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Southern Lapwings Defend Their Nest
Nature educator Johanne Ryan shares her observations of Southern Lapwings, shorebirds that make their nests on the ground in open areas and vigorousl…
2 years, 7 months ago
Why Do Some Birds Flock?
When birds like these Dunlin form flocks, each individual is less likely to be captured by a predator. Some shorebirds that forage with their heads d…
2 years, 7 months ago
A Song That Has Survived for Thousands of Years
Sometimes, a species’ song changes over the course of a few decades. But a bird that lives in the mountains of eastern Africa, the Forest Double-coll…
2 years, 7 months ago
Pigeons and Head-bobbing
Pigeons seem to bob their heads as they move, like they’re grooving to an internal tune. But what look like head bobs are actually momentary pauses o…
2 years, 7 months ago
Clair de Loon
August 22 is the birthday of renowned French composer, Claude Debussy. Born in 1862, Debussy is known for his impressionistic sonic portraits, like L…
2 years, 7 months ago
Birds Crossing the Pacific
Over 12,000 miles across at its widest point, you might think the Pacific Ocean is a barrier that even high-flying birds can’t cross. Think again – s…
2 years, 7 months ago
Bellbirds Turn It Up to 11
The four species of South American bellbirds can make a real racket, including this Bearded Bellbird. Hidden in the tree canopy, males cannot see one…
2 years, 7 months ago
Lilli Holden on the Ecology of Vacant Lots
In her grandmother’s neighborhood in Chicago, Lilli Holden made an early connection with the outdoors by playing in a vacant lot with a large old tre…
2 years, 7 months ago
What's Behind Those Lustrous Red Feathers?
Male Northern Cardinals, Scarlet Tanagers, and House Finches all have striking red plumage that’s thought to play a role in attracting mates. Males w…
2 years, 7 months ago
Some Birds Have Two Voices
The amazing vocal organ found in most birds, the syrinx, has two sides, with different sets of muscles and nerves controlling each side. That lets s…
2 years, 7 months ago