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Scientific American
28-04-2025
- Scientific American
Bird Migration Is Peaking in the U.S.—Here's How to Watch
2 min read The spectacle of spring bird migration is in full swing, and you can get in on the action The spring migration of birds from their southern wintering grounds to their breeding grounds in the North is about to reach a fever pitch. Over the next few weeks, most of the U.S. is heading into peak migration, when hundreds of millions of birds can wing their way across the sky in a single night on a mission to claim a prime bit of real estate, attract a suitable mate and get to work raising the next generation. For bird-watchers, this is the most thrilling time of the year. Why Bird Migration Is Interesting Many of these migratory birds travel vast distances between their winter and summer homes, taking advantage of seasonal abundances in food and daylight. The Blackpoll Warbler, a songbird that weighs about as much as a AAA battery, travels as many as 5,000 miles to reach its breeding grounds. The Red Knot, a stout shorebird with an orange-pink breast, may journey nearly twice that distance, sometimes covering more than 600 miles in a single day. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. The birds are now looking extra snazzy—bright and glossy, dressed to impress in their breeding plumage. Colorful, shiny feathers can signal good health to potential mates. And birdsong is once again filling the air as birds tune up and start belting it out to flirt and defend their territories. How to Watch Dazzling Birds Birds are everywhere—look for them in your yard, your local park, the cemetery down the road, the grocery store parking lot. Get outside early if you can; birds tend to be most active in the morning. For a closer look at their beautiful colors, patterns and other details, use binoculars. A field guide can help you figure out which species you're observing— The Sibley Guide to Birds is especially good and is available as an app. Another guide in app form is Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It has a nifty feature that can help you identify birds by their songs and calls. If you want to participate in a community science project, you can enter your observations into Cornell's eBird database. Learn More about Birds Spring is not only a perfect time for veteran bird-watchers to spy an elusive species. The availability of amazing technology means that even a novice can easily identify and learn about the birds they observe. There's birding, and then there's extreme birding. Follow a team of competitive birders as they race to track down as many bird species as they can over the course of 24 hours. People often wonder about the link between dinosaurs and birds. Here you can learn about how, over millions of years, evolution forged small, flight-capable birds with feathers and wings from nonavian dinosaurs.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The One Tool Every New Birder Needs to Get Started
Julie and I love watching birds. We each have a pair of binoculars. Our backyard comprises two to four feeders throughout the year. The Big Year is one of my favorite films. We also spend considerable time looking for birds when traveling to national and state parks. Although we enjoy birdwatching, we are novices. Our most common question is, "What's that bird?" Yes, we have serious challenges with identifying birds. We use binoculars and a field guide, but it is not always enough. If you are new to birding or struggle to identify birds like us, I have good news for you. We found a tool that is a complete game changer. There is no more embarrassment or frustration. Birding is fun as it should be! Merlin Bird ID is an app that helps new and experienced birdwatchers identify birds. It was designed by a team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology based on the question, "What's that bird?" The app utilizes eBird, a global database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos, to quickly and accurately help users identify birds. For those who may question the accuracy or viability of the app, the database includes billions of bird sightings reported by birders worldwide. Why do we like Merlin Bird ID so much? Any free tool is a welcome relief in a world of inflation and increasing prices. The app does so much in this case that it feels like an absolute steal. Often, when people say something is easy to use, I struggle with the technology. I assure you Merlin Bird ID is user-friendly. If I can use it, anyone can. Seriously, it is one of the few apps I can use without Julie's assistance. Do you have a photo of a bird but can't positively identify it online or with a field guide? Upload the image to Merlin Bird ID and let it go to work. It will identify your bird or display the most likely species in seconds. Julie and I have utilized this feature many times. Even with less-than-ideal-quality photos, the app offered accurate suggestions. While I enjoy listening to birds sing, I recognize very few birdcalls. Merlin has a slick feature that allows you to record the sounds around you and then identify the birds. Many times, multiple birds make their presence known at the same time. The app highlights birds in yellow during their call, clearly distinguishing one bird from another. We love this feature and rely heavily on it. Julie and I sometimes use the sound ID feature as a starting point to see what birds are in the area. If something new appears, we use binoculars to locate the bird. I can't tell you how often birds have darted away immediately after I point in their direction or finally scope them in my binoculars. Birds are fast and shifty. As soon as you spot them, they move. That is why I love the "Step by Step" ID feature. If you don't have a photo, you can answer a few simple questions and get instant suggestions. Input your location, date, size of the bird, its primary colors, and observed behavior. I was shocked at how accurate and useful the feature was. While the date and location are easy questions, I was worried the other questions may be difficult. The app makes the process simple, even for rookie birders like us. Merlin uses a visual representation for size, asking you to compare your bird to a sparrow, robin, crow, or goose. You can choose up to three main colors. The final observed behavior question is also simple: select if you saw the bird: Eating at a feeder Swimming or wading On the ground In trees or bushes On a fence or wire Soaring or flying We have input these variables many times with great success. The process is easy and gratifying. Going to a remote location where you may lose your internet connection? No problem. Merlin Bird ID has offline functionality. Before going offline, set your location so you can still accurately identify birds by either photo or sound ID. You can also download bird packs by region for an even higher confidence level of accurate identification when you are offline. Want to learn more about birds in your area? Merlin displays species that are likely in your area today. You can click on any bird to view more images or listen to its calls. The app includes other helpful tips and range maps. Julie and I love these additional features. Males and females often display different colors. Juveniles may present differently as well. Plus, birds use various calls to communicate. With access to multiple photos and audio recordings, you can learn a lot about a species and significantly improve your chances of identification. Bird enthusiasts often track their sightings for the year and/or maintain a life list. Although Julie and I are not "doing a big year," we now have a life list thanks to Merlin. It is a fun way to track all the species we have spotted. When you see or hear a new species, you can note the date and location. Merlin then includes a blue check mark by the species to indicate the bird is on your life list. Anything without the blue check is a new species for you. Any time you want to view your digital scrapbook, click on the life list option in the app. You can then see the total number and an image of every species on your life list. Like the explore features, you can tap on any bird to see pictures, hear sounds, and obtain information. Birds are everywhere. You can start from your window, in your backyard, or at your local park. From there, expand to nearby forests and bodies of water. Then, include birdwatching as an activity on your travels. Use Merlin Bird ID to help identify birds and track your sightings. You can download it from the App Store or on Google Play. Search for "Merlin Bird ID" to find the app. While Merlin helps you identify birds, gaining close views of our feathered friends is nice. To accomplish this, get a decent pair of binoculars. Many birders prefer 8x42 or similarly sized optics because they are bright and have a wide field of view without being too heavy. Look for binoculars that are waterproof and lightweight. You do not have to break the bank; binoculars make a huge difference in seeing birds and enjoying the activity. Amazon offers reasonably priced birding binoculars, perfect for beginners. Slowly learn bird calls by starting with a few common birds in your local area. Then, slowly add new species by understanding their calls. Wear neutral colors, avoid loud noises, and move slowly to avoid spooking the birds. Birds are often more active and vocal early in the morning. Depending on the birds you hope to spot, visit habitats like forests, open fields, and wetlands. Places like Indiana Dunes National Park, which comprise multiple habitats, can be very productive for birdwatching. Serious birders tell us that birding is like meditation. Be patient and enjoy the quiet moments. Sightings often occur in spurts. Bring the birds to you by adding a feeder to your yard. It is an excellent way to learn about different bird species and to gain close views. Most importantly, enjoy watching our feathered friends and have fun!
New York Times
21-04-2025
- New York Times
How to Bird-Watch: A Traveler's Guide
According to a survey from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 96 million Americans are bird-watchers, or 37 percent of the population aged 16 and above. Most observe from home, but 43 million have traveled a mile or more to go birding. Amy Tan, author of the book 'The Backyard Bird Chronicles,' knows why. 'Birds are some of the most magical animals on earth,' Ms. Tan said. 'They fly, they sing crazy beautiful songs, they have amazing navigational systems that feel the magnetic force of the universe and guide themselves by the sun and the moon.' Because birding can be done almost anywhere and requires little gear, it's an easy activity to pick up and a practice suitable to many trips. Here's how to get started. Bird-watching requires observing not just a bird's appearance but its behavior. 'Is it quick, slow, frenetic, soaring or staying in the underbrush?' said Nate Swick, the education and digital content coordinator for the nonprofit American Birding Association and the author of 'The Beginner's Guide to Birding.' 'Those are clues as much as colors and patterns.' Most experts suggest starting in your backyard or neighborhood park and learning the local resident birds to refine your birding skills before you take them on the road. In the digital age, apps have made birding easier than paging through field guides by offering step-by-step processes that narrow down a list of possible birds or identify a bird by its song. The free app Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology does both. Also free, the Audubon Bird Guide app from the nonprofit conservation group uses visual input to identify birds and displays a tally of birds seen. Both apps allow the user to search according to geographical area so they are handy for travelers, and both can be used offline. Binoculars are graded by two sets of numbers, such as 8x30, explained Chris Harbard, the president of the Southwest Wings birding festival in Sierra Vista, Ariz., who has worked as a birding expert for Silversea Cruises. The first number indicates the degree of magnification. As the magnification number gets larger, so does the size of the set, making them harder to carry and hold steady. The second number relates to the diameter in millimeters of the lens at the larger end of the binoculars. The bigger the number, the more light the lens admits, making the image you see brighter and clearer. While mini travel binoculars provide some magnification, Mr. Harbard recommended starting with 8x30 or 8x32, which are not too bulky to pack, though choosing the right set is an individual choice. Good starter binoculars are estimated to run about $200 to $250. Make sure they have rain covers for the eyepieces and look for binoculars that are labeled 'sealed' or 'nitrogen filled,' which prevents moisture from condensing inside the lenses. If birders often look like they could be on safari, there's a reason. 'You don't want to stand out to a bird,' Mr. Harbard said, noting anything bright and light like white or yellow are conspicuous. 'If you are not seen, you will see a lot of birds.' Birders should wear comfortable shoes that allow them to stand or walk for long periods. Make sure they are closed-toed in places like the tropics where your feet can be vulnerable to insect bites. Carry a backpack with a waterproof or warm layer, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray and water. Birding can be part of nearly any journey. Travelers can look up chapters of Audubon to find area events like bird walks or use a website like Birding Pal to find local birders and volunteer guides (annual subscriptions, $10). 'There are opportunities in every state to visit birding hot spots or trails, which are collections of good birding spots,' said Brooke Bateman, the senior director of climate and community science for Audubon. Birding trails such as the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail often present opportunities for convenient road-trip routes. Traveling to witness a migration — such as the warblers that visit northwest Ohio each spring, an event celebrated as the Biggest Week in American Birding festival — can reduce the risk of disappointment inherent in wildlife watching. 'Birding can be like fishing sometimes; you never know exactly what you're going to get and it can be slow,' said Mr. Swick of the A.B.A. 'But migrations are more of a guarantee.' Birding-specific trips offer opportunities to see specific or rare species, from snowy owls in Minnesota to resplendent quetzals in Costa Rica. 'The tropics is where diversity is at,' said Kathi Borgmann, an ornithologist and the communications manager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, highlighting the band around the Equator. In a place like Mindo, Ecuador, she added, birders might see 50 to 100 species in a day. Birding trips often specify the degree of physical activity required. Naturalist Journeys, a tour company specializing in birding and nature, has trips at 'a birder's pace' and more active ones labeled 'humming along.' Expect an early-to-bed, early-to-rise schedule. On its website, the birding-focused tour company Wings publishes a guideline on what to expect, including possible pre-breakfast birding walks, walking for up to six hours a day and taking a midday break in warmer climates. 'Birding makes anywhere you go special,' said Mr. Swick. 'Like local food, local birds are distinct.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why are people counting birds on Friday? How the Big Backyard Bird count is helping the environment
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Big Backyard Bird count is currently underway all around the globe. Throughout the day Friday, February 14, people from around the globe will be counting birds. The numbers will then be sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This data gives an idea of bird populations around the world, which provides insight into the health of the global environment. Here in Terre Haute, the Wabash Valley Audubon Society is participating in the count at the Dobbs Park Nature Center and they are inviting the public to come and join them. Smart bird feeders are the gift of the season — here are some bestsellers 'You can come in and bird with us and if you're not a birder, you can learn some birds. If you are, you can help count,' said Carissa Lovet, a Naturalist for the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department. 'There is a lot of variety around out here. You can probably see on really cold days probably 20 to 25 species of birds out here.' The Big Backyard Bird Count lasts from February 14 through February 17. If you missed your chance to join the Wabash Valley Audubon Society count birds on Friday, they will be back at the Dobbs Park Nature Center Saturday from 11-11:30 p.m., 1-1:30 p.m. and 3-3:30 p.m. The Audubon Society says participants will just need to bring a pair of binoculars (if you don't have a pair you may borrow one), the Merlin Bird ID and/or eBird Mobile app, your favorite bird book and a pair of good listening ears. For more information, you can head to or call the Nature Center at (812)877-1095. Terre Haute addressing crow problem again Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
A few minutes of bird watching this weekend can help scientists: Here's how
It might be Valentine's Day – but this weekend is for more than just love birds. The Great Backyard Bird Count is back. Held between Feb. 14 and 17 every year, the event invites nature enthusiasts around the world to watch and count as many birds as they can in their 'favorite places.' Now in its 28th year, the event, organized by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, aims to help scientists better understand the global bird population. Data collected over the four-day span each year provides necessary information on where birds are living and long-term changes in their populations. February might sound like a chilly time of the year for bird watching, depending on where you live. But Benjamin Haywood, the National Audubon Society's Director of Community Science, said the event was originally designed to help capture where birds lived in the Northern Hemisphere before they began their annual spring migrations. More than 550,000 people across 200 countries participated in last year's bird count. They found 7,538 different species – roughly two-thirds of the over 10,000 known species on the planet. Haywood said more than 200 scientific articles were published using the data collected. Watch:Bald eagles lock talons in Alaska tree: 'I couldn't believe what I saw' "When we take a closer look at where birds are, we can understand what species need to survive and how we can better support them and their well being," Haywood said. How to Participate Time commitment: Organizers recommend watching and counting birds for no less than 15 minutes at least one time over the four-day period. Where: You can count birds anywhere you want – whether that's in your backyard, at a local park or on a hike. How do I identify birds? Amateur bird watchers can use the Merlin Bird ID app on their phones to figure out what species are flying around their area. How do I report details? Participants can enter information about the number of birds and species on the eBird Mobile app or eBird website. Need more information? Check out How popular is bird watching in America? Around 96 million people across the U.S. – or 3 in 10 Americans – engage in bird watching, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Roughly 95% of those birders do so from the comfort of their own backyards. But birding is also a major economic driver that helps boost tourism, retail sales and conservation efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that bird watching supported an estimated 1.4 million jobs and generated an economic output of $279 billion in 2022. "The more we enjoy birds together, the more likely it is that we take steps to protect them and the places they need,' said Brooke Bateman, the National Audubon Society's senior director of Climate and Community Science.
