I love birds, and I also love the NBA. Even better, I love when the NBA and birding give me an excuse to write a blog post. What does the NBA have to do with birding? a person might wonder. (Well, besides the bird mascots—and I forgive any birder who, when they hear Toronto Raptors, envisions… Read more »
I remember the first time I took a photo of a bird with a cell phone and digiscope adapter. I was in North Dakota with Bill Thompson III more than a decade ago, and I was seeing my “lifer” Clark’s grebe through the lens of his scope. It was one of those epic moments in… Read more »
One thing about bird watchers is that we rarely stop with birds. Once you notice one winged creature, it’s difficult not to become interested in other winged things. Butterflies are a natural extension for birders, especially since the birds are a bit quieter and often hidden in leafed-out trees during the summer months. Meanwhile, butterflies… Read more »
In a previous post here on Out There with the Birds, I told you that I moved—not far from my previous residence, and even closer to the big, historic cemetery that I consider my patch, where I walk, bird, and meditate several mornings a week. Now that I’ve settled into my new abode and unpacked… Read more »
Since late May, in some areas of the East and Midwest, reports of dead and dying birds—either with crusty, diseased eyes, or with apparent neurological problems—skyrocketed. Blue jays, northern cardinals, common grackles, European starlings, American robins, and house sparrows were species hardest hit, especially fledglings. Reports came from Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky,… Read more »
Do you remember the song “Cool Change” by the Australian musical group Little River Band? The song’s familiar refrain says, “Time for a cool change… I know that it’s time for a cool change.” That melodic earworm has been flowing through my brain for weeks now because it’s time for a cool change of our… Read more »
There’s this pesticide commercial I keep hearing all the time lately, posing a question: If I didn’t have to worry about weeds, what would I think about instead? Well, I’m probably not the target audience for this advertising campaign; I don’t worry about weeds. What I do worry about is the mass-market availability of… Read more »
Last month, members of the Bird Watcher’s Digest staff led our fourth Reader Rendezvous birding tour of the year, and our second “birdtography” tour featuring our production director and award-winning professional photographer, Bruce Wunderlich. Here is a summary of the group’s adventures with birds, bears, and Bruce! The morning before the event officially began, several… Read more »
I recently led a Bird Watcher’s Digest Birdtography Reader Rendezvous in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I arrived a few days ahead of the tour to scout out locations and spend a little time by myself with the birds and bears of the eastern Tennessee, especially in my favorite location, Cades Cove. The Cove’s 11-mile,… Read more »
A couple weeks ago, I was driving along, listening to a conference call at a fairly loud volume on my car speakers, when I suddenly heard A VERY LOUD NOISE. Oh no, I thought. What is wrong with my car? I turned down my call and cracked open the window only to realize there was nothing… Read more »
