Guide Birds

One glance at a winter forecast can be enough to make us feel grateful for our warm homes, and for those who have to work outside in such harsh conditions. Winter is a harsh reality for wildlife living in our communities. Many of these animals have to spend their days out on the ice and snow looking for food. For example, take Canada geese. They are an easy sight at local lakes and ponds, frozen or not. How does this happen? Birds are warm-blooded, just like humans and other mammals. According to the Audubon Society , their body temperature is constant at 106 degrees. Their bodies have several mechanisms to keep their bodies warm in cold temperatures. It is vital for waterfowl, including ducks, that their feet and legs are warm in order to survive on ice and cold water. This is why these animals depend on a vascular system that was designed for them. These birds have close-knit arteries and veins that run through their legs and feet. This allows blood to heat and cool quickly, accordin...

Joshua Maloney, a mid-May driver on Cape Cod near Barnstable, was struck by a Bald Eagle as he flew just 10 feet over his Subaru Forester. He would have continued driving two years ago. He now volunteers for the Massachusetts Audubon Society and has decided to go along with it. Maloney pulled off the highway, got out his car and walked to a former airfield in order to observe the bird. He could see the eagle carrying sticks even without binoculars before it vanished over a stand. He thought it must have been building a nest and had a gut feeling that it was. A lake about a mile away would be a good place for the eagle to find fish. After scouting the area with a kayak, Maloney noticed a large cluster of branches at a top of a pine tree that surrounded the lake. It was right next to the eagle. Maloney went to buy a camera and returned the next day with who took over 500 photos of the nest . The fuzzy head of a Bald Eagle chick is seen in several of the pictures. He reported the news to ...

Blakiston's Fish Owl, the largest owl worldwide, is not easy to find. The endangered bird , which is found only in far-east Asia, is rare. However, several hundred pairs of the species are believed to be living in Primorye's old-growth forests. Primorye borders the Sea of Japan to the east, China to the south, and North Korea to the south. Jonathan C. Slaght, a conservationist and writer, accidentally flushed the bird while hiking with a friend in 2000. The pair didn't know what it was at first. In his new book Owls on the Eastern Ice: A Quest for the World's Largest Owl , Slaght describes that the bird was clearly an owl. "It seemed almost too large and comical to be real birds, backlit by the hazy grey of the winter sky, then propped in the tree by the dazed beast," Slaght wrote. He had spent months consulting experts to confirm the bird's identification: Blakiston's fish owl. "It was obvious that no scientist had ever seen a Blakiston’s fish ow...

Each editorial product is selected independently. However, we may be compensated for or receive an affiliate commission if someone purchases through our links. All ratings and prices are correct and all items in stock at the time of publication. The backyard bird feeder with mealworms is a favorite among bug-eating birds. Find out what bird species eat mealworms, and learn how to feed them. A backyard feeder containing nutritious mealworms is a favorite of bug-eating birds and a great way to spice up your bird-feeding routine. Mealworms are a favorite food of bluebirds. Mealworms can be mistaken for worms. However, they are actually larvae of the mealworm beetle. They are easy to use, clean, and a great source of nutrients for birds. Emma Greig, Project FeederWatch's project leader, said that feeding birds creates a connection between humans and nature. This is indisputable. Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey on feeder birds. These are some easy ways Emma can help you attr...

Birds can lay eggs in a rainbow of colors, including pure white, lavender, mint green, yellow and orange. Some eggs may have spots, specks or other markings. Why is the eggshell color so different in nature? Camouflage is the main reason why eggshells are brownish or more earthy in nature. But, what about blue? Continue reading to learn more about the blue-colored eggs of different birds (hint: not just bluebirds), and what could be causing this color. Some birds lay blue eggs Bluebirds lay blue eggs, as you probably know. These eggs are not easy to find, even though there are some North American bluebird species like the Eastern, Mountain and Western Bluebirds. They are cavity nesters and rarely lay eggs in a cavity, except in desperate situations. About 4-5% of bluebirds lay white eggs. Don't worry though, there are hundreds of blue eggs laid by other birds. This is a far more common occurrence. Blue eggs found in unusual locations may be an American Robin egg. House finches may ...

The classic image of migration is geese flying south in V-shaped flocks, which are a result of the annual large-scale movement between their breeding (summer), and non-breeding (winter). Geese are not the only migratory bird. More than half of the more than 600 North American breeding birds are migratory. Why do birds migrate? Birds migrate to find higher or more abundant resources. Food and nesting sites are the two main resources that birds seek. Birds who nest in the Northern Hemisphere migrate northward in spring in order to take advantage of growing insect populations, budding plants, and a variety of nesting sites. The birds migrate south as winter draws nearer and there is less food available. Although it is tempting to flee the cold, many species, including hummingbirds can survive freezing temperatures provided there is enough food. Types of Migration Migration is a term that refers to the movement of large numbers of animals on a regular basis. You can look at migration by lo...

Birds are affected by the loss of habitats, as well as other factors, that can affect their reproduction and migration patterns. This causes a decline of their numbers, and sometimes even drives them to extinction. This problem can be solved on two fronts by taking the most appropriate and necessary steps. Protecting birds and their numbers is the first priority. Habitat protection is second. We might be able reverse the decline in birds by involving enough people and implementing the right policies.These are the Top 35 Simple and Amazing Ways to Conserve and Protect Birds, Starting Today 1. Mark Windows Birds often hit windows because they can't see them as obstructions This is what leads to birds hitting windows and causing death. Birds can also sustain life-threatening injuries like broken necks or wings. 2. Keep your Pets Inside House pets such as cats and dogs love to hunt smaller animals, especially birds. 3. Natural Pest Control Many bird species depend on small rodents and ...