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Mother Bird Photo Finalists

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:08:21 +0000

It's been a busy birding month, and our "mother" birds are busy as well building nests, laying eggs and tending to their young. For this month's photo contest, seven photographers submitted 19 outstanding tributes to bird mothers, and it was no easy feat to narrow them down to just three finalists. With careful consideration of photo quality and parenting techniques, however, the finalists are...

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Bird of the Week: Rufous Hummingbird

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:21:22 +0000

This week's featured hummingbird is a tiny, fiery ball of attitude - the rufous hummingbird is the most aggressive humming species in North America. Common in the west during the spring and summer, these hummers migrate north along the Pacific Coast but take an interior route along mountain ranges for their fall migration, spreading their aggression out over a larger area, but are nevertheless welcome at many backyard feeders because of their feisty personalities and colorful rusty plumage.

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Vomit Training for Jays

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:16:19 +0000

Many corvids, including jays, consume other birds' eggs, and that is a problem for endangered marbled murrelets in California. According to NBC News, the seabirds - which nest inland in redwood trees - are victims of nest-robbing Steller's jays, which consume 80 percent of the eggs each year. A two-sided approach to protecting marbled murrelets is now underway, first by discouraging feeding the birds at campsites so they will move on to other food sources in different territories, and second by using decoy eggs to make resident jays sick.

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Record-Breaking Python Killed

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:11:45 +0000

A chance nighttime encounter in the Florida Everglades has removed the largest ever of these introduced snakes from the fragile ecosystem. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the female snake measured 18 feet eight inches, more than a foot longer than the previous longest python recorded in Florida, and weighed 128 pounds. The man who killed the snake had experience handling pythons and turned it over to state authorities for examination.

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Mailbag Monday � Hummingbirds for Kids

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:55:59 +0000

Hummingbird Month is humming along, and just as hummingbirds are arriving at feeders, so are hummingbird questions arriving in my inbox! This week, Jodi from Tennessee asks...

"My five-year-old daughter is fascinated by the hummingbird feeder we have. Are there any activities she can do to enjoy hummingbirds without hurting them? She's not always gentle with our pets!"

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Reward Offered for Rookery Information

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:21:38 +0000

Damaged nests, missing eggs and lost birds from a Texas rookery have inspired a reward leading to information about possible theft or vandalism from the protected site. According to the Rockport Pilot, damage to the rookery near San Antonio Bay occurred in late April, and while it is possible that poor weather caused the damage, other clues indicate human interference.

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Pretty in Pink

Sat, 18 May 2013 09:05:30 +0000

Gull species can look remarkably similar with their gray, white and black plumage, similar shapes and overall general jizz, but one gull is standing out in a bold way. According to the Petoskey News-Review, a ring-billed gull with rich pink plumage has been spotted around the northern Michigan town of Petoskey. Officials aren't sure what has caused the bird's discoloration - dye, food or some unknown source. The bird is in fine health, however, and its odd plumage has not seemed to impact its behavior.

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Capture Mom Bird Moments

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:02:52 +0000

May is a month to celebrate mothers, and we're celebrating bird mothers with this month's photo contest theme, "Mother" Birds. Female birds of dimorphic species, or any birds showing "mothering" behavior are great subjects, but get those cameras clicking - the contest deadline is May 23, and all entries must be submitted by then. Enter your photos today and don't miss your chance to show what great bird mothers you've seen!

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Bird of the Week: Allen's Hummingbird

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:58:18 +0000

This week's featured bird is missing from many birder's life lists - the Allen's hummingbird is often misidentified as a rufous hummingbird, and so might not be as often recorded as it really should be. There are subtle clues to tell the two apart, however, and when you learn those you can appreciate the coppery beauty of this California hummingbird.

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There's No Party Like an Eagle Party

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:10:36 +0000

The police aren't usually called to intervene with feeding birds, but that's exactly what happened in a grocery store parking lot in Alaska recently. According to kucb 89.7 fm, a ...

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