We’re passionate about birds and nature. That’s why we opened a Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in our community.
THE SHOPPES AT WILTON
Next to TJMaxx & Moe's,
3084 Route 50, Suite 1
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone: (518) 226-0071
Fax: (518) 226-0253
Email: Send Message
Store Hours:
Mon - Wed: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thurs - Fri: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Additional Website:
Visit our other website
by Howard Youth
According to the American Bird Conservancy (ABC), more than 73 million house cats live in the United States. Up to 100 million more live free as strays or in feral populations (breeding groups that have gone wild after being released). The most popular pet in the nation, the house cat also may be the world's most widespread land predator.
Of the small animals cats stalk, up to a third are birds. Cats do not differentiate between common and rare species, and in states including California, Florida, and Hawaii, they kill endangered and threatened species. ABC and other conservation groups urge pet owners to keep their cats inside, not only for the birds', reptiles', and small mammals' sakes, but also as a way of reducing risks to beloved pet cats, which face cars, disease, dogs, and other dangers outside.
Although many farmers consider the abundant red-winged blackbird a pest, few would quarrel with the rusty blackbird. After all, this bird frequents wetlands, nesting in northern bogs and wintering in southeastern swamps. During migration, rusty blackbirds do feed in open fields with other blackbirds, but they have become harder and harder to find due to widespread declines that have been accelerating since the 1970s. No one knows why populations are dropping. Perhaps because they are not as eye-catching as California condors, golden-cheeked warblers, and other declining species, rusty blackbirds have not, until recently, received much scientific attention. Now, researchers from the Smithsonian Institution's Migratory Bird Center, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service are starting to study rusty blackbirds on their wintering grounds. Through stable isotope analysis -- measuring amounts and varieties of elements in blackbirds' feathers -- they hope to map the nesting grounds of the wintering birds.
The National Audubon Society estimates that about two million rusty blackbirds remain. This may sound like a lot, but consider that these birds nest across a breeding range spanning the continent, from Alaska across Canada to Maine. Meanwhile, the population of the red-winged blackbirds -- one of the continent's most abundant birds -- has been estimated at around 190 million.
From hooded mergansers to house wrens, more than 40 North American bird species nest in cavities, be they holes in trees or boxes put up for birds' use. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology runs Nestwatch, which gets birders involved in monitoring nesting activity in their neighborhoods. The lab also maintains NestCams, a webpage with webcam coverage of various species. If you check the website, you might be able to "visit" with a barn owl family or delve into the secretive nesting habits of ospreys, bluebirds, or tree swallows. You can also find out about the basics of birdhouse building.
North America's common loons lead double lives -- summers spent nesting on tranquil northern lakes and winters spent bobbing and diving for seafood in roiling ocean or bay waters. Between the inland lakes and choppy seas, these large waterbirds fly over land. You might look up one day, although you can't entirely expect it, and see strange, somewhat goose-like birds flapping overhead. Watch for these field marks and you may conclude that you've found loons: pale underwings, large feet that hang behind the flying birds, pointy straight bills, dark-above and white-below coloration, and a slump-necked, hunched-over silhouette.
Various state and regional groups monitor common loon nesting success and researchers monitor their migration and wintering feeding habits. To learn more, see the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation's website. Find out more about the 2009 Adirondack Loon Census.
As you set up your lawn sprinkler during the dry, hot summer days ahead, keep your bird neighbors in mind. If the sprinkler's trajectory reaches tree and shrub foliage, you should be on the lookout for early migrants, recently fledged birds, and other surprises. For water conservation purposes, early morning waterings are more favorable than those at midday. Luckily, early morning soakings coincide with peak bird activity. You may be treated to hummingbirds hovering or leaf-bathing under the spray, or you might find migrating warblers or the juveniles of that song sparrow pair you've been watching nest since spring. Either way, if it's dry and you're watering, you'll likely find you have feathered company.
that in the competition for which birds were most chosen as state birds, these species win? Cardinal ranks numero uno, with seven states choosing this fire-engine-red bird to represent them. Meadowlarks (probably all western) come in second: Six states designated this yellow-breasted country singer. Third place goes to the mockingbird, chosen in five states. Consolation prizes to to American robin and American goldfinch, each selected by three states as state birds.
Although a bald eagle did recently show up in Cuba, these majestic birds rarely leave the confines of North America. The bald eagle is a rare breeder in northwestern Mexico, but virtually all of the world's bald eagles reside either in the United States or Canada. That's not to say that they don't have close relatives in other parts. These include the white-tailed eagle of Eurasia, which rarely reaches Alaska, the African fish-eagle, found in Africa south of the Sahara, and five other species.
