The Wild Bird Habitat Store recommends having your hummingbird feeders ready by the first week of August. Hummingbirds, primarily the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, occur in our area from July 30 to October 8 on their return trip south. Hard to believe we are already talking about fall migration. But hummingbirds lead the way with songbirds close…
Saturday the last day of June, 2012 the Irene & George Alexander Bird Garden was dedicated at the Pioneers Park Nature Center. More than 60 friends and relatives attended this very special dedication, honoring the work of Irene and George in the birding community and more than 20 years of service to the Nature Center….
The mild winter and even milder spring seems to have led to a rather hot summer. The birds have made it to their nesting grounds and are currently raising families. Hard to imagine in a short 4 to 6 weeks the songbirds will begin drifting south on a slow migration. Wrens seem to be plentiful….
One of Lincoln’s jewels is Wilderness Park. With all its rich diversity which includes hundreds of native bird species and as many native plant species along with mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects, this is an area that needs the ongoing support, protection, and conservation of all of us. The history of Wilderness Park dates back…
The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small songbird of the nuthatch family which breeds in old-growth woodland across much of temperate North America. It is a stocky bird, with a large head, short tail, powerful bill and strong feet. The upperparts are pale blue-gray, and the face and under parts are white. It has a…
Our bird feeders are certainly a source of relaxation and enjoyment as the weather allows us to sit on our decks and patios. Already we are seeing adult birds appearing with their young in tow begging to be fed. It may seem a bit early to see young jays, Cardinals and woodpeckers, but the mild…
Prior to the field guides used today to identify birds biologists and bird enthusiasts would shoot birds and study them once they had them in their hand. In 1934 at the age of 25 Roger Tory Peterson revolutionized bird identification by creating the first Field Guide to Birds of North America using his artistic talent….
Most people have little trouble recognizing a variety of common birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, Crows, or American Robins. But you happen to be out in your yard or on a walk and you see a bird that you don’t recognize. Curiosity is the first step in identifying a bird. You want to know…
Most woodpeckers have four toes. Two face forward and two face backward. This arrangement is called zygodactyl. Their short legs and sharp nails make it easier for them to cling to bark and even upside down hopping along branches and tree trunks. A pair of stiff, centrally located tail feathers which provides leverage for the woodpecker…
While writing this month’s newsletter I am started to see several of our native sparrows appear in my backyard. The heavily striped Song Sparrow. The bold black and white stripes on the head of a White Crowned Sparrow. The yellow lores on a White Throated Sparrow. Other native sparrows I expect to see in my…