Migration can be one of the most dangerous times in a bird’s life, yet it is intended to improve their long term survival rate. The need to leave areas of diminishing food sources coupled with the need for suitable habitat for nesting spurs them on. There are short and long distance travelers. Some species may […]
In early Spring through the beginning of summer many birds are either incubating eggs or busy feeding hungry hatchlings. During this time, breeding birds use a variety of methods to protect their eggs, chicks, and nesting territories. Consequently, you may observe them fearlessly confronting animals larger than themselves in an effort to ward off predators. […]
Cooperative breeding, also called communal breeding, occurs in about 3% of the world’s bird species. This happens when more than two birds of the same species work together in rearing the young from one nest. There are two types of helpers: adult non-breeders that help to protect and rear the young, but are not related, […]
Insect Diets Insects supplement or make up the major part of the diets of many birds from small perching birds to raptors. Here at the Draper Museum Raptor Experience (https://centerofthewest.org/explore/greater-yellowstone-natural-history/raptor-experience) we care for 11 non-releasable birds. Of these, insects make up a major or minor portion of 7 of our species’ diets. Swainson’s Hawks eat […]
How Northern Harriers are Similar to Owls A Northern Harrier flies low over the grasslands with a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds following it. Commonly mobbed by blackbirds, sparrows, starlings, swallows, kestrels, Short-eared Owls, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and other birds, the raptor decides the annoying harassers are too swift and maneuverable to put out the effort of […]
Morality of Surviving In a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin revealed that he wished the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as our national symbol. His reasoning was that its practice of stealing prey from other birds gave it a “bad moral character.” He felt the Bald Eagle was just too lazy to hunt […]