Birds can be a nuisance in gardens by eating seedlings, vegetables, and fruits. While some birds may provide benefits like eating insects or pollinating plants, an overabundance of birds can damage gardens and crops. Home gardeners often look for safe and effective ways to deter birds from their gardens. Understanding which techniques work best to scare birds away can help protect gardens without harming birds or the environment. Why Are Birds a Problem in Gardens? Birds are very attracted to the fruits, seeds, and insects that gardens provide. Backyard gardens offer easy sources of food that birds naturally want to…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
The rose-breasted grosbeak is a medium-sized songbird that breeds in the northern parts of North America. It is a member of the cardinal family Cardinalidae and gets its name from the distinctive red patch on its white breast. In Minnesota, the rose-breasted grosbeak is a common summer visitor and breeder. Let’s take a closer look at the status and distribution of this colorful songbird in the state. Range and Distribution The rose-breasted grosbeak has a large breeding range that extends across much of Canada and the northern United States. Its wintering grounds are in southern Mexico, Central America, and the…
The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) is a small migratory bird that breeds in dense riparian habitats across the southwestern United States. This subspecies of the willow flycatcher has declined dramatically in the past few decades and is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Understanding the flycatcher’s endangered status, the reasons for its decline, and ongoing conservation efforts can provide important insights into protecting vulnerable species and habitats. Quick Facts on the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Scientific name: Empidonax traillii extimus Size: 5-6 inches long with a wingspan of 8-9 inches Coloration: Olive to gray-green upperparts, whitish…
The bird from Yoshi’s Island is a friendly creature known as Poochy. Poochy first appeared in the 1995 Super Nintendo game Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island as a helpful ally to Yoshi. Since then, Poochy has gone on to appear in several other Yoshi-centric games over the years. Poochy is a light brown dog-like creature with floppy ears, a red collar, a fuzzy tail, and a happy smiling face. Poochy helps Yoshi by providing transportation, locating hidden items, and removing obstacles. Poochy’s cheerful demeanor and eagerness to assist have made him a beloved character among fans of the Yoshi…
Birds do not have external ears like mammals do. Instead, they have ear openings on the sides of their heads that lead to their inner ears. There are several reasons why birds evolved without external ears. The evolution of bird ears Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs around 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Theropod dinosaurs like Velociraptor already had ear openings leading to an inner ear structure similar to modern birds. As birds evolved from feathered theropod dinosaurs, they retained these ear opening but did not develop external ears over time. External ears would have caused unnecessary aerodynamic…
Larry Bird is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He had an outstanding college and professional career, winning 3 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s. However, one controversy has swirled around Bird throughout his career – did his father commit suicide when Larry was just a child? In this article, we will examine the facts around this tragic event and try to determine what really happened to Larry Bird’s father. Larry Bird’s Early Life Larry Joe Bird was born on December 7, 1956 in West Baden, Indiana. He was raised in the small town…
Grey herons (Ardea cinerea) are large wading birds found throughout much of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are a common sight around wetlands and are known for their long legs, elongated neck, and distinctive gray plumage. While widespread and adaptable, grey heron populations have declined in some regions, leading to questions around whether the species is endangered. Grey Heron Population Status Grey herons have a very large global population estimated to be between 460,000 – 1.2 million mature individuals. Their breeding range spans over 10 million square kilometers globally across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia. Based on their extremely large…
Hunting birds can be a challenging endeavor for even the most seasoned hunters. There are many factors that contribute to making a particular bird species difficult to hunt. In this article, we will explore some of the hardest birds to hunt and why they pose such a challenge. Size and Speed One of the biggest factors that makes a bird difficult to hunt is its size and speed. Small, fast birds like quail and dove can be extremely tricky to hit with a shotgun. Their small size makes them a challenging target, and their quick, erratic movements make tracking and…
Glaucous and Iceland gulls are two similar-looking gull species that occupy Arctic and subarctic regions. They can be challenging to differentiate, especially in winter when their plumage is mostly white. However, there are some key differences in size, structure, plumage, and behavior that birders can use to tell them apart. Understanding these differences allows for better identification and appreciation of these northern gulls. How to Identify Glaucous and Iceland Gulls Here is a quick overview of the main identification features of adult glaucous and Iceland gulls: Glaucous Gull Larger and bulkier with a thicker neck Bill size massive, heavy and…
The flock of birds simulation is a type of algorithm that simulates the flocking behavior of birds. It is an example of emergent behavior, where complex global patterns emerge from the interaction of individual agents following simple rules. The simulation demonstrates how decentralized behaviors can produce an organized group movement without centralized coordination. Background The flocking of birds is a classic example of emergent behavior in nature. Large groups of birds, such as starlings, are able to fly in coordinated patterns by interacting with their local flockmates. There is no leader bird directing the flock’s movement. Instead, each bird follows…