Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) are very social birds that live in large groups called wakes. They are known for their impressive flight skills and their habit of circling in the sky to locate carrion. Turkey vultures play an important role as nature’s clean-up crew by consuming dead animals that would otherwise spread disease. But do these highly sociable scavengers have a hierarchical structure within their groups? Let’s take a closer look at turkey vulture behavior and organization. Turkey Vulture Social Structure Turkey vultures form large communal roosts that can contain thousands of birds. Within these roosts, vultures tend to associate…
Author: Peter Knight
Whistling with your hands to mimic bird calls is a fun technique that anyone can learn with a bit of practice. By shaping your hands into an “O” shape and placing your fingers in the correct position, you can modify the sound to match different bird songs. With some trial and error, you’ll be chirping away in no time! Why Learn to Whistle Like a Bird? Here are some of the main reasons people want to learn how to whistle like a bird using their hands: It’s a unique skill that’s sure to impress friends Helps bird watchers and nature…
The popular saying “birds of a feather flock together” refers to the tendency for people to associate with others who are similar to themselves. But where did this expression originate and what are its implications? Let’s take a closer look at the history and meaning behind this common idiom. The Origins The earliest known version of this phrase can be traced back to a sermon by the 4th century Saint Basil of Caesarea. In referring to how monks were inclined to socialize only with other monks, Saint Basil stated: “Naturally, every man prefers his like, and comes together with those…
The Muscovy duck is a unique type of waterfowl that is commonly raised for meat and eggs. Despite its name, the classification and taxonomy of the Muscovy duck has been debated by ornithologists and laypeople alike. This article will examine the evidence to determine whether the Muscovy should be considered a true duck or a goose. Origin and History The Muscovy duck is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is unclear exactly when it was domesticated, but it was being raised by Native American tribes when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in the late 15th century.…
House finches are small songbirds native to western North America that have become established across most of the eastern and central United States over the past century. As their name suggests, they readily nest in and around human habitations. Attracting nesting house finches can be as easy as providing suitable nesting sites or food sources, though a bit of patience and persistence doesn’t hurt. Let’s explore some tips for enticing house finches to make themselves at home in your yard or garden. What do house finches need for nesting? House finches build open cup nests out of grasses, plant fibers,…
There are a few potential reasons why your bird may be sitting in its food bowl: Eating The most straightforward reason is that your bird is simply eating. Birds often perch directly in their food bowls while they eat so they can easily access their food. Sitting in the bowl brings the food closer and requires less effort than reaching down into the bowl from the edge. This is especially true for larger birds like parrots who have big heads and beaks that get in the way if they try to eat from the rim of the bowl. So sitting…
Birds have some of the longest lifespans in the animal kingdom. While the average lifespan for a bird is just a few years, some species can live for decades. The record holder for the longest living bird is the albatross, which has an average lifespan of 50 years. However, there are a few other bird species that can give the albatross a run for its money when it comes to longevity. What is considered a long-lived bird? Most small bird species, like finches, hummingbirds and songbirds have relatively short lives of just 1-5 years on average. Medium-sized birds may live…
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores that will eat a wide variety of foods. This includes raiding bird nests and eating eggs. Raccoons are known to prey on the nests of many different bird species and will eat any eggs they can get access to. Birds Most Commonly Targeted by Raccoons While raccoons will eat the eggs of many birds, there are some species that are more commonly targeted. Birds that nest on or near the ground are especially vulnerable to raccoon predation. Some of the most common bird eggs eaten by raccoons include: Duck eggs – Mallards, wood ducks, and other…
Hummingbirds have fascinating and complex courtship rituals. When it’s time to find a mate, male hummingbirds will try to catch the attention of females through elaborate aerial displays, color changes, and song. If the female is impressed, she will allow the male to mate with her. After mating, the female builds a tiny nest and raises the chicks on her own as the male moves on to court other females. Let’s take a closer look at the stages of hummingbird courtship and what behaviors are displayed during this intricate process. When does hummingbird courtship occur? Hummingbird courtship and mating occurs…
BluJay Transportation Management is a complete TMS software designed specifically for freight forwarders and logistics service providers. It helps manage the end-to-end shipment lifecycle – from quoting, booking, tracking to invoicing and settlement – across all transportation modes including ocean, air, truck and rail. Key Capabilities Here are some of the key capabilities of BluJay Transportation Management for forwarders: Multi-modal shipment management BluJay TMS supports the management of shipments across all modes of transportation including: Ocean LCL, FCL and intermodal Air freight Truckload, LTL, flatbed Rail and intermodal It provides a single platform to manage shipments seamlessly across modes and…