As days get longer and temperatures begin to climb, birds and birders are anxiously waiting for that annual bliss that comes with the change in seasons. Yes—you know what I am talking about: Spring Migration. While some species are already on the move, we’re waiting for that burst of northward movement from the bulk of […]
I had the pleasure of seeing Ruddy Ducks sunning themselves this morning. It is usually difficult for me to get a good view of the subtle plumage detail on the wintering Ruddy Ducks (breeding males have bold color). From a distance I usually identify these diving ducks out by seeing their scoop-shaped bills and upright […]
Do you know what time ducks wake up? At the quack of dawn! Do you know how to get down off a horse? You don’t get down off a horse, you get down off a duck! A man and a duck are walking outside together. Suddenly the man sees a low flying plane and yells, […]
It is American, oversexed and over here, but the days of the ruddy duck in the UK are finally numbered, with the latest culling data revealing that just 10 females remain. The shooting of the final few – at about £3,000 a bird – will mark the end of half a century of occupation by […]
The UK’s nature reserves act as ‘ecological welcome mats’ to new species, according to scientists. Since the 1960s, there has been a natural influx of wetland bird species from continental Europe. Species such as whooper swans, Cetti’s warblers and little egrets have used the nature reserves to colonise new areas of the UK, found the […]
Do you enjoy our National Wildlife Refuges? Did you know that our national wildlife refuges are home to more than 700 types of birds, 220 varieties of mammals, 250 kinds of reptiles and amphibians, 1,000 species of fish and countless invertebrates and plants. They provide havens for some 280 endangered species, from the Florida panther […]
A rare collection of 82 original, hand-colored engravings of birds and quadrupeds by John James Audubon will come under the hammer in New York on 5th December 2012. “The Birds of America” was published in London between 1827 and 1838 by Robert Havell. Although some items will be purchased by art galleries for public display, […]
When people plan to visit Yellowstone National Park, they generally anticipate seeing wildlife like bears, buffalo, elk, etc. and the natural wonders such as geysers and waterfalls. Often overlooked is the incredible variety of birds. I drove away from two grizzlies in poor light which were just down the road from a group of American […]