Eldon Greij explains how beaks evolved to fit the functionality of each bird species. Read More “How the many sizes and shapes of beaks came to be”
Anhinga’s have long stabbing beaks. Photo by Marilynne Strazzeri
Science
Discoveries about birds, behaviors, migration, and more. Plus, Eldon Greij’s popular column, “Amazing Birds.”
Study: 4.7 billion birds leave the U.S. each fall
Using cloud computing and data from 143 weather radar stations across the continental United States, Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers recently estimated how many birds migrate through the U.S. and the toll that winter and the birds’ migratory journeys take. Read More “Study: 4.7 billion birds leave the U.S. each fall”
New hummingbird discovered, is already critically endangered
In 2017, researchers working in the Ecuadorian Andes stumbled across a previously unknown species of hummingbird. They’ve announced the discovery of the bird, Blue-throated Hillstar, … Read More “New hummingbird discovered, is already critically endangered”
How flamingos thrive in harsh environments
Founding Editor Eldon Greij explains how the unique feeding behaviors of flamingos help them thrive in highly alkaline lakes and lagoons. Read More “How flamingos thrive in harsh environments”
How Hurricane Florence may affect birds
Andrew Farnsworth, a research associate with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, discusses the various ways Hurricane Florence may affect birds. Read More “How Hurricane Florence may affect birds”
Bahama Nuthatch, feared extinct, rediscovered on Grand Bahama Island
In May, research teams on the island of Grand Bahama rediscovered the Bahama Nuthatch, one of the rarest birds in the Western Hemisphere. The island … Read More “Bahama Nuthatch, feared extinct, rediscovered on Grand Bahama Island”
Study: Cassia Crossbill among North America’s ’more imperiled birds’
Cassia Crossbill occupies only about 26 square miles of lodgepole pine forests in southern Idaho, and it appears to be vulnerable to the warming climate. Read More “Study: Cassia Crossbill among North America’s ’more imperiled birds’”
Barred Owls’ move to the ‘burbs gets researcher’s attention
It’s dusk, the second week of March 2018. The rumble of traffic from Highway 76 crawls through a thin line of trees and into the … Read More “Barred Owls’ move to the ‘burbs gets researcher’s attention”