Birding: The common tern is not so common
It seems odd that such common use of “common” in the common names of so many different bird species has no common etymology.
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Birding: Avian flu deserves concern but not panic
People keeping hobby chickens, which often mingle in the yard with wild birds, may want to avoid direct contact with their birds or spending time in the chicken coop without...
Williamsburg bird count offers several observations about nature, birds
Thanks to local hero Jim Corliss, who tirelessly compiles the Williamsburg Christmas Bird Count, it's clear that the Dec. 20 outing by 130 birders defied bad weather and the pandemic...
Rare visit from evening grosbeaks an event to be savored
In my last column, I described the ongoing "winter finch" irruption and wistfully suggested that the charismatic evening grosbeak might soon show up. It was a purely aspirational musing; I...
Time to clean up the bird feeders and get ready to feed migrating birds
I got a preview of this winter's birds last month by visiting Maine. Large flocks of Pine siskins were moving south and red-breasted nuthatches dangled from spruce branches. Purple finches...
Bird tale ends happily for Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel flocks
There was a lot of good news for local birds this month, despite our miserable pandemic. The Trump administration was close to making permanent its nonsensical interpretation of the Migratory...
Baby birds do not need your help; let bird parents take care of their young
When birds evolved from ancient reptiles, a very important trait that helped them flourish was caring for their young. Most reptiles simply bury their eggs and move on, whereas birds...
Binge-watch hardworking birds while they build nests, chase young, fight off predators
This is a great time to get to know your avian neighbors better. The millions of birds that migrated north this spring have nearly finished their passage, with just a...
No danger there: Keep feeding the birds to bring them to your yard
As the weather warms and the seed bag runs out, you may ask yourself whether the feeders really need to be filled in the warmer months. Bird feeding is as...
Migratory winter residents are heading north soon to breed
Pandemic self-quarantine has led many to develop a closer connection with their bird feeder flock than they ever envisioned. While some birds at the feeder are year-round residents, such as...