Blue Bird Corporation is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Founded in 1927, Blue Bird designs and produces a variety of Type A, C, and D school buses to meet the needs of school districts across the United States and Canada. Blue Bird Bus Chassis Overview When deciding on a new school bus, one of the key factors for school districts is the type of chassis used. The chassis provides the foundation on which the bus body is mounted. Blue Bird offers both conventional and integral chassis options across their different bus models. A conventional chassis has…
Author: Alan Hernbroth
Scare eye bird deterrents, also known as bird scaring eyes, are devices designed to look like predator eyes in order to scare birds away and prevent them from landing in a particular area. These deterrents usually consist of large, menacing eyes attached to balloons or placed on reflective plates that move in the wind. The idea is that birds will be frightened by what looks like a potential predator and will avoid the area. But do these scare eye deterrents actually work to keep birds away? What are scare eye bird deterrents? Scare eye bird deterrents, sometimes called bird scaring…
The red crossbill is a unique type of bird that is often grouped with finches. However, its classification has been debated by ornithologists. In this article, we’ll examine the red crossbill’s physical characteristics, behavior, and genetics to determine if it truly belongs to the finch family. Quick Answer The red crossbill is considered a type of finch, although its unique crossed bill sets it apart from other finches. It belongs to the finch subfamily Carduelinae, which contains bullfinches, hawfinches, and other crossbills. What is a Red Crossbill? The red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is a small passerine bird found throughout North…
Owls are known for being intimidating predators of the night. Their large eyes and sharp talons strike fear into smaller animals. This leads some people to wonder if the presence of an owl will scare away unwanted birds from their yard or property. In this article, we’ll examine the evidence and case studies related to owls deterring other birds. Do Owls Deter Pests Like Pigeons and Grackles? Owls are predators, so their presence can deter pest birds to some extent. Pigeons, grackles, and starlings are examples of nuisance birds that owls may help control by preying on them or scaring…
Zooplankton are tiny animals that drift in the ocean’s water column. They include a variety of organisms like copepods, krill, jellyfish larvae, rotifers, and fish larvae. Zooplankton are a key part of ocean food webs and are eaten by many larger animals. This raises the question – do birds eat zooplankton? Do Seabirds Eat Zooplankton? Yes, some seabirds do eat zooplankton. Seabirds that are known to consume zooplankton include: – Penguins – Puffins – Auks – Murres – Murrelets – Shearwaters – Petrels – Storm petrels – Phalaropes – Gulls – Terns – Skimmers – Frigatebirds – Tropicbirds – Boobies…
Birds abandoning their nests with eggs still inside is a phenomenon that occurs for a variety of reasons. Though it may seem puzzling or even cruel to humans, there are valid biological and behavioral motivations behind this behavior in birds. Common Causes of Nest Abandonment There are several common reasons why adult birds may abandon a nest with eggs: Predation – If a nest is discovered by a predator, adults may abandon it to preserve their own lives. Some species readily abandon nests at any sign of disturbance or danger. Insufficient resources – Birds require a lot of calories to…
The dodo was a large, flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It became extinct in the late 17th century, within 150 years after the island was colonized by the Dutch. The dodo was hunted to extinction by humans and invasive species that were introduced to the island. But did this strange looking bird leave any fossil evidence behind? Here we examine what fossils of the dodo have been found and what they can tell us about this extinct species. Brief history of the dodo The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a member of the…
Birds are classified into taxonomic orders based on shared physical characteristics and evolutionary relationships. Modern classification systems divide birds into around 30 orders, with the most diversity found in the order Passeriformes (perching birds). Birds are placed into an order based on features like their anatomy, DNA, behavior, and more. What are some of the main orders that birds are classified into? Some of the largest and most well-known orders that birds are classified into include: Passeriformes (perching birds) – Includes over half of all bird species like songbirds, parrots, and corvids. Anseriformes (waterfowl) – Includes ducks, geese, and swans.…
Flight is one of the most amazing feats in the animal kingdom. For birds, learning to fly is a complex process that requires coordination, strength, and practice. Though flying seems almost instinctual for adult birds, it is a skill that juveniles must develop and master as they grow. Understanding how young birds learn this incredible ability provides insight into both avian development and evolution. When do birds learn to fly? The age at which birds first take flight depends on the species. However, most songbirds fledge, or take their first flight, between 10-14 days after hatching. Larger birds, like gulls,…
The 13 colonies that became the first states in the United States of America were very diverse in their geographical locations, economic outputs, religious and social structures, and stances on slavery. When the United States declared independence in 1776, slavery was legal in all 13 colonies. The Thirteen Colonies were a group of British colonies on the east coast of North America founded between 1607 and 1733. The Thirteen Colonies had very different geography, economics, religions, and social structures from one colony to another. There were four distinct regions that the colonies could be grouped into based on their locations…