How Speedy is a Peregrine? Peregrine Falcons are speedy birds that are popular with bird watchers and falconers all over the world. The peregrine has been used for over 4,000 years in falconry and are arguably the fastest animal on the planet. Their spectacular dives and quick chases are a wonder to behold. According to Cornell […]
Finding Unseen Carrion In 1979, David Houston did a study on the efficiency of Turkey Vultures finding carrion by smell. The study was conducted in the tropical forests of Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Setting out dead chickens from fresh to four days old, he discovered that Turkey Vultures within tropical forests rely almost exclusively on […]
Click here to read part 1 When thinking of bird migration, many people think of flocks of geese moving in their typical “V” formation. It’s not always picture-perfect, however. As I stated in The Basics of Bird Migration Part I-Knowing When, Grouping, and How They Prepare, migratory travels can be one of the most dangerous […]
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, […]