Bird and other wildlife sightings during the COVID era
Are critters really more abundant, or are citizens working from home simply seeing more of the birds and mammals that always have lived among us?
Birdchick Outdoor Notes by Sharon Stiteler
Birding ideas for a pandemic
During this challenging time, find comfort in the great outdoors and enjoy the upcoming peak of the spring migration.
Spring cleaning is for the birds
Tackle these duties before the snow melts for better bird nesting success and health this spring.
Great bald eagle watching opportunities during the winter
Find some open water along the Mississippi River drainage from the Twin Cities on south, and you’ll often see adult bald eagles.
Dramatic wild bird declines make unfortunate national headlines
A study by a joint team of conservation biologists described a steady drop of nearly 3 billion North American birds since 1970, primarily as a result of human activities.
The little-known scoop on bird poop
There’s a method to the madness of our avian friends managing the defecations of nestlings during the summer, and the clues are surprisingly obvious to a trained eye.
An obvious dating clue: pelican horns
You’ll see migrating American white pelicans sporting longer feathers and a growth on their beaks.
Lessons in recognizing a popular upland forest dweller: ruffed grouse
If someone tries to convince you ruffed grouse are chirping from an urban wetland in April or May (or anytime), they’re probably wrong.
How many bald eagles can the North Country support?
As territories shrink, some fight to the death, while others are working together.
Birdwatching history: the first U.S. birding field guide
Remarkable tome with a remarkable inscription provides a window into the earliest days of North American birding and conservation.
Don't eat the blue snow either
Seeing patches of blue in your yard this winter? The ‘Birdchick’ explores this mysterious bunny-buckthorn connection.
Birding alert: A great winter for grosbeaks
Often on the move, evening and pine grosbeaks will be appearing at regional bird feeders through late winter.
A birder abroad: Wildlife- and bird-watching in Uganda
Heading to the heart of Africa produces remarkable encounters with wild, charismatic megafauna and additions to a birding life list.
Smartphone birding apps that every birdwatcher should own
Next-generation software for your digital devices makes bird-watching more efficient and satisfying than ever.
New York City’s Mandarin duck versus the sound and fury of birder drama
Though the Central Park waterfowl story felt overblown at first to seasoned birdwatchers, its ability to inspire novices reminds the author of calmer, simpler times in the birdwatching world.
Amid a rough news cycle, the internationally famous drunk migrating waxwings of Minnesota
Though the author has never convinced a bird to admit it has an alcohol problem, she has indeed helped intoxicated birds “sleep it off.”
Top locations for birding during the autumn migration
The fall season has reached a fever pitch for bird-watchers, and even a little time afield via these simple, accessible spots can produce action for your life list.
Amazing birdwatching find: Minnesota’s first roseate spoonbill
A large, pink wading bird, the roseate spoonbill normally is found in the coastal regions of the Caribbean, Mexico, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and central Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
Endangered whooping cranes expanding their range out of Wisconsin
Two captive-reared young males draw birdwatchers to the Minnesota River bottoms in the metro area.
Summer birding diversion: gardening and fried green tomatoes
Though popular in the southern and central United States, fried green tomatoes deserve more respect in North County, the author says, and she has a recipe to convince you.
Hearing unusual wetlands sounds? Maybe it's a hidden bittern [video]
These common though elusive wading birds intrigue birders and lakeshore owners around the country during the heart of summer.
The Minnesota raccoon watched ’round the world [videos]
Thanks to social media, #MPRraccoon captivated the planet for one night, before eventually retiring to the Minnesota River bottoms countryside.
Birding world a-Twitter over a grand convergence at Tadoussac, Quebec [video]
Morning flight phenomenon during migration results in hundreds of thousands of warblers and other species for a bird-watching shangri-la.
No grousing about birds this spring
Consider monitoring prairie grouse from a public viewing blind in Minnesota or the Dakotas.
Bird survival tactics for spring blizzards
Birdwatchers across the northern United States have watched with concern, and awe, as wildlife cope with last weekend’s record-breaking snowstorm.
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