Numbers have increased dramatically, and many cities across the country now boast their own nesting Peregrines. While we may be more inclined to prize gulls for their ability to catch French fries in mid-air along the waterfront, they are actually quite accomplished vocalists. On a warm, sunny day, an American Robin sits on the ground, its wings outstretched and its tail splayed behind. Peregrine Falcons are evidence of the success of both the Endangered Species Act and the ban of the pesticide DDT. As a maker of silly sounds, he beats the Three Stooges hands down. They occasionally crowd into suburban bird feeders, nudging out smaller birds. Unless kids are introduced purposefully to nature, they may understand the plight of the Amazon rain forest, but never dampen their feet in a local stream.
Puffins are icons of the seabird world. You'll find excellent birdwatching and an impressive array of bird-related activities.
Bird song is heard frequently in classical music. Because frog-leg enthusiasts wanted these tasty morsels locally available.
Loping overhead at dusk, with long slender wings, the Common Nighthawk chases down aerial insects with sudden, choppy shifts of direction.
Avian flu usually infects only certain types of birds: chickens, ducks, geese, gulls, and shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers. The Boreal forest is a vast band of spruce and poplar that extends from coast to coast across Alaska and Canada.
At this time of year, you may see young birds making their first forays outside the nest. With wingspans approaching six feet, Turkey Vultures ride currents of air to make their spring and fall journeys, and to cover the miles of their home range in summer.
The plight of the young bird is illustrated by this encounter between predator and prey, as a young hawk sets out on its first hunting expedition. But then, we went astray. And they start singing young, learning their songs first from their fathers, just two or three weeks after hatching, and then from other males near the territories they themselves establish.
With clown-like faces and huge, multicolored bills, they stand upright on sea cliffs along the northern oceans. If you were to pinpoint the height of bird activity on the eastern flanks of the Cascade Mountains, you might pick the area around Leavenworth, during the latter part of May.
The plight of the young bird is illustrated by this encounter between predator and prey, as a young hawk sets out on its first hunting expedition. This is the time of year that young birds leave the nest, and they are especially vulnerable to cats.