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“Thank you for bringing science and community together in a joyful radio show.”
— Colleen, East Walpole, Massachusetts
On our latest show (#1,066 Nov. 30): A shiny bird with a bad reputation; Donald Ditzenberger’s expert advice on choosing a spotting scope; and Mike O’Connor on dabbling duck winter romance. Hear it here.
A rare bird just discovered is already facing the same risks as the Dodo
A recently discovered bird species from Brazil, the Slaty-masked Tinamou, could face the same fate as the infamous Dodo, scientists warn. This ground-dwelling bird’s unflinching fearlessness toward humans, combined with its limited habitat range, places it in grave danger of extinction. (12/4)
The hunt for Mexico’s rarest bird — that might not even exist
An absorbing narrative about the beautiful Imperial Woodpecker, which -- like America's Ivory-billed Woodpecker -- might be extinct. (12/2)
The Cornell FeederWatch Cam
Whenever we tune in to this webcam, something is happening. It's perfectly situated in the Treman Bird Feeding Garden at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York, on the edge of Sapsucker Woods and its 10-acre pond. You'll see forest species like chickadees and woodpeckers, and species that prefer open environments near water like Red-winged Blackbirds. This cam is in Eastern time. (11/26)
Downy Woodpeckers ‘grunt’ as they turn their bodies into hammers to drill into trees
Researchers studied the combination of muscles and breaths that the tiny birds use as they strike trees with their beaks. (11/14)
Snowy feeder cam from Tennessee
A snowy scene for this week's Wednesday webcam. This one's in Nashville, Tennessee (Central time). When we tuned in mid-afternoon, the sound was wonderful, and we saw Eastern Towhees, Tufted Titmice, and Northern Cardinals in just our first minute. A very active feeder! (12/3)
Sign up for your local Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season. Sign up to receive information about how to participate and results of all Audubon's community science programs. (12/1)
Why do vultures circle?
This short article is a crash course in vultures -- their behavior, their biological uniqueness, and their role in the ecosystem. If you think you don't like vultures, this article might change your mind. (11/24)
These parrots came to Los Angeles as pets – then went wild
Now scientists are unlocking their mysteries. Once escapees from the pet trade, Los Angeles’s feral parrots have become a vibrant part of city life, and could even aid conservation in their native homelands. (11/16)
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Bird vocalizations provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Website photography by Shawn Carey/Migration Productions.