Not all bird movement is migration. There’s a large period after nesting where many birds can turn up about anywhere. Known variously as post-breeding dispersal or wandering, this can result in some pretty bizarre bird records between July and September. Birds’ size and power of flight give them options to roam that most other animals
Birds as the Original Empty-nesters: Post-breeding Wandering Read More »
A pathogen for bird pink eye remains viable on bird feeders in winter conditions much longer than in summer conditions without losing any of its severity, according to a recent study. “In colder temperatures, birds essentially have a much longer window of time — up to seven days — to encounter this pathogen on a
Cold Temperatures Promote Spread of a Bird Pink Eye Pathogen at Winter Feeders Read More »
On December 15, 87 observers sponsored by CAS spent the day counting birds in different areas of Columbus. In a replay of last year, early rain doused many morning teams, but a drier late morning helped many teams recover and roll up good totals. 18 teams were able to gather 84 species and 18,626 individuals,
2024 Columbus CBC Socked with Rain Again, Yet Birders Roll with It Read More »
Featured photo at top by Alex Eberts. Editor’s note: Wow! Ohio has been graced with a number of avian rarities this autumn and winter. Gerry Brevoort and her husband John were amazed to discover that their passion for growing native plants and feeding hummingbirds would lead them to hosting a state-record male Anna’s Hummingbird. And
Recent Rarities: Anna’s Hummingbird Read More »
By Elise Mahon Birds make sounds to communicate, whether to find a potential mate, ward off predators, or just sing for pleasure. But the conditions that contribute to the immense diversity of the sounds they make are not well understood. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have conducted the first-ever global study of the factors
Why Do Birds Make So Many Different Sounds? A New Study Gets at the Underlying Factors Read More »
A new study from researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) shows environmental conditions in migratory birds’ winter homes carry over to affect their ability to survive spring migration and the breeding season. While scientists have long known that the quality of winter, or non-breeding, habitat influences migratory birds’ migration timing and reproductive
Drier Winter Habitat Impacts Warblers’ Ability to Survive Migration Read More »
