From the Editor
Birding your way
This issue of BirdWatching features four stories about the various ways birders bird.
Features
A year in one place
Along a degraded stream near Helena, Montana, a birder’s close observations through the seasons found a hemisphere of birds in motion.
A journey to 700
How one birder built his North American life list — and learned to savor each new life bird along the way.
Consumed by counting
A half-century ago, no one had seen even 4,000 bird species. Now, some birders are homing in on the 10,000-species mark.
Fall and winter festivals
Our guide to birding festivals lists 70 events on tap from now through March where you can find cranes, hawks, and many more birds.
Columns
Since You Asked
Answers to your questions
Wasps in a bluebird nest, empty nectar feeders, and unusual prey that bluebirds feed their chicks.
Birder at Large
My patch
Where Pete goes to bird when time is short.
Attracting Birds
Tips for attracting warblers
Natural food and water are key to luring the colorful migrants.
Amazing Birds
Elegance amid extremes
Flamingos' feeding behaviors allow them to thrive in harsh environments.
ID Tips
Orange-crowned Warbler
How to tell Orange-crowned from Tennessee Warbler.
ID Tips
Why birds pump their tails
The behavior is a signal to predators to move along.
Hotspots Near You
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279. Pawnee National Grassland, Weld County, Colorado
One of the primary breeding grounds in the world for Mountain Plover, plus a great spot to see Thick-billed Longspur, Lark Bunting, and Golden Eagle.
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280. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Lawton, Oklahoma
This refuge southwest of Oklahoma City has one of the largest breeding populations of Black-capped Vireo, and it provides habitat for Chuck-will’s-widow, meadowlarks, bluebirds, wrens, and many other species.
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281. South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center, South Padre Island, Texas
No fewer than 330 species have been seen at this South Texas coastal hotspot. Look for skimmers, terns, spoonbills, rails, and many more birds.
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282. Ojibway Park, Windsor, Ontario
A group of five properties south of downtown Windsor featuring wetlands, savannas, prairies, oak woodlands. More than 240 bird species have been tallied here.
Also in Every Issue
Birding Briefs
Important news about birds, birdwatching, and conservation.