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Birding is one of the fastest growing outdoor hobbies in the United States and it’s easy to see why. There are a variety of ways to enjoy it, it involves the beauty of the natural world, and it can be done without breaking the bank. But what if I told you that birding is more than just a hobby, it will permanently change your life? Here are 5 ways this hobby will do just that.
You’ll be in better health
It may be surprising, but birding can actually be beneficial for both physical and mental health. In terms of physical well being, the active pursuit of birds usually involves walking, one of the best ways to burn calories while not putting extra strain on joints. The degree in which you’re willing to be active will of course directly correlate with how much you’re health will be impacted. You can stay indoors and plop down on a chair to watch your backyard birds, or watch from the car and of course these styles of birding will produce little in terms of health improvement, but someone walking long distances, hiking, or even biking while birding will enjoy some potentially sizable benefits. Even a leisurely stroll through the park can actually do wonders for cardiovascular health making birding a potential activity to add to your exercise routine.
In terms of mental health, being out in nature in general has been linked to relaxation and clearing stress. In addition to that, the continuous alertness involved in birding can help with mental acuity and perhaps even restore attention span, something important in a world filled with short form content and fast paced multitasking. Overall, birding and immersing oneself in nature could help people partaking in the activity feel more clarity and calmness which everyone could use more of in this fast paced modern society.
You’ll have a whole new friend group
With most hobbies, once you start to engage with the community you will naturally meet new people and make new friends. Something unique about birding though is just how diverse the community is. As opposed to a mostly homogeneous group of people that all come from a similar background, with birding you will get to know people of different ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. While traditionally thought of as a hobby more associated with older people, birding has quickly become an interesting subject for many millennials and even people from younger generations too. One thing that’s great about the hobby is that barriers to entry are so low and it isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money on fancy equipment, there are no membership dues that must be paid to participate, and you need absolutely zero training to get started. What this boils down to is that people from all walks of life are in the birding community and you may make friends you never expected to get close to simply because of your shared love of birds.
People will ask you about birds all the time
Once you’ve been interested in birds for enough time that people start to find out about it, you will become everyone in your life’s go-to person to answer their bird questions. Or, you may even just be the recipient of their comments about birds. Your friend saw a Bald Eagle in their yard, you’re going to hear about it. A co-worker has a cardinal that keeps attacking your car mirror, you’re going to hear about it, your sister saw a bird on her vacation to Disney World, you’re going to hear about it. Essentially, you become the keeper of information on all things bird related, and just about everyone has questions or comments about birds. It’s actually kind of surprising how many people will want to chat with you about everything bird related that they’ve ever wondered about. It’s almost as if people just hold on to these questions until they run into someone with answers, so hopefully you’ll enjoy your new role in your friend group.
You’ll go to places you never expected
Birds live in some of the most picturesque and breathtaking places on the planet. Expansive Canyons, snow capped mountains, and secluded beaches are just some of the incredible places you will end up going in your search for birds. However, birds don’t just live in the most beautiful parts of the world, they also live in some of the least glamorous places too. Places you would never think about going or want to go in any other circumstance. Without birding, it’s unlikely that you’d ever find yourself at a place like a sod farm, a cemetery, or perhaps worst of all, the local landfill. As it turns out, whether it’s because of habitat specificity, available food sources, or just plain happenstance, birds show up in these places: rare birds that you’ll want to see. If you get really serious about birding, you’ll simply go where the birds are no matter what that means, and on more than one occasion you’ll look around and realize you’d never have a reason to go there if not for the birds, and maybe even appreciate it.
I remember shortly after I started birding, I was joking about never going to a landfill to look for birds and then just a few weeks later, boom a slaty backed gull shows up at the local landfill, of course I had to go chase it.
You will never not be birding
With most hobbies, you can choose when to do them and when to kind of put them down and not think about them as much. With birding, this isn’t the case. As mentioned earlier, birds end up pretty much anywhere and everywhere, meaning if you are used to looking for them, they’ll still catch your attention nomatter what you’re doing. When you’re a full fledged birder, you’re guaranteed to notice that House Sparrow that’s found its way into the airport, or the pigeons flying over the stadium where you’re watching your favorite sports team, and don’t even get me started on vacations in a place you’ve never gone birding in. You’ll certainly be paying attention to the local birds, possibly to the chagrin of your family who just want to enjoy the national parks without stopping every 15 minutes to look at a sparrow.
While each and every hobby has a chance to alter your life in ways both big and small, birding more than most has the chance to completely revolutionize it; and usually, it will be for the better. Has birding changed your life? Let us know how in the comments below, and be sure to take a look at some of our other videos about the world of birding. Thanks for watching, we’’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
Owls are among the most mysterious and charismatic birds in the world. Well known for their nocturnal nature, usage in pop culture, and haunting vocalizations, everybody is aware of owls, but there is so much more to them than meets the eye. Here are 5 things you may not know about Owls.
1. They Don’t Actually Have “Eyeballs”
There are so many absolutely wild things about the biology of Owls. One of the most shocking to me at least is that owls don’t actually have eyeballs. At least not as we think of them. For most animals including humans, the spherical shaped eyes allow for the eye to move within the socket and thus see a wide field of view even without moving the head. Owls’ eyes are not spherical but rather cylindrical or tube shaped. Not only that but they are rigidly held in place, meaning owls can’t move their eyes like other animals can, but instead rely on moving their head to change their field of view. In fact, Owls can turn their head up to 270 degrees. While it isn’t the 360 degrees that myths about owls portray it to be, It’s very impressive, nonetheless.
2. Owls Can Hunt by Sound Alone
While owls eyes are unique, their hearing is something else entirely. Unlike most animals with symmetrical ears, owls have asymmetrical ears that better collect sound. In addition to that, their large facial disks funnel sound into their ears, working like a satellite dish.This adaptation allows them to hear prey items in complete darkness. It even helps them hear small animals moving underneath the snow. If you ever see wings patterns in the snow, it’s likely you’re looking at a place where an owl plunged into the snow to try and catch a small mammal.
3. Not All Owls “Hoot”
The typical sound associated with owls is the “hoot.” And to be fair, there are owls that make a hooting noise. Most notably the very common Great-horned Owl which many people encounter if they live near even a somewhat wooded area. That being said, Owls make some incredibly varied noises. For example, Barred Owls make the classic who cooks for you noise that can be heard throughout swamps and deciduous forests. Barn Owls make a blood curdling scream, and burrowing owls make chattering noises and even make a rattling noise that is believed to imitate a rattlesnake when they feel threatened. To name a few more, Saw whet owls make a slow toot toot noise while Short-eared Owls sound like they’re barking. With all of this variety, if you hear a strange noise coming from the woods, it just might be an owl. If you’re interested in learning about different noises owls make, we have a video for you that I’ll put in the description.
4. They Aren’t All Nocturnal
People tend to think about owls as nocturnal animals and while that is certainly the case for most species, there are a fair amount that aren’t nocturnal or at least aren’t entirely nocturnal. The reason for this is that like all other types of birds, owls are extremely variable in their habits, hunting style, and niche in the environment. Let’s explore a few owls that aren’t entirely nocturnal. First, one of the most well known owls (thanks in large part to harry potter) the Snowy Owl. Snowy Owls breed in the high arctic where its sometimes light for just about every hour of the day. This means they are very used to operating during the daylight hours. Even when in the lower 48 states, Snowy Owls are active during the daytime and can be seen hunting while it’s light out. Other northern owl species like Great- Gray Owls and Northern Hawk Owls also actively hunt during the day with Hawk Owls being one of the most diurnal North American Owl species and Great Grays often being crepuscular which means most active at dawn and dusk. The bottom line is don’t be surprised if you see one of these typically nocturnal predators active during the day.
5. Their Feathers Are Built for Stealth
If you’ve ever seen an owl fly before you may have noticed something, or rather an absence of something. That something is sound. When other birds flap their wings, the sound of the air rushing over the feathers can cause quite a loud noise, but this isn’t the case with owls which are nearly silent flyers. They need to be quiet in flight not only to sneak up on prey, but because so much of their hunting is done by sound and if their own wings were too loud, they couldn’t pin point prey items. Owls are able to move around so quietly because their feathers have structures such as fringes on the edges that break up air turbulence and soften noise. There’s more to it than just that but that could be an entire video entirely.
Owls are truly amazing animals that are both mysterious and captivating. And I hope you learned a few things you didn’t already know about them. If you liked this video take a look at one of our other owl videos or other videos about bird facts. Thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.
Chickadees are some of the most common and recognizable backyard birds in North America. Not only are they easy to find, but they’re also easy to love. Here are five reasons that I love Chickadees, and you should too!
They’re Vocal
Chickadees are definitely recognizable when it comes to what they look like, but they also make some of the most familiar vocalizations. Chickadees are chatty little birds and they make many different noises. However, the one they are most well known for is their namesake chickadee call that you will often hear around forests and in backyards. Another familiar vocalization is their “cheeseburger” song that in my experience they tend to use on warmer days in winter and as spring draws nearer. For that reason I call it the chickadee spring time song. These cheerful little sounds the chickadees make are extremely endearing and also nostalgic as I can remember hearing the same sounds when I was a kid.
They’re Friendly
From personal experience I can tell you that different bird species have different levels of curiosity when it comes to humans. Some birds won’t let you get anywhere near them while others are more tolerant of a human presence. This can of course be variable based on the individual of the species but overall Chickadees are on the inquisitive side and like to come investigate people. This is especially true when that person is the one that usually fills the bird feeder. They can even get comfortable enough around people to be fed by hand. Now I’m not saying you should try to train chickadees to take food from you. It can be bad for them to get used to interacting with people, but it is something that can be done which makes these little guys that much more lovable.
They’re Peaceful
If you’ve ever tried to band a Black-capped Chickadee then you would know that they can be a little vicious, especially since the trend to go right for the cuticle. BUT while they can have a bit of a fierce side, chickadees are by and large very peaceful when it comes to other birds. They are a great bird to have around yards and feeders since they usually don’t bully other birds or hog food sources since they prefer to take a seed and be on their way. Additionally they tend to travel in mixed flocks with other small birds like titmice and even warblers, and that proves it to the haters out there, chickadees are peaceful.
They’re Always Around
You know that one friend who’s always there for you? In the bird world, that friend is the chickadee. I mean this in multiple ways. First, Most chickadees don’t do much in terms of migratory movements and tend to stay in the same area year-round. That means you can hang out with your backyard chickadees during any and every major holiday. Another way that Chickadees are always there for you is the fact that some species of chickadee lives in just about every corner of the United States. From the Black-capped Chickadee of the northeast, to the chestnut backed chickadee of the pacific northwest, it’s likely that some variety of this familiar bird will be there.
They’re Small but Hardy
Many small bird species migrate south during the winter, but Chickadees reside in cold climates year round. One would think that such a small bird would struggle to survive, chickadees however have some remarkable adaptations to deal with the cold. First, they molt into a thicker coat of feathers and actually form a layer of fat for the winter. Additionally, since chickadees need to eat continuously in winter, they hide thousands of food items and remarkably, their brain even changes to allow them to better remember exactly where they put those food items. There are even more adaptations they have such as having a naturally high body temperature that they can altar by going into state called torpor that puts them into what is essentially a hibernation during particularly cold days. Overall, the way these small birds handle tough temperatures is astounding.
Chickadees are among the first birds that many people see around their homes and in their yards, and even though they’re common, they’re extremely loveable. If you liked this video, take a look at another one of our videos about birds and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.
Owls are birds that both birders and non birders are captivated by. While seeing an owl can certainly be a magical experience, finding one can be incredibly difficult if you don’t know how to do it. There is a lot of information out there about how to locate these amazing creatures, but a lot of them don’t really paint a true picture. In this video I’m going to tell you the truth about how to find owls in the wild.
When it boils down to it there are really five ways to find an owl in the wild and to be honest, these are the things that most people won’t tell you. Here it goes.
Number 1: It’s better to be lucky than good
There are a lot of people that aren’t even birders that get to see owls. That’s because it really just boils down to luck sometimes. There have been a lot of times I was out birding and owls weren’t even on my radar when suddenly, a notice one near the base of a tree or I hear one vocalizing from somewhere. This also happens when I’m not even birding. There have been so many times I’ve just been walking around my neighborhood, especially in the winter when it gets dark earlier and boom the neighborhood great horned owls start hooting back and forth. So luck does play a huge role in finding owls, but there are things you can do to stack the deck in your favor.
Number Two: It pays to get familiar with the species
You can help yourself out a lot by knowing about the species of owl you’re looking for. Like all birds, owls can be very habitat specific and won’t readily be found outside of their habitat preference. For example, if you’re hoping to find a Snowy Owl, you shouldn’t spend time looking in the forest, you should scour open fields. However, if you want to find a screech owl, then looking for open tree cavities in the forest would absolutely give you a great chance of success. Additionally, you will want to know what time of year the owls are in the area you’re looking in or if they’re in that region at all. You can spend as much time searching the right area as you want but if its the wrong time of year then you’re just spinning your wheels. Some other things to know are when the birds you’re looking for is most active, what they usually eat, what specific trees they prefer to roost in. What I’m saying is you will greatly improve your odds of finding an owl if you become familiar with the specific species you’re looking for.
Number 3: Re-finding known birds gives you a huge edge
While it’s really fun and rewarding to find an owl on your own, you’ll greatly increase your chances if you take advantage of the fact that other people are out there trying to find them too, a lot of people. There are many groups in which information on bird sightings are shared; state specific groups on facebook, discord servers, telegram, and more. WHile you can get great information from these sources, my favorite is ebird. EBird has searchable information from every report submitted and allows you to search based on species. You can also set alerts for birds you need on your year list, lifelist, or that are rare for the state. If you want to learn more about how to use it, you can take a look at our video about how to find any bird you want using ebird, i’ll put a link in the description below.
Number 4: New technology is basically cheating
Some amazing technology has come out to aid birders and one of them is the thermal monocular. Thermal monoculars help to see heat signatures and are a game changer when trying to spot a well camouflaged living creature concealed by branches. They’re also useful at night when you otherwise wouldn’t have a way to see the birds around you. If you’re a big nocturnal bird person then thermal technology might be right for you.
Number 5: There is an in crowd and you need to be part of it
The truth about refinding owls is that people can often be tight-lipped about where to go to see owls, especially certain species that are rare or sensitive.As much as it would be nice if everyone in the birding community had access to information about owl locations that’s simply just not the case. A lot of times, when people find owls, they will simply not share that sighting or share the sighting without the location. This happens for two reasons, the first is that since owls are a desirable species to see, yet also sensitive to human intrusion, the person wants to protect them. The other is simply that they want to keep that bird location to themselves so they can go back and photograph it day after day. That being said, people out there know where to find owls and if you get intel from the in crowd, you’ll see a lot of owls. I wish it wasn’t the case but sadly it is.
As I said, there are a lot of things out there telling you how to find these beautiful birds but these 5 truths are really everything you need to know. If you liked this video, take a look at another one of our videos about owls and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.
the GlobeAcross the globe, people have reported encounters with things they can’t explain. Screaming spirits, winged beings, and glowing eyes in the night are just some of the things that have unnerved humans for centuries. Could all of these things be traced back to one living creature that is based in science and nature rather than the paranormal or demonic?
In Irish folklore exists a wailing ghost known as a banshee. Dressed all in white with a pale face and deep dark sunken eyes, banshees are female spirits that scream a ghastly blood curdling sound that serves as a warning that death is approaching. Some reports say that banshees fly around the home of someone doomed to die, screaming and shrieking, if one is seen, they will disappear into a cloud of fog or mist leaving no evidence that the ghoul was ever there.
Throughout Irish, Scottish, and Welsh history banshees are mentioned and even in modern times, reports of screaming spirits still sometimes come in with a somewhat recent account occurring in June of 2014. So what explanation could possibly account for such a phenomenon?
Meet the Barn Owl, a bird with an underside of white, a large heart shaped face, and deep dark eyes. True to their name, these birds spend their days in barns, old human habitations, thick trees, and brushy areas. They feed on small mammals and patrol open spaces under the cover of nightfall hunting for prey.
Nocturnal animals have always captured the imagination as they thrive in the darkness that served as a source of uncertainty and fear for our ancestors. It makes sense birds like owls could potentially be confused for some other sort of less natural winged creature. However, how could an albeit kind of cute, kind of creepy Barn owl possibly be responsible for the legend of the banshee? Well, first, Barn Owls live all across the world in nearly every continent. That puts them at the scene where the legend was first created. Second, take a listen to the noises the make.
The call, song, scream of the Barn Owl is one of the most shocking and ear piercing sounds of any nocturnal bird species and would certainly be alarming to hear in the middle of the night if didn’t know what it was.
So the Barn owl has the tools and lives in the right place to be responsible for the legend of the banshee, but how would people not realize it was an owl making these sounds and not an ancient harbinger of death?
There are a few possibilities to how the legend may have started. It’s likely that the first way it began was with people hearing the scream of a Barn Owl before someone died. Some people hypothesize that soldiers marching into war at night would hear the owls and obviously people would die soon after because of the ensuing battle. Another potential origin story is that people weren’t often up too late into the night back when the legends first began. There was no electricity, so when it was dark, people would go to bed, unless there was a reason to be up, such as someone who needed to be tended to because of illness. People awake in a home caring for an ill family member would hear the nocturnal Barn Owl, and shortly after, the sick family member would pass away, creating a correlation.
Human beings are always looking for meaning and reason. Over time, enough people probably had an experience like this , and maybe even in conjuncture with seeing a white, dark-eyed silhouette flying around outside, and believed it to be something supernatural. Of course there was no internet, no phone, and no social media, so there was no way to figure out what was actually going on in these situations, so people had to try and piece it together the best they could. What they came up with was a screaming spirit that comes to warn of death on the horizion.
Over the years other paranormal or cryptozoological reports have been blamed on owls as well, the Jersey Devil and mothman just to name a few. So what do you think? Was the Barn Owl responsible for reports of the notorious Banshee or is something else lurking in the hills of the UK. Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you want to learn more about nighttime bird noises, check one of these videos out and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.
There are many different bird species in North America that are revered for their beauty and personality. However, there are also those that are reviled. Many of these species are non-native and have a habit of taking over areas previously inhabited by native birds. There is one native species however, that was here all along, and wasn’t a big problem until humans made it so.
This is the Brown-headed Cowbird. At first glance they look like any other bird. Males have a namesake brown head and a glossy black body and females are covered entirely in a light grayish brown color. These birds thrive in open areas such as fields, cattle pastures, agricultural farms and backyards. In fact, most backyard bird watchers are probably quite familiar with the species.
If Brown-headed Cowbirds aren’t non-native then what’s the problem with these familiar birds? It all has to do with the way they raise their young, or rather don’t raise their young. Brown-headed Cowbirds are brood parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds leaving their young to be raised by a completely different species. The surrogate parents are unaware that their nest has been parasitized by the cowbird and raise the cowbird as their own. While this may sound like a sweet story of adoption and acceptance, it most certainly is not. Cowbirds hatch faster than most other bird species and also grow at a faster rate, meaning they easily outcompete their nestmates. Sometimes cowbirds will even push eggs and nestlings of other species out of the nest to ensure their greatest chance for survival.
While this certainly seems mean, it’s an adaptation that actually makes a lot of sense given the cowbirds lifestyle. It’s believed that Brown-headed Cowbirds used to follow herds of bison as they moved across the great plains of the United States, eating insects that also followed the herd or got kicked up from the grass by the large animals. This more nomadic lifestyle meant that they couldn’t stay in one place to make a nest and raise young, thus brood parasitism became the norm for the species.
Brown-headed Cowbirds can still be seen following Buffalo and Cattle across the plains, but now their range has expanded both east and west to the point where it now engulfs the entirety of the lower 48 states, Southern Canada, and a large portion of Mexico. Much of this expansion was actually a side effect of humans expanding. Since Cowbirds like open areas such as fields and lawns, the more farms and homes that popped up, the more habitat was made for cowbirds to thrive. Another way in which humans accidentally aided the brown headed cowbird was by offering them seeds. This was partially due to agricultural practices leaving seed crops in fields, and partially due to the rise of backyard bird feeding. With a more than adequate amount of seeds to supply Cowbirds with sustenance coupled with their preferred habitat, the species no longer needed to follow bison and other large animals across the country. However, their habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds remained.
What started as a necessary adaptation has turned into something of an ecological disaster as Brown headed Cowbirds reside in the same place for the duration of the breeding season, wreaking havoc on nearby breeding birds. They have proved detrimental to many different species, most notably the endangered Black-capped Vireo and Kirtlands Warbler. This has become such a problem in areas such as the jack pines that the Kirtlands warblers breed in, that efforts have begun catching and removing combirds to prevent them from destroying broods of the endangered warblers.
While cowbirds are most detrimental to at-risk species, they are a nuisance to almost all birds in areas they inhabit as over 200 different species of birds have been found to have nests parasitized by brown headed cowbirds.
All of this has led to backyard bird lovers and ecologists despising the Brown-headed Cowbird, but can we really blame them? After all it was humans that changed the landscape so much that it actually altered the lifestyle of the species entirely.
Nonetheless, Brown-headed Cowbirds pose a unique problem for other birds as well as the humans that care about them. Since they are a native bird, it is illegal to kill them, and removing cowbird eggs from nests is said to sometimes be met with retribution by the cowbird mother. Some types of birds recognize the cowbird eggs and abandon the nest, or destroy the foreign egg. Most however, can’t spot the difference and end up raising a cowbird that directly or indirectly destroys the original brood.
So what can be done about the Brown-headed Cowbird and the destruction they bring upon other bird species? In some places where sensitive species are nesting, efforts to catch and remove cowbirds are in effect. Other than that, there isn’t much that can be done. It looks like for the foreseeable future, brown headed Cowbirds will be a part of life for birds, and backyard bird watchers across the country.
At their core, these birds are just doing what it takes to pass on their genes, ensuring that the species will endure the test of time. They are birds that developed an ingenious adaptation, that has now been rendered unnecessary by the development of human civilization and yet still it persists. Sure, many people love to hate them, but the Brown headed Cowbird is here to stay, and we’re all just going to have to learn to live with them.
If you liked this video leave us a like and a comment. Also, check out our video on how the House Sparrow spread across North America. Thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
In k-Pop Demon Hunters, Sussie is depicted as a creature that can go between the human world and the demon world, always spending time with a goofy looking blue tiger. This pairing while it may seem strange is actually an homage to traditional Korean political art in which the tiger was drawn as a dopey looking animal representative of political leaders while the magpie was representative of the people, intelligent and cunning. In some of these depictions, the tiger is wearing a hat, which in k-pop demon hunters, is taken and worn by sussie the magpie instead.
Now that we know sussie is a magpie, what is it about magpies that make them such cool birds. For starters, they don’t just live in Eurasia but all the way across the ocean in North America too..
If you live in the US but still want to see a magpie like sussie, I have good news for you! There are two species of magpies that live in the United States, the Yellow-billed Magpie that can only be found in California and the Black billed Magpie that lives year round throughout much of the western United states and looks extremely similar to the Asian Magpie. There are also several other magpie species that live all over the world, so if you want to see sussie in real life, you can certainly go out and find a magpie in real life.
Additionally, magpies are very smart and have found ways to live in areas inhabited by humans, often feeding on scraps of food left behind by people. In fact, for people in the western US, these birds are probably a familiar sight around farms, and other areas where they can get free food.
Overall, k-pop Demon hunters did a solid job of depicting the magpie both getting the general appearance fairly accurate, but also by understanding its traditional importance to Korea both in art, and mythology.
If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below.
If you liked this video, take a look at one of our other videos about birds, and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.
Florida is a state that definitely has its own vibe. While this is definitely true of its human inhabitants, in this case its the wildlife that I’m talking about, in particular, the birds. While the sunshine state is home to tons of different birds, there are some that truly embody the state more than others. Dare I say, they are downright iconic. What dictates an iconic bird species? It’s one that everyone thinks of when they think of the state or region. Whether its due to their habitat specificity, rarity, or simply their coloration, here are five birds that rise above the rest as iconic birds of Florida, and species that you should definitely be on the lookout for when birding there.
Purple Gallinule
If you get a clear look at a Purple Gallinule, it would be very difficult to misidentify it. They are one of the few North American birds that are actually purple, but in addition to that, they have lustrous green backs with shades of blue mixed in as well as bright yellow legs and what can best be described as a candy corn bill. The problem is that these secretive birds may not always be easy to view, as they tend to spend time hidden in low vegetation in swamps and marshes. Additionally, while Purple Gallinules are found throughout much of South America and in parts of Mexico year-round, in the United States they are much more limited in range, only living in states around the gulf coast, and for most of those states, only seasonally. By far, the easiest place to find these colorful birds is in Florida where they reside year round. Not only is Florida the best place to have a sighting though but it’s also the best to see them up close. So close in fact that it’s almost ridiculous. Going to some of the many marshes and wetlands in the central and southern parts of the state will provide the best looks you’re going to get of Purple Gallinules right off the path. The Purple Gallinules limited range, seemingly increased boldness in Florida, and their magnificent coloration is why this species finds itself on the list.
Roseate Spoonbill
The second bird on our list is another that has some incredibly bright colors. Roseate Spoonbills are one of the most unique looking birds in the country. Sporting a bright pink and white color palette, these birds could really only be confused with Flamingos and that confusion is alleviated once you get a look at that namesake spoon shaped bill. These large wading birds can be found throughout much of South America and the Caribbean. They frequent the coasts of Mexico during the winter months and do have a range in the Gulf Coast of the United States that includes Texas, and Louisiana among others. Florida is another state that holds populations of Roseate Spoonbills year round, and just like with the Purple Gallinule, it’s quite possible that there’s no better place in the continental US to view them than in the sunshine state. In many of the same places that have Purple Gallinules, there are ample opportunities to see Roseate Spoonbills at extremely close range. You can also find them nesting in some of these areas as well. Overall, the fact that Roseate Spoonbills are so easily found in Florida, combined with the fact that they are so bright in color makes them an iconic bird of the state.
Limpkin
Limpkins are very strange birds. They look like herons and kind of act like them too, but they are actually more closely related to rails and cranes. They have a curved bill that they use as a tool to pull their primary food source, snails, from their shell, and the noise they make is something of a scream that can be heard at all hours of the day and night. Making them even more funny is the fact that they got their name from the way they move around with what appears to be a limp. In terms of range, Limpkins can be found throughout most of South America, Mexico, and the Carribean, but in the United States, they were for the longest time known as a Florida specialty species since they couldn’t be found in any other state. This has changed in recent years as an expansion in apple snail populations has allowed these birds to expand as well. However, when thinking about Limpkins, Florida is still the first place in the US you think of and it’s still a great place to find them. Making this goofy and weird bird a state icon.
Snail Kite
Much like Limpkins, Snail Kites rely on the exact same food source, apple snails, to survive. For that reason they have a similar range to limpkins as well, including South America, the Carribean, and Mexico. Where their range differs is that in the United States, they haven’t expanded like the Limpkin and can only be found in the state of Florida. This means they are absolutely one of the most desirable birds to find in the state for visiting birders. To locate Snail Kites, travel to the sunshine state and look for swampy areas with plenty of Snails and keep an eye out for these agile raptors perched over the water or actively hunting. The fact that these regal raptors can only be found in Florida, mixed with the specificity of food and habitat, makes the Snail Kites one of the most Iconic birds in the state.
Florida Scrub-Jay
Out of all of the birds that can be found in Florida, one rises above the rest as the most iconic bird species. That bird is the Florida Scrub Jay. With a gray body, blue wings, blue head, and blue necklace on their chest, these spiffy looking birds are Florida’s only endemic species, meaning that they can’t be found anywhere else on earth. Unfortunately, these jays are federally threatened and listed as a 20 out of 20 on the continental concern score. This is in large part due to habitat fragmentation and the destruction of tracts of oak scrub that the jays need to survive. The good news however, is that work is being done in many parts of Florida to monitor and preserve the species. This also means that even though in the grand scheme of things Florida Scrub-Jays are rare, if you know where to look, they are actually very easy to find, and typically very friendly because of how often they see scientists and conservationists coming to check on them. Overall, the fact that Florida Scrub-jays are rare, charismatic, and only found in Florida, makes them the most iconic bird in the state.
American Flamingo
There’s one more bonus bird that has to be mentioned when talking about Florida: The American Flamingo. Flamingos were once native to Florida and well known as a state icon. Unfortunately, throughout the 1900s their numbers in the state dwindled until they were completely gone from the wild midway through the century. Flamingos would be sighted in the state from time to time, but all of these sightings were presumed to be of birds that escaped captivity. Fast forward to 2018 and a study was done that confirmed that wild flamingos were indeed living in Florida. Since then, the state has once again become the only place to reliably find these majestic, pink birds in the United States. It will take a bit of time to see what the Flamingo populations in Florida will do. This uncertainty is why they are listed here as a bonus bird, but they are certainly an iconic bird species that right now can be found in Florida.
Florida is a beautiful state with tons of places to explore and unique birds to see, but these five stand above the rest as the most iconic. Are there any birds we missed? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
The Mourning Dove is a classic North American bird species known for its presence around backyard bird feeders and nostalgic coo. While many people are fans of these pinkish gray birds, I was surprised to learn that there are people out there that actively dislike this species. I’ve always found Mourning Doves to actually be an extremely likable species and these are the reasons that I really like mourning doves, and you should too!
They are very Common
There is an expression that goes something like this, “familiarity breeds contempt.” In this case, familiarity breeds attachment. Mourning Doves are certainly familiar to most people. They are year-round residents of most states in the US, a large part of Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and even some parts of southern Canada. They do migrate a little farther south in the winter and a little farther north in the summer. Not only are these birds easily findable due to their vast range in the continental US, but also because of the places they choose to spend their time. Mourning doves tend to do very well in places inhabited by humans. In cities and towns they can be seen perching on wires and in trees, often in pairs or multiples. Of course, Mourning Doves are among the most well-known feeder birds in the country, taking advantage of seeds that have fallen to the ground or feeding off of platforms big enough to hold them. I appreciate the fact that the familiar wild companion that is the Mourning Dove can often be found in backyards or feeding stations all across the country.
They have a Cool Looking Appearance
Mourning Doves sometimes get a bit of a bad rap for their appearance. They are medium sized and generally puffy looking. When at a bird feeder they are larger than many other common backyard birds leading people to call them things like fat, lazy, and greedy. In reality, Mourning Doves are actually incredibly fast and streamlined flyers, resembling a falcon when in the air. When not in the air they are actually probably underrated in terms of their beauty as they are tan to gray in color with a pinkish hue. Their wings are slightly darker in color than their body and they have some dark gray to black colored markings on the wings as well as the neck right by the face. Males can show more pink coloration on their chest as well as a blueish gray top of their head. Both males and females have a dark circular eye with light blue skin around it. Overall, Mourning Doves are actually quite nice looking birds and appear incredibly cute when sitting there all fluffed up.
They make some iconic noises
Certain bird noises can evoke strong feelings related to childhood memories or simply just a a pleasant time in life. Out of all North American bird species, it’s possible that the noises made by the mourning Dove are the most nostalgic. They make a classic dove coo-ing noise which sounds a bit somber as rises and falls
This is actually where these birds get their names from due to the noise sounding a bit sad, as if the bird is in mourning. In addition to their actual vocals, Mourning Doves have another signature noise that they don’t even make intentionally. When Mourning Doves take off or land, air is pushed through their wings causing parts of the feathers to vibrate and making a loud whistling sound.
This sound is appropriately referred to as wing whistles and are thought to be a sort of natural alarm system, warning other doves that one of the birds has detected a threat and left the area.It is also possible that the noise could startle potential predators, allowing the doves to escape before the predator even knows what happened. Both of these noises made by the Mourning Dove can be heard around neighborhoods and backyards in many areas, meaning they provide a nice trip down memory lane when heard as an adult. They also provide a lovely ambiance when in the background of daily life.
They’re generally peaceful
Doves are typically viewed as symbols of peace. Mourning Doves are not always perfectly peaceful. Males will defend their favorite perches from other males and they may get a bit snippy from time to time with other birds around the feeder, but most of the time they coexist pretty well with each other and other species around the feeder. For this reason, they are a great bird to have around the backyard bird ecosystem. Additionally, unlike some other more aggressive species such as House Sparrows, Mourning Doves generally do not fight other species for nesting sites. This is in large part to the fact that mourning doves are not cavity nesters but rather nest builders. A quick side note, mourning Doves are actually terrible at creating nests and do some of the most suspect work of any species I’ve seen but I digress. In all, Mourning doves are relatively peaceful, and in spite of some people criticising them of being bullies around the feeder or even worse, Fat, they actually do get along with other birds for the most part.
They are Adaptable
One of the reasons mourning doves are so well known by even nonbirders is because they have adapted to both human habitation as well as other less hospitable natural environments. Of course, these birds have learned to take advantage of bird feeders, but they have also learned to take advantage of cultivated grain, meaning they can survive in even more areas. In regards to some of the habitats they survive in, this common bird in urban places, also survives in the deserts of the US thanks in large part to their unique ability to drink somewhat salinated water. In fact, they have been known to drink water with a salinity nearly half that of seawater, a pretty crazy adaptation for what is typically thought of as a pretty basic species. This adaptability makes the mourning dove not only a likeable and familiar companion, but a hardy survivor.
In all, even though some people overlook the Mourning Dove, they are a cool and entertaining species. Their cuteness, their adaptability, and tendency to put us at ease with their nostalgic cooing all makes them a bird that is totally worth appreciation frm both birders and feeder watchers alike. What do you think about Mourning Doves, let us know in the comments below, and if you liked this video, take a look at one of these and as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
For many people, parrots are thought of as birds that can only be found in the most tropical parts of the world. It may be surprising then to hear that there are actually many different kinds of parrots that live wild in the United States. Even more interesting is how these parrots got here in the first place, and how they continue to survive in a place they aren’t originally from. Here is everything that you need to know about five parrot species that you can find in the United States
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
Yellow-chevroned parakeets are bright green with shades of darker and lighter greens mixed in. Their signature marking is thor namesake yellow chevron on each of their wings visible when at rest. These birds are native to the tropical parts of South America including Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay. Although they live in tropical places, they aren’t usually found deep in the jungle but rather in more disturbed or cleared forests such as those inhabited by humans. They tend to like edge habitat with tree cover yet plenty of open spaces as well. This habitat preference has helped them thrive in places that don’t seem like they would live in, including where they make their homes in the United States. If you want to find Yellow-chevroned parakeets without leaving the US the two states you’ll need to travel to are California and Florida. In particular, the cities of Los Angeles and Miami. Both places known for celebrities, warm weather, and glamorous lifestyles are also strongholds for nonnative bird species including these small green and yellow parrots. If you’re interested in seeing them, you’ll need to track them based on recent reports on ebird or get lucky hearing them in and around the area parks and neighborhoods.
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Rosy-faced Lovebirds, als known as peach-faced lovebirds have a green back, wings, and underside, they have blue on their rumps and of course, a namesake reddish pink colored face. The native range of these adorable birds is actually southwestern Africa, Namibia and Angola to be precise. The habitat in this part of the world is dry, arid, and hot, which mirrors the part of the United States where they have taken up residence. One of the hottest cities in the country, Phoenix Arizona. While they also live in the surrounding areas, the parks and buildings around Phoenix have become some of the best places in the country. Interestingly, Rosy-faced Lovebirds have found ways to handle the heat of Arizona, in large part thanks to their ability to adapt to human civilization. In cities and towns, water features and leaky air conditioners serve as ways to cool off when temperatures soar. So how did African parrots end up in Phoenix in the first place? As is the story with so many non native birds, the pet trade was the culprit. As one of the more common species of captive they have actually turned up in many different states including Texas, Florida, and California but Phoenix is really the only one where they have taken hold, survived, and grown in numbers to the point where the population is self-sustaining. Now, going to particular parks in Arizona can yield fairly high numbers of Rosy-faced Lovebirds roosting in trees and sometimes even cacti.
Green Parakeet
South Texas is a place with many different bird species that can’t be found anywhere else in the country. In addition to native birds there are others that may not originally have lived in the region, but now are naturalized to the point where their populations are stable and in some cases even growing. One such bird is the Green Parakeet. Green Parakeets, also known as green conures are as one would expect, green in color with their wings and head generally being darker green than their undersides. They have yellow tail feathers and red speckles on their cheeks. Green Parakeets can be found in different parts of Mexico but they can also be found in parts of the United States. One place to find them is the bastion for parrots that is the Miami area in Florida where they flock in relatively small numbers compared to the best place to find them; the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The south Texas population is interesting for a variety of reasons. The first reason is just how many of them live in the region, in and around the cities and neighborhoods flocks of these green birds can be seen feeding on fruit trees and even spending time in very urban places such as parking lots with power lines and tall trees for roosting. The second very interesting thing about them is that people still don’t exactly know how they got there. They are close enough to the native population in Mexico that it’s possible that they are actually naturally occurring in the most southern parts of texas. It’s also possible that like many other parrot species in the United States they were once pets that either escaped or were set free. Either way, Green Parakeets are now naturalized in parts of Texas and a popular species to see for visiting birders
Red-crowned Amazon
Red-crowned Amazons, also known as Red-crowned Parrots, are among the most populous parrots in the United States. They’re also the quintessential parrot in terms of how they look; with green bodies, red on their heads near their bill, and blue behind their eyes. They also have red on their wings visible when at rest but even more striking in flight. The natural range of the Red-crowned amazon is northeastern Mexico where they are actually endangered and at serious risk of disappearing from the region without intervention. The primary cause for this is taking the parrots to sell in the pet trade. The same reason for these birds declining in Mexico is why they are proliferating in the United States, or at least, that’s what started the trend. Captive birds either escaped or were set free and thrived in some of the US states and territories including Florida, California, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. One of the other places they are most common is in South Texas, but the origins of those populations are still up for debate. The Texas population is close enough in distance to the native population in Mexico that it’s possible that they were once actually part of it and are simply native to the region. However, no one knows for sure if this is the case or if like the other populations in the country, they are descendants of escaped pets. Either way, with their native populations in Mexico doing so poorly, the parrots living in the United State are useful as a backup population in case they ever do disappear. In addition to being safety net against extinction, they are also a source of ecotourism for some of the cities and regions that they reside in. South Texas in particular, which already plays host to many birders every year, is a premier spot to go looking for Red-crowned Amazons. In certain parks and neighborhoods, large flocks of Red-crowned Amazons flock together to prepare for the night. These flocks sometimes include other species of parrots as well and are extremely noisy as they gather and find a roosting site. These events are fascinating spectacles and definitely worth it if you’re visiting the area.
Monk Parakeet
Out of all of the parrot species living in the US, the one that has been able to spread across the country the most is the Monk Parakeet. Monk Parakeets have a gray face, neck and underside, and a green back and wings. They have vibrant blue on their wingtips and blue feathers mixed in with their otherwise green tail. The native range of these small parrots is the south central part of South America. They are more common in grasslands and savannas than more tropical habitats as they are well equipped to survive temperate climates. In the United States their story is the same as many other parrots. Pet birds either escaped or were freed and then found the habitat to be suitable enough to survive and even self-sustain populations. What makes the Monk Parakeet different, is that they thrived in cities and states much farther north than other bird species. A large part of their survival in colder areas is because of two key adaptations. The first is that they not only eat fruits and nuts, but also seeds and crops. This means that even in the winter they can still find food, including bird feeders. The other adaptation is their massive stick nests that they build. These nests provide insulation from the bitter cold and allow for colonies of these birds to live in New York and Chicago where their large nests can be seen in urban areas. Funny enough, places like tall bridges and electrical plants are likely places to find this species in the United States. It is worth noting that they also live in the typical United States parrot locations such as Florida, Texas, and Southern California.
Parrots are fascinating birds that certainly have an association with the most tropical parts of the world, but as it turns out, they can also live in parts of the world you wouldn’t expect, and may be closer to you than you think. In the United States, these species that originated from all over the world, have found a way to survive, and don;t look to be going anywhere any time soon. If you liked this video, take a look at one of these videos going more in depth on certain parrot species, and as always, thanks for reading, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.
