Pet Bird Species: Budgerigars
First recorded in 1805, the budgerigar, more commonly referred to simply as the budgie, is thought to be the third most popular pet in the world – and for good reason. These lively little birds have...
View ArticleVancouver’s Bird Week: Promoting Appreciation for Birds
The coastal seaport city of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, features a wide variety of habitats which attract large numbers of birds. To encourage interest in local and migratory birdlife,...
View ArticleGolden Pheasants – Elegant and Exotic
Indigenous to the mountains of central China, Golden Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) are spectacularly beautiful birds that are so well adapted to living in captivity they have become popular pets in...
View ArticleThe Office Birder
As an avid birder the only thing worse than an office job is not having a window nearby to catch a glimpse of a passing bird. Luckily, technological advancements provide a solution to at least one of...
View ArticleHome Away from Home on the Islands
If you were to think about birding in Hawaii, what would be the first thought that ran through your mind? For me it was, “I wonder what kind of crazy tropical birds I am going to find”. I don’t know...
View ArticleSmithsonian Bird Collection
The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History’s Division of Birds features more than 640,000 specimens and is considered to be the world’s third largest bird collection. Identified by...
View ArticleDrone Technology in Bird Conservation
As technology advances, more and more applications are being found for the use of drones – unmanned aerial systems – which were initially developed primarily for military use. Conservationists have...
View ArticleFork-tailed Drongos: Marvelous Mimics
A recent study by evolutionary biologist Tom Flower of the University of Cape Town in South Africa has revealed that the African fork-tailed drongo mimics alarm calls of other species as part of its...
View ArticleRadio Waves May Disrupt Birds’ Magnetic Compass
While the navigational skills of birds remain largely unexplained, the theory that they use the magnetic field of the earth to some degree to map their positions is generally accepted. The magnetic...
View ArticlePet Bird Species: Canaries
Domesticated centuries ago, canaries were popular in the courts of Spanish and English royalty in the 17th and 18th centuries because of their beautiful singing. Over the years selective breeding has...
View ArticleGiant Ibis: On the Edge of Existence
Launched by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in January 2007, the EDGE of Existence program is a global conservation initiative that focuses on threatened species with unique evolutionary...
View ArticleInteresting Behavior of Black-billed Magpie – Part 1
I have been observing black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia Sabine) for the past nine years and found the species to demonstrate some interesting behavior. I first noted aggressive behavior of the species...
View ArticleInteresting Behavior of Black-billed Magpie – Part 2
This is an observation in August 2005 in west Lethbridge. I have made similar observations before at other places and times, but the observation was recorded on this date. Magpies to my understanding...
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Canada Geese: An International Symbol of Nature
Canada geese (Branta canadensis L.) represent a majestic symbol of nature and natural world and are a well known migratory species of geese widely recognized across the continent of North America,...
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Irrigation Canals: Important Nesting Sites for Wild Aquatic Birds
Irrigation canals constitute an important nesting site for several aquatic bird species and have slowly transformed into an excellent natural habitat over the passing decades. Several wild aquatic bird...
View ArticleEnjoy a Family Outing at Tropical Birdland
Located in the picturesque village of Desford, near Leicester in England, Tropical Birdland is home to more than 250 birds, including a collection of free-flying parrots from all over the world....
View ArticleBritain Votes for National Bird
While the subspecies of the European robin (Erithacus rubecula melophilus), more commonly known as the ‘robin redbreast’, is widely considered to be Britain’s national bird, the fact is that that there...
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Solving Human-Avian Conflicts & Encouraging Coexistence (Part 1)
Human-wildlife conflict is a significant conservation issue. As human populations continue to increase, habitats previously occupied by wildlife are repurposed for human use. This can cause...
View ArticleSolving Human-Avian Conflicts & Encouraging Coexistence (Part 2)
Continued from Part 1 Common Human-Avian Conflict Mitigation Methods Regardless of the individual circumstances that exist for each human-avian conflict event, many mitigation methods are available to...
View ArticleDrone Technology Provides Instant Benefits
Unmanned Arial Vehicle technology has already made a splash in the front pages, often for projects that are years away from fruition – think Amazon and their mooted drone delivery service. However, one...
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