BirdWatching

Pressure from birders and environmental groups in 2017 spurred Congress to exempt building a border wall through Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, but the current federal budget allows barriers to be built in the region that would cu

With a global population of about 20, the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove is one of the world’s rarest birds. Adding to its elusiveness, the species is an escape artist outside of the breeding season, slipping out of sight when approached. But stepped-up conse

A study published recently in The Condor: Ornithological Applications presents the best guidance to date on the priorities and actions that can be taken to help Hawaii’s endemic birds. Hawaii’s ecosystems, including its native bird populations, are s

The stunning flame-orange throat and breast of the male Blackburnian Warbler is difficult to forget. A Setophaga warbler of boreal spruce woods and Appalachian hemlock stands, Blackburnian spends the majority of its time foraging high in the upper re

It’s 2 p.m. on a weekday in spring. Too late to start a big writing project, too early for a brew. “Hey Pete,” I think, “How about a little birding jaunt to pass the time? Why not? Rain seems about over and you’ll be home in plenty of time to feed th

Helena, Montana is Golden Eagle country. Thousands glide past each fall from the rugged lands of Canada and Alaska. Many follow the ridge updraft highways, but at least a few spill out over the valleys on thermals. From an eagle’s view a thousand fee

Sometime long ago when I started birding, when I was 7, I read that the ultimate lifetime goal for birders in the United States was to see 700 species in North America. For birders, “North America” was defined by the American Birding Association (ABA

Peter Kaestner has been birding since toddlerhood, when his older brother introduced him to the hobby. He started a life list by age 7 and took his first international birding trip at age 10. At age 14, he flew to the Bahamas without adult supervisio

The wood-warblers, as a group, are among our most colorful and strikingly patterned birds. But there are exceptions, and one of the most notable is the Orange-crowned Warbler. It’s a widespread bird that can be found practically everywhere in North A

Flamingos are a paradox of sorts. They are beautifully plumed from white to light and deep pink to crimson, and they have black flight feathers. They are graceful in flight and while walking, and they can form huge flocks of a million or more that ar

In the 37 years I’ve lived along a major migration route, I’ve attracted about half a dozen kinds of warblers to my suet, jelly, and orange feeders. The visits have been few and far between and only during severe cold spells during spring migration.

Many unrelated species of birds have a habit of pumping (or wagging) their tails. They are mostly open-country birds like phoebes, pipits, Palm Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, and others. Many hypotheses have been suggested to explain why the birds do it