migrated to the region near Makhachkala recently, but the Caspian Sea has frozen over and they are unable to fish. More than 20 birds have already starved, but local officials from Dagestan's Nature Protection Ministry are bringing in fish to provide for the birds until they are able to forage on their own.

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Chasing Rare Birds

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:04:18 +0000

With the recent release of The Big Year dvd, many birders are seeking to add more species to their life lists, even if they aren't actually counting through their own big year. In Florida, the rare appearance of a fork-tailed flycatcher is causing a lot of birders to take flight. According to the Herald-Tribune, the tropical bird has been seen regularly in recent weeks near a Ruskin strawberry farm, and it's not the only rare species to have shown up in Florida this winter. A cinnamon teal - a western duck - is present in Sarasota, hundreds of miles from its typical range.

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Mailbag Monday � Birds Caching Nuts

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:11:37 +0000

Every Monday I feature a reader's question to explore the world of birds and birding. This week, Jillian from Pennsylvania asks...

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Photo Contest Deadline

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:56:36 +0000

Have you been feeding birds this month and capturing their hungry moments on camera? The deadline for the February Bird Photo Contest is fast approaching - all entries must be submitted by February 23. Every photographer and birder can submit up to three entries for the contest, but be sure they're relevant to this month's theme - Bird Feeding. Have you witnessed a fight at your Nyjer feeder? A heron spearing its favorite fish? A sneaky jay caching a nut? All would be great moments for bird feeding photography!

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Lord God Bird Extinct

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:56:06 +0000

It's a sad day in southern swamps when birders acknowledge that the mythical double-knock drumming will be heard no more. According to BirdWatching, two independent teams of researchers studying sighting ...

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It's a Numbers Game

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:37:10 +0000

Today is the start of the 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual project many birders look forward to every February. Anyone can participate no matter what their level of ...

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Bird of the Week: Chukar

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:15:50 +0000

This week's featured bird is an unmistakable game bird in North America - the chukar has no very identical cousins on this continent, but there are several very similar species in Europe and Asia, where these imported birds are originally native. Their boldly marked plumage and bright red bills distinguish them from many other game birds, as does their preference for relatively dry and seemingly inhospitable habitats.

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Purple Squirrel?

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:18:13 +0000

Many backyard birders are accustomed to squirrels visiting their feeders, but a couple in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, was startled to see that the squirrel raiding their feeders wasn't the typical ...

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Northern Finch in Southern California

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:17:27 +0000

Winter is a great season for seeing northern finches as they spread south to escape the most brutal cold, but a new visitor to southern California is the first ever ...

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Mailbag Monday � Feeding Birds Safely

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:12:43 +0000

Every Monday I choose a reader's question to highlight, answering real-life birding inquiries. This week, Lila Anne from West Virginia asks...

"I want to put up a bird feeder at a local senior home, but several residents have told me it's dangerous because the birds won't migrate and feeding them actually hurts them. Is this true?"

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