Birds

Birdsong, Translated

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

With birds tuning up for the breeding season ahead, here are some memory tricks to help you recognize a few of the more common songs.

Robins can be heard in just about all habitats across the state and the nation. Their whistled song is often translated as, "Cheer-up. Cheerily. Cheerio."

Another song easy to "translate" is the flight song of goldfinches. Someone somewhere interpreted it as, "Potato chip! Potato chip!"

How Many Birds?

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

How many bird species might an attentive backyard birdwatcher, or "birder", find?

The term "backyard" means any nearby open space, such as a stream corridor or an open field with forest edge. The more habitat types a backyard has, the better.

Don and Lillian Stokes, of Hancock, NH, have a backyard that includes the Contoocook River, a distant ridgeline, open field, wetlands, and forest, not to mention many birdfeeders and birdhouses to attract their feathered friends. Like many active birders, they keep a backyard list of their sightings from over the years.

Unique Nests

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

A bird can be identified by the different splashes of color on its feathers, or its distinct call, but did you know that you can also tell a bird by the way it builds its nest, even if it's empty?

Just as birds in all their variety evolved from the very first species, their nests have evolved in equal variety over millions of years. Every bird builds a nest unique to its species.

High Perch: Peregrines Nesting In The City

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The peregrine falcon: Fierce, fast, high cliff dweller, symbol of the wild. All true, but increasingly peregrines can be found inhabiting urban canyons of concrete and steel.

The Brown Creeper: Songs from the Wood

Dave Anderson — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to March! If you walk in the forest this week, you might detect the song of a non-descript little brown bird called the "brown creeper."

Brown creepers are hard to see. Their habit is to creep upward on tree trunks, often in spiral fashion remaining well-hidden. It sports mottled "tree-bark pattern" camouflage.

Ravens Are Playful And Smart

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:14:18 +0000

Among the many stories about the intelligence of ravens, and their playfulness is one from Mount Monadnock. As the sun was setting a hiker shared the mountaintop with a gang of ravens taking turns leaping into a strong updraft, tumbling up, then circling around to leap again.

The Common Raven Is Exceptional

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The stately Raven has garnered many connotations over the years, chief among them are for the bird’s intelligence. Additionally, this largest of songbirds is also known for is aerobic alacrity - flying upside down, doing barrel, etc - and playful proclivities.

Stories of their intelligence abound, including one that involves Cheetos. A wildlife biologist was attempting to trap and band ravens. To lure them in, he spread Cheetos on snow and the bright orange color soon attracted several ravens, which were then snared by leg traps under the snow.

Crossbills Coming to NH?

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

A poor cone crop in Canada this year is driving crossbills south of the border in search of food.

As volunteers fan out across the state for the annual Christmas Bird Count, they’re likely to see two noteworthy species down from the north this year. Both are named "Crossbills" for unique bills that actually do cross, all the better to pry seeds from a conifer cone.

Birds of a Feather

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Taxonomy is the attempt to place all plant and animal species in a logical order based on relationship. Two thousand years ago. Aristotle classified birds by appearance and behavior, such as birds that swim, birds of prey, and birds that sing.

The Burrowing Owl Conservation Network

New Media Intern — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:14:09 +0000

EarthTalk®
E - The Environmental Magazine

What's Good for the Goose

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:00:00 +0000

November's gray skies carry the last of the migrating Canada geese, graceful ribbons of true wild Canadians on a long-distance flight. These aren't the New England locals, flying low from golf course to cornfield.

The northerners are vocal in flight. Geese are highly social, vocal year-round as they maintain relationships both within the family grouping and the greater flock. Vocalizing by young begins within the egg before hatching, and helps build a strong family bond that lasts a full year.

Azure Crescendo

Chris Martin — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Generations ago, when people lived closer to the natural world, more outdoors than in, mild October days were called "bluebird weather. "The eastern bluebirds' gentle, quizzical notes were familiar and their distinctive habits recognized. A bluebird family remains together this time of year when most other bird species disperse. They favor field or open habitat, and typically perch on branches at field edge when they feed. Family members take turns dropping down to the ground then return to perch, one after another, most likely in pursuit of grasshopper or cricket.

A Rare New England Bird May Actually Be Endangered

Brady Carlson — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:41:13 +0000

The Bicknell’s thrush is a migratory songbird that winters in the Caribbean but comes to northern New England to breed.

It's long been hard to find in the region – and conservationists say that’s becoming a big problem. In fact, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week it’s considering the Bicknell’s thrush for endangered species status.

Shorebird Migration

Dave Anderson — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The autumn shorebird migration starts early. The first signs of autumn are now found moving southward along beaches and in salt marshes or high above New Hampshire's 13 miles of Atlantic coast.

Spectrum of Birdsong

Chris Martin and Francie Von Mertens — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Mid-May is like rush hour in the bird world. Migrants have returned for the nesting season and the air is full of birdsong. As you might guess, birdsong is as varied as birds themselves. In fact, birdsong is defined generously to include any and all sounds they make with territorial or courtship intentions. Let's start with a traditional vocalization and then branch out.