The long-awaited Third New York Breeding Bird Atlas officially kicked off at the start of 2020. Last year, for obvious reasons, it was difficult to engage in as much exploration as I would’ve liked. My reduced vehicle access and the various travel restrictions made it difficult for me to venture beyond NYC for much of the breeding season. Even though … Read More
The Snowy Owl’s Supper, a Pellet Mini-Mystery
My fondness for Snowy Owls is well-documented. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to live in a corner of the continent where sightings of these nomadic raptors are an annual occurrence. I’ve spent many a winter’s day trudging about on the barrier beaches of Long Island in search of Snowies. It was through such scouting efforts that I honed my field … Read More
Birds We’ve Met Before
Knowingly seeing an individual bird that has been previously encountered is a special treat in the world of birding. Most birders would probably agree that the fascinating life cycles of these wild creatures are among the greatest draws that keep people invested in the hobby. It is a truly remarkable privilege to witness multiple chapters in the stories of specific … Read More
Among Amazonian Royalty
As a sluggish day of bird-banding drew wearily to a close, Osmaildo (one of my Brazilian mateiros) approached the station with a trio of once-white bird bags. The mateiros have literally spent years of their lives in the Amazon rainforest and, as such, not much seems to faze them anymore. Thus, their dispassionate expressions betray little and I am often … Read More
Earth Day 2015: A Reflection and a Video Clip
Another year passes and another Earth Day comes and goes. One measly day. Twenty-four hours is essentially the blink of an eye. Compare it to the Earth as we experience it. Our planet took 4.54 billion years to get this way. For me, the attraction of Earth Day is the occasion to think beyond our day-to-day schedules and our short … Read More
Photo Study – Idaho Harlequin Duck
Whether floating along rocky ocean shorelines or navigating the raging rapids of a mountain stream, Harlequin Ducks are totally at home in rough water. The fast-flowing, high elevation rivers and creeks flowing throughout the boreal forests of northern Idaho are the perfect haven for these colorful ducks, and I was really looking forward to turning one up while I’m working … Read More
American Kestrel Partnership Kestrel Camera: A Struggle to Survive
The American Kestrel Partnership was created by The Peregrine Fund to gather data about the very alarming decline of American Kestrels in North America. Long term data from breeding bird survey routes indicate as high as 64% population decline in American Kestrel populations since the 1960’s. As with most declining species, it is likely a combination of factors that is causing … Read More
An evening in Ocala National Forest: Common Nighthawk flight display
Yesterday, as part of my work with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, I spent part of the day mapping territories of Florida Scrub-Jays in Ocala National Forest. I spent a few hours out in the morning, but high humidity and baking sun had the jays quiet by 11:00 or so. There is no standing water in the scrub, so … Read More
California Gulls vs Cliff Swallows
This Memorial Day weekend I headed into the Yellowstone Ecosystem for some birding and wildlife watching. The highlight of the weekend was at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge near Lima, MT where myself and a friend observed a California Gull actively hunting Cliff Swallows. At Lower Red Rock Lake the swallows had formed a small nesting colony beneath a … Read More
Virginia Rails- up close and personal
Throughout the year we get many rails and herons in the wetland in our yard, but seldom do we ever get to observe them at point blank range. The last few days several Virginia Rails have been around, and we got the opportunity to watch them in close detail as they fed. One bird in particular allowed Trish, Phoebe and … Read More
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