English (House) Sparrows Controlling house sparrows at the bird feeder The English sparrow, commonly referred to as the house sparrow, is a species introduced into the United States in the mid 1800s. Brought over to this continent from England, this non-native bird is not actually a sparrow but a Weaver Finch, a sub-species of…
It’s Always Bird Feeding Time! Four seasons and the reasons People have traditionally fed wild birds primarily during the winter due to the fact that was the only season certain retail outlets made bird feeding products available. So we have grown to assume that winter is the only season that birds benefit from our enjoyment of…
Bird Vision Birds enjoy sharper vision than humans. Birds can see certain light frequencies–including ultraviolet–that humans cannot see. In fact, many songbirds have feathers that reflect ultraviolet light. This light is used to communicate species, gender, and perhaps even social standing. Birds can see this ultraviolet light under normal, daylight conditions. Humans require the assistance…
The wild turkey is our largest upland game bird. The wild variety is slimmer and has a few color differences than its closely related domestic cousin. They all came from the same original wild stock. The domestic Turkey is thought to be among the most stupid of birds. They have been reported to actually stand…
A favorite winter bird that generally arrives in the Midwest and Great Plains states in late November to early December that has a huge appetite for Nyjer seed at our thistle feeders is the Pine Siskin. Many of these birds breed from southern Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland down to the upper Great Lakes region…
Purple Finch (Bird of the Month) – What a privilege it is to have Purple Finch in our area this winter. These finches differ from our more common nesting bird, the house finch. The purple finch breeds in the evergreen forests of the northern parts of the country and corresponding sections in Canada. It has…
The Eastern Bluebird is one of three varieties of bluebirds that are native to North America. The other two are the Mountain Bluebird and the Western Bluebird. These two bluebird varieties live in areas true to their names, far to the west of us. The Mountain Bluebird however can be found nesting in western regions…
What a joy it is to attract the Rose-breasted Grosbeak to our feeders after they have wintered in Central and South America. This little finch, which weighs about 1-3/4 ounce, has had a long trip to its nesting territory. The Nature Center has banded these birds in past years and it is always exciting to…
In the spring and early summer, we may have noticed a bird with a stiff flap and glide flight pattern, reminiscent of a Sharp Shinned Hawk. But closer inspection reveals the male Mourning Dove in a courtship flight, then returning to his favorite “cooing” perch. In flight he has a whistling sound as doves often…