The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any existing bird, with the oldest dating back 2.5 million years. This is almost twice as old as the remains of most current living bird species. But even more amazing are the fossilized remains found in Nebraska of what is believed to be the…
The American Crow Unless one has a passion for a specific bird species, many of us have numerous favorites. Another one of mine is the American Crow. It happens to be a much maligned bird by some. The greatest problem concerning the Crow is its abundance. Without any natural predators to maintain their population, they…
Apart from the falling leaves and temperatures, I am further made aware that we are in the midst of a seasonal change when I see the White Crowned Sparrows appearing in my backyard and at the Nature Center. They can be seen busily double scratching the ground to turn up seeds. A backwards scratch to…
One of our most fascinating summer birds is the Chimney Swift. Commonly referred to as a flying cigar with its elongated body and long wings, these swifts have been clocked at speeds of 150 miles per hour in pursuit of catching insects on the wing. Chimney Swifts are long distance Neo-tropical migrants which winter in…
The male sings a loud flute like whistle that often gives away the bird’s location before any sighting can be made. The Baltimore Oriole received its name from the fact that the male’s colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore, an important figure in Maryland’s history. The Major League Baseball team, Baltimore Orioles,…
The Northern Cardinal has to be considered the most sought after bird to attract to the bird feeder. The sheer beauty of a pair of Cardinals in a snow covered tree or bush is a sight to be hold. And to see a dozen or more Cardinals is a sight not to be forgotten soon….
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…