by Nancy Peterson Several months ago, I had an epiphany while birding in my town’s nature park. I envisioned a mural featuring native birds and plants, local scenery, and a cat. A cat? Yes, and not just any cat, but my indoor cat, Jenny. I’m not just any ailurophile. I worked for the nation’s largest… Read more »
Review by Peter Gent Full Chase Mode: Big Year of Birding in North America, by John Vanderpoel, 2021, Buteo Books, 499 pages, paperback, $24.95 It is now 10 years since well-known Colorado birder John Vanderpoel was doing his Big Year. The quest was to see as many species as possible in the mainland USA and… Read more »
Banding Coalition of the Americas: A new generation continues the Bob and Martha Sargent legacy by Angela Minor “In the fall of 2007, my father purchased tickets for a birding field trip to Fort Morgan Peninsula [on the Gulf Coast of Alabama],” said Emma Rhodes, co-founder of Banding Coalition of the Americas (BCA). “As part… Read more »
by Julie Zickefoose, Guest Contributor and Bird Watcher’s Digest Columnist A recent Washington Post article discusses fledgling blue jays and grackles being stricken with a “new disease” in Northern Virginia. Birds exhibit blindness, closed eyes, lethargy, and ataxia. I’m going to throw in my unresearched, common-sense opinion as a licensed bird rehabilitator for the past… Read more »
by Marion & Rich Patterson Sometimes, when one is hustling to get to work or an appointment, a streak of feathery color zips in front of the car and perches in a roadside tree. Or an unusual raptor circles the highway. Perhaps a different-looking duck is cruising the edge of a distant pond. Dedicated bird… Read more »
By Jerry Uhlman What a strange and surreal time we’re living through—and it may be far from over. Yet, in nature’s realm life goes on, seemingly with little awareness of the angst that we humans experience in our daily lives. While illness has been an overarching concern, the ripple effect of the pandemic’s disruption seeped… Read more »
by Chuck Jakubchak I have used a traditional bino harness for several years but always considered it awkward when wearing or storing. The RYO Ultra-Light Bino Harness caught my eye in a recent issue of Bird Watcher’s Digest because of its thin profile and advertised light weight. I contacted Redstart Birding and ordered the XL… Read more »
by David Warrington / Valencia Birding. Many people throughout the world know Spain for its rich culture and history, gastronomy, and sunny climate. Second only to France as a European tourist destination, it attracts millions of foreign tourists each year. Most of them head for the coastal resorts or the major cities. But for those… Read more »
By Karen Schmidt A couple weeks ago, contributor Karen Schmidt shared some interesting crow and eagle interactions she witnessed in Seattle’s University District in her debut blog post. She joins us again to take us on a peaceful and birdy lakeside walk near her home. On May 1, I left my house to attempt a… Read more »
by Brandon Holland It was a day when everything just fell into place, a rarity for the past month. I had woken up and was letting my dog out. I grabbed my binoculars, just in case—you never know what little gem will be waiting for you just outside your door. I had recently moved, and… Read more »
