Monthly Archives: February 2011

For all those teenaged boys trying to be cool to impress a girl, you’re not alone. According to a recent scientific finding, teenage male songbirds do something similar by significantly improving the way they sing whenever a female is around. The study documented the song of the zebra finch because of its resemblance to human [...]

For years, there has been a debate surrounding how much of a threat wind farms pose to birds. While the verdict is still out, there are a few things that we know about wind farms and their effects on birds. 1. Wind farms kill birds (but not many) The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has been [...]

There are more than 10,000 different species of birds around the world. Now, add one more to that list. Scientists have discovered yet another new bird species, the Mentocrex beankaensis, in the dry forests of Madagascar. The Mentocrex beankaensis is a type of rail, a small to medium-sized bird typically found in areas with dense [...]

In a post a few days ago, we talked about how whooping cranes were being reintroduced to Louisiana. Today, ten whooping cranes are being released into their several acre pen in Southern Louisiana. In honor of this event, U.S. Geological Survey scientists have released a short biography of each of these birds and some extra [...]

While the smartphone application most commonly associated with birds is the quirky Angry Birds game, there are a number of applications solely designed to enhance the birding experience. Here is a rundown of some of the popular apps that help identify birds and offer multimedia features. The Peterson Field Guide to Backyard Birds The first [...]

One of the rarest birds in North America is being reintroduced to its natural habitat in Louisiana for the first time in more than 50 years. The whooping crane, rumored to have fallen to a population of 14 in the mid-20th century, has undergone a delicate comeback from the brink of extinction. The next step [...]

A couple stories this week about a popular California bird offered a unique glimpse into the personality capable in wild birds. Numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times, ran fascinating pieces on a winged celebrity living in a Los Angeles’ Echo Park. Maria the Goose has been a prominent figure at [...]

For anyone who has been thinking about getting a backyard bird feeder, let the month of February be your motivation and excuse for getting started. February is National Bird-Feeding Month, which encourages everyone to bask in the entertaining, inexpensive and educational pasttime of feeding wild birds. With the extremely harsh weather pelting the nation this [...]

A week ago, we posted about the importance of helping wild birds during the winter. With the unusually harsh weather this year, more reports are coming out on how the cold has been affecting birds. For example, in states like Louisiana, rescue centers are receiving many calls about birds in trouble or already dead. One [...]