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How Cliff Swallows Build a Nest
When Cliff Swallows arrive on the breeding grounds in North America, the dirty work begins. The swallows scoop up mud in their beaks and carefully build a gourd-shaped nest with a tapered opening. Th…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Creating Bird Habitat at Home
One of the biggest threats to birds is the decline in biodiversity due to habitat loss — and the traditional, manicured lawn isn’t helping. Growing native plants in your yard allows you to protect bi…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
The Secret to Singing Like a Cardinal
Northern Cardinals have vocal abilities that surpass even the most accomplished human singers. When cardinals sing, they sweep their voices from the high to low end of their ranges many times in just…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Recognizing a Stranded Loon
Loons are built for life in the water – so much so that their legs don’t work well on land. During migration, loons sometimes mistake wet pavement for the reflective surface of deep water and try to …
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Aplomado Falcon
Aplomado Falcons were once widespread residents of the American Southwest, but by the 1950s, they'd disappeared entirely from the region. Loss of habitat, loss of prey, and pesticides all played a ro…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Lee Ann Roripaugh: String of Beads
When writer Lee Ann Roripaugh visited the annual staging grounds of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska, she was in awe of the birds. During their spring migration, hundreds of thousands of cranes roost on s…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Why a Gorget Glitters
A hummingbird's brilliant throat feathers are called a "gorget," a term applied in past centuries to the metallic swatch protecting the throat of a knight-in-armor. Light waves reflect and refract of…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
How Birds Survived the Asteroid
The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago wreaked worldwide ecological damage, spelling the end for most dinosaurs and destroying the world’s forests. Yet a few bird-like dinosaur gro…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
White-tailed Hawks on the Texas Coastal Plain
The White-tailed Hawk thrives in the grassy plains of the Texas Coastal Plain, where many tropical species reach the northern limit of their ranges. White-tailed Hawks often hunt by kiting: hovering …
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Spark Bird: John Kessler and the Music of Birds
John Kessler served as BirdNote’s senior producer for over 18 years. But before BirdNote existed, he was recording the sounds of Seattle for public radio station KPLU, now called KNKX. After capturin…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago