Bird gliding refers to the ability of birds to glide through the air without flapping their wings. It allows birds to conserve energy and cover long distances efficiently. Gliding is made possible by aerodynamic forces acting on the wings of birds. How do birds glide? Birds glide by holding their wings outstretched at an angle to generate lift. The airflow over and under the wings creates differences in air pressure that provide an upward force, allowing the bird to glide forward and downward. The bird’s body weight counteracts the lift, enabling it to descend at a shallow angle without stalling…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiography by American writer and poet Maya Angelou. First published in 1969, it is the first of Angelou’s seven autobiographies. The book details Angelou’s life up to age 17, providing a child’s point of view about the difficult lives of African Americans in the Southern United States during the Great Depression. Overview of the Book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings covers the first 17 years of Maya Angelou’s life. The book begins when three-year-old Maya and her older brother Bailey Jr. are sent to live with their grandmother “Momma”…
The Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) is a songbird found in North America. These birds are known for their loud, variable songs and calls, heard most often during the breeding season. This raises the question – do Yellow-breasted Chats sing at night? To answer this, we’ll first look at some background on the Yellow-breasted Chat and its vocalizations. Then we’ll examine evidence from research and observations on whether this species sings nocturnally. Understanding the daily and seasonal timing of avian vocalizations can provide insights into their functions and the lives of birds. Overview of Yellow-breasted Chats The Yellow-breasted Chat is a…
The short answer is no, chickens and pigeons cannot successfully breed to produce viable offspring. Chickens and pigeons are different species with a number of genetic incompatibilities that prevent interbreeding and hybridization. What is required for two species to breed? For two animals to be able to reproduce and create viable offspring, they need to meet several biological requirements: They need to be of opposite sexes (one male and one female) They need to be of the same species or closely related species that can still mate Their mating behaviors and physiology need to be compatible Their chromosome numbers need…
The greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) are two closely related yet distinct species of large ground-dwelling birds found in sagebrush habitats across western North America. While they share several similarities and were once considered the same species, research over the past few decades has revealed important differences between the two sage-grouse that warrant their classification as separate species. Physical Differences The most noticeable physical difference between the greater and Gunnison sage-grouse is their size. As its name implies, the greater sage grouse is the larger of the two species. Males typically measure 25-29 inches…
The albatross is a large seabird found across the southern oceans. Albatrosses are known for their elaborate mating rituals and lifelong pair bonds. The mating ritual of the albatross is a complex process that reinforces the strong lifelong bond between mating pairs. Courtship The courtship ritual begins when albatrosses return to their breeding colonies after spending several years at sea. Unmated male albatrosses will arrive before the females and begin staking out nesting territories. They use vocal calls, posturing, and ritualized dances to establish dominance. This helps determine which birds will pair up for mating. When a female albatross arrives…
There are a few birds that are known for making loud, croaking vocalizations. The most common birds that produce a croaking call are crows, ravens, and frogs. Crows and ravens belong to the corvid family of birds, known for their intelligence and loud, harsh cries. Frogs are amphibians, not birds, but their croaks are a familiar sound, especially around bodies of water. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these three animals and the science behind their vocalizations. Crows Crows produce a wide range of calls, but some of the most recognizable are their loud, raspy croaks. Of…
Bird nests are intricate structures that birds build as shelter and a place to raise their young. While each bird species has its own unique style of nest building, the materials used and purpose is generally the same – to create a safe, comfortable place for eggs and baby birds. As humans, we can admire the architectural skill of nest building, but did you know that bird nests also have a variety of uses for people too? Using Bird Nests for Decor One of the most popular uses of bird nests is for decoration. The intricate weaving and unique shapes…
Black-backed gulls are large, aggressive gulls that can be found across much of the Northern Hemisphere. They are opportunistic feeders and scavengers that will readily take food from humans, which can lead to conflict. Understanding their behavior and learning ways to discourage them can help reduce problems. What species are considered black-backed gulls? There are two species of black-backed gull: Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus) The lesser black-backed gull is smaller with a wingspan of around 120 cm. The great black-backed gull is very large for a gull, with a wingspan up to 175 cm.…
Every year, hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes make an epic migration from their wintering grounds in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico to their breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Along the way, they stop in Nebraska on the Platte River to rest and refuel during their long journey north. This annual stopover has become one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in North America, attracting birdwatchers and nature lovers from all over the world eager to witness the majestic sandhill cranes. When do the cranes arrive in Nebraska? The timing of the sandhill crane migration through Nebraska depends on…