If you spend much time in the woods then you’ve probably had the experience of being suddenly inundated with a noisy flock of jays. Jays are sometimes so noisy that even people who aren’t at all interested in birds wonder what’s happening to make them act so crazy. So let’s explore this... why are blue jays so noisy? There are 3 common reasons for noisy Jay behavior: During courtship: … [Read more...] about Why Are Blue Jays So Noisy? (stellars, scrub & gray jays too!)
Learn Bird Language
This page contains information about bird language. This is a skill that I've put a lot of energy and practice into. It's one of my passions and I'm very excited to share it with you.
How Do Foxes Hunt Their Prey? (Technique, diet & where to see them in action!)
One thing I love about foxes is they’re just so easy to observe on the hunt. Foxes hunt in a relatively small area compared to larger-sized predators which means you don’t have to search as far to find them, and their populations can be quite high within a relatively defined area. When you understand their hunting strategy, it’s like a roadmap to having some pretty amazing moments watching … [Read more...] about How Do Foxes Hunt Their Prey? (Technique, diet & where to see them in action!)
12 Essential Facts About Juncos That Everyone Should Know
Juncos are one of the most common songbirds in North America. Yet often when I show a twittering flock of juncos to new bird watchers, they look at me with confused faces and say, “What the heck is a junco?” For being one of the most common backyard songbirds, these small gray sparrow-sized birds are incredibly easy to overlook! So today I’d like to share some secrets from the life … [Read more...] about 12 Essential Facts About Juncos That Everyone Should Know
Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
Sometimes the most commonly seen birds are also the best teachers of bird behavior. This is why American Robins are truly one of my favorite birds to watch during the spring nesting season. Pretty much every home in North America with a lawn & some nearby trees will have robins nesting within view. It’s amazing how much we can learn from observing such a common bird that so often gets … [Read more...] about Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
One of my favorite things in nature is getting up close and personal to birds in the wild. Most birds are incredibly shy about being approached, but with the right techniques, it’s possible to earn their trust and have some truly amazing close encounters! If you want to get closer to birds, the most important thing is moving slowly enough that you don’t make them nervous. Birds will … [Read more...] about How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
Have you ever noticed when you hear a group of crows cawing & making an awful racket in the woods, there’s often an owl at the center of those mobbing birds? It’s a pretty amazing thing to see! In fact, if you know to listen for these crow mobbing calls, it’s one of the easiest ways to find owls in the woods. But it also brings up the question of why crows attack them so … [Read more...] about Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)
One year during the spring nesting season, I noticed a sparrow making soft alarm calls and following a squirrel around the forest. Of course, I became instantly fascinated as to why this was happening, and it got me wondering whether squirrels ever steal and eat bird eggs. As it turns out, squirrels do eat bird eggs when they have the opportunity. If a squirrel locates an active nest, they … [Read more...] about Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)
Why Do Birds Fight? (Causes, meanings & levels of aggression)
One spring morning I was sitting outside watching robins eat worms on the lawn when suddenly the birds all started fighting like an angry mob. After a brief burst of flapping wings and loud chirping sounds, they suddenly calmed back down and everything returned to normal. If you’ve ever seen birds fighting like this, you might wonder why they get so crazy and aggressive. What does … [Read more...] about Why Do Birds Fight? (Causes, meanings & levels of aggression)
Why Do Sparrows Chirp? (five sparrow calls & what they mean)
Why is that sparrow chirping so much? It’s not uncommon for sparrows to have frequent outbursts of chirping that make people stop and wonder what’s going on. Luckily, the language of sparrows is actually quite simple to understand once you know how it works. There are five main reasons why sparrows chirp, and the cause of this behavior can be identified by paying attention to the speed … [Read more...] about Why Do Sparrows Chirp? (five sparrow calls & what they mean)
Why Are Chickadees So Friendly? (4 simple reasons…)
Have you ever had a chickadee land on you while walking in the woods? Well, you wouldn’t be alone! Chickadees have gained a reputation among songbirds for being some of the most friendly creatures in the forest. But have you ever wondered why? Chickadees who have regular contact with humans in parks and on hiking trails become less fearful of our presence and sometimes even … [Read more...] about Why Are Chickadees So Friendly? (4 simple reasons…)