In cities and towns across the United States are birds that have been causing quite a stir: Wild Parrots. It may sound strange, but for people who live in areas with these colorful birds, seeing them routinely is just a way of life. As is the case with any species that was originally nonnative, there are a lot of opinions flying around out there and a lot of information that isn’t necessarily accurate. That’s why I’m here to give you the truth about wild parrots living in the USA.

Truth 1 – It’s not their fault they’re here

Most nonnative and invasive species end up getting a lot of hate for the potential negative impact they can have on the environment. It’s important to remember though that those species and certainly the parrots in the United States didn’t choose to be here. Unfortunately, the reason these parrots are here is almost entirely because of humans. While there are a lot of different folk lore type stories about them escaping from zoos, amusement parks and private collections, the reality of it is that most of them were once pets. Perhaps they escaped captivity but more often than not, people simply didn’t want them anymore and let them go. When they were released in places with suitable climates such as Florida or California, some of them survived and formed flocks. Members of these flocks started reproducing and now there are populations living wild. A note on this, do not ever release your pets into the wild, it’s completely irresponsible and most released pets aren’t equipped to survive.

Truth 2 – Some might actually be native

It’s well known that the descendants of most of America’s wild parrots were once captive birds, but there are two species that may actually have had at least some wild ancestry. Let’s go down to South Texas, one of the countries parrot strongholds. Here there are two species with some questions about how they got to the United States. These birds are the Red-crowned Amazon and the Green Parakeet. Both of these species have populations just across the border in Northern Mexico that are truly wild. Although the south texas populations are considered to be derived from escaped birds, it’s very possible that at least some of the birds in these populations are actually wild birds or descendants of wild birds from the populations in Mexico. Without doing genetic testing, there’s no way of knowing for sure, and I really doubt they’ll be doing that any time soon. For that reason it will remain a mystery for the foreseeable future, but the idea of legitimately wild parrots moving into the US is an intriguing thought.

Truth 3 – Most Species aren’t problematic

Nonnative species are often maligned for negatively impacting native wildlife, but the parrot situation is a little bit different. Generally, most parrot species living in the United States are relatively harmless in terms of their ecological impact. There are a lot of reasons for this, first of all, most species can only live in warmer weather parts of the country and tend to stay pretty localized as opposed to moving around and expanding their range. Next, they simply don’t displace native bird species. They tend to feed on ornamental trees and live in areas impacted by humans instead of pristine wilderness. The biggest negative impact the parrots have is actually on humans and it comes in the form of annoying them with their loud squawks. A lot of people talk about how these parrots are a problem in the country, but in reality, for most species they really aren’t causing any trouble, at least not yet.

Truth 4 – One species can be a problem

Although most parrot species in the US don’t cause problems, there is one that can be. That species is the Monk Parakeet. Monk Parakeets are different from other parrots in North America because they can live in colder climates. One key adaptation that allows for these birds to survive in the cold is their ability to build massive stick nests that help insulate them. This, along with other adaptations has allowed them to spread across the country in a way that no other parrot species has. Unfortunately, these nests that have helped them to thrive in the north are also the reason they can be problematic. Here’s the thing, Monk Parakeets absolutely love to build their nests on human made structures like bridges and electrical transformers. The nests on transformers are the real issue as they can become so large that they create electrical fires and cause power outages. This has led to many cities working to remove the nests and in some cases eliminate the parrot colony. In terms of ecological impact, even Monk parakeets don’t seem to displace native species but they do cause some issues for people in the cities that they live in

Truth 5 – These parrots are in trouble in their native range

Something interesting about the United States parrot situation is that some of the species living in the United States are actually not doing well in their native range. In fact, species like Red-crowned Amazons, Lilac Crowned Amazons, and yellow headed amazons are all endangered in their native range in Mexico. In the United States there aren’t any programs or protections for them since they’re nonnative, but the U.S. populations could be important if the numbers of wild birds in Mexico continue to decline. What this all means, is that even though the parrots in the United States are nonnative, they are actually extremely valuable in the fight against extinction for many of the species present.

The parrots in the United States are an interesting phenomenon that for birders, provide some new species to chase, and for non-birders are a unique oddity. I hope you learned something you didn’t know about them. If you want to hear more about parrots in the United States, take a look at one of our other videos about them and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.

The United States is a country with something of a checkered past in terms of nonnative species. Some of the most numerous and familiar birds in the US are actually originally from other countries entirely. Although many people know the story of how birds like the House Sparrow and starling made their way into the country, there are some truly unusual birds that now live wild in the United States that you’re going to want to know about. Here are five strange birds that shouldn’t be in the United States and yet here they are.

1. Gray-headed Swamphen

The first bird on our list is one that certainly doesn’t look like it belongs in the United States. Gray headed Swamphens are a charming mix of iridescent blues, purples, and greens with a little gray thrown in. They have a bright red bill and large unique looking feet. Originally from Asia, these birds either escaped or were released in Florida in the 1990s and found the many marshes and wetlands to be more than suitable habitat to thrive in. What started as a small population in the southern part of the state expanded into the northern part as well and there is some evidence to believe they could keep going into other nearby states as well. While gray headed swamphens are really cool looking birds, they do pose a conservation concern as they can be aggressive toward other rail species and could damage the ecosystems they share with them. However, they are also a really cool looking bird to see in Florida and a species I was excited to find when I saw them there.

2. Indian Peafowl

Just about everyone is familiar with the Indian peafowl which is colloquially known as the peacock although peacock really only refers to the male birds with the females being called peahens and the species  as a whole being indian peafowl. You can call them whatever you want, I’m just giving you the truth. Anyway, Indian Peafowl arrived in the US because of their beauty, oftentimes viewed as a status symbol in the collections of wealthy people and as eye candy at zoos and botanical gardens. As is the case with most animals in collections, they eventually ended up in the wild and now have populations in certain warm weather states including Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and California. In these states, peafowl have adapted well to life among people, residing in more rural areas. For this reason, its unlikely that they will have a prolonged negative impact on native wildlife, but they have been criticized for property damage and simply being loud and annoying to humans.

3. Monk Parakeet

Monk Parakeets are one of many parrot species living wild in the United States. Unlike the other species though, these hardy little green birds can handle colder weather, and for that reason have been able to spread north into cities like New York and Chicago. The primary reason they can withstand colder climates is due to the giant multi-chambered stick nests that they make, but that’s unfortunately also a reason that they can be problematic in the US. They often build these massive nests on electrical transformers, causing fires and outages. This has led to Monk Parakeet nests and even the birds themselves being removed from areas they’re impacting. In terms of environmental impact, Monk Parakeets don’t seem to be harming native wildlife or ecosystems as they prefer to live in cities and other places impacted by humans since large structures serve as great places for nest building. If you want to see Monk Parakeets, you can track them down in any number of US states including Illinois, New York, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, and more.

2. Red-vented Bulbul

Red Vented Bulbuls are native to South Asia but have been introduced to many parts of the world including the middle east, the Pacific Islands, and parts of the United States. Unlike other nonnative bird species these birds haven’t spread very far and are really only found in Hawaii and Houston Texas. However, like so many other nonnative species introduced to Hawaii, they are a big problem there in terms of native species displacement. Up to this point, red vented bulbuls don’t seem to be having too much of a negative impact on native wildlife in Texas, but more studies will need to be done as they are relatively new to the region, first making an appearance in the 1950s and not in large enough numbers to raise questions. Now however, some suspect their numbers are growing and they could be spreading out and could become an issue in the future just as they have in Hawaii..

1. Egyptian Goose

Egyptian Geese are really interesting birds. They spend a lot of time on land and in trees compared to other waterfowl. They are also very uniquely colored with a tannish gray underside, dark wings with a white patch visible in flight, and a rusty brown splotch around their eye. Egyptian geese are native to Africa where they are actually sometimes maligned for eating crops and being aggressive to other animals. In the United States Egyptian Geese can be found in California, Texas, and Florida living wild and usually in areas inhabited by humans which they have adapted quite nicely to living in. They can be found in various zoos and collections across the country as well but aren’t in great enough numbers and in suitable enough habitat to breed outside of captivity. There are concerns that Egyptian geese could continue to spread and become a problem but for now they are mostly in areas that are already, let’s just say, already altered by a lot of other nonnative species.

These five birds living wild in the United States are certainly fascinating and I want to know in the comments if you’ve seen any of them before or if there were any you didn’t know about. If you liked this video take a look at another one of our videos on birds and birding and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.

Woodpeckers are some of the most familiar birds in North America. You’ve undoubtedly seen these birds hopping up and down trees and heard them drumming out in the forest. While they are fairly common are actually incredibly unique birds in terms of their habits and biology. In this video, I’m going to share with you five things you may not know about woodpeckers.

1. Their heads are crash resistant

Have you ever wondered how a bird that bashes its face against a tree thousands of times a day doesn’t end up with a brain injury? Woodpeckers have a lot of built in safety features that distribute force and protect the brain. Some of these include spongy bone and a longer upper part of the bill than the lower part. However, the most extreme adaptation is something called a hyoid bone. The hyoid is a bone that serves as a support for the tongue and for most animals including humans, it’s placed near the throat. For woodpeckers though, this bone actually wraps around their head, going all the way from their tongue to near their nostrils. This bone works like a crash helmet absorbing extra force and protecting the brain. All of these adaptations plus a few more that I didn’t even mention help protect woodpeckers from concussions and allow them to drum on trees to their hearts content.

2. They’re built for finding insects

While woodpeckers will actually eat a wide variety of food items, their primary food source is insects, and their primary way of finding them is by extracting them from trees. Woodpeckers are specifically designed for finding insects under tree bark and feeding inside of wood. They have great hearing and can detect vibrations made by invertebrates chewing and moving around underneath the surface. This allows woodpeckers to know precisely where to drill in order to find them. While this on its own is an amazing example of animal ingenuity, there is even more to it than that. Woodpeckers tongues are absolutely insane with some species sporting one that is 3 times the length of their bill. Additionally, woodpeckers have unique tongues that can be spear shaped, barbed or just generally sticky to pull insects and insect larva out of tunnels. Overall all, these birds are great at finding prey, drilling holes, and getting a meal with their amazing adaptations.

3. Drumming is more than just feeding

Woodpeckers certainly do drill holes to get food, but there’s actually more to the drumming noises that woodpeckers make than just that. These sounds which actually do vary based on the specific species of woodpecker are actually used for communication. What are they saying with these noises? Oftentimes it’s territorial, indicating that this is their space and intruders aren’t welcome. Think about this sound as similar to a bird song. Although woodpeckers do make actual noises, the drumming actually travels better than most bird songs.  You may have noticed that sometimes woodpeckers drum on metal. This is because metal amplifies that sound and carries it farther away thus declaring their territorial boundaries to an even wider audience. Next time you hear a woodpecker drumming in a forest, know that its not just feeding but also trying to communicate.

They’re feet and tails act like tripods

As if all of their other adaptations weren’t enough, woodpeckers have more equipment that contributes to their way of life. First, their feet are structured with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backyards. This is known as a zygodactyl foot structure and helps them to cling to surfaces that are vertical. Offering additional support with their tree walking is their tail which is made up of stiff feathers. These feathers act as another point of contact with the surface of whatever it is they’re clinging onto, enabling them to fasten themselves in and locate food or whatever else they want to do on the side of that tree. That tail is also the reason that many suet feeders have an extra piece at the bottom known as a tail prop, thus allowing visiting woodpeckers to rest comfortably.

They makes homes for every other animal

Woodpeckers aren’t just impressive in terms of their adaptations, but they’re also helpful to many other animals. The primary way they do this is by way of the cavities they make. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters and will excavate their own nesting holes. These holes end up not just being used by the woodpecker but by many other animals once the woodpeckers chicks have fledged. Some of the species include squirrels, chickadees, other woodpeckers, bluebirds, nuthatches, and way more. With all of these creatures taking advantage of the cavities that woodpeckers drill out, it’s an understatement to say that woodpeckers are important in every habitat that they live in. 

Woodpeckers are certainly unique birds and I hope you learned something about them that you didn’t know. If you liked this video take a look at another one of our videos on birds and birding and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.

Nuthatches are some of the most charismatic and likeable birds in North America. They are common around yards gardens, and it’s likely that if you have a bird feeder you’ve seen them coming in to grab a seed. While people are generally familiar with these little birds, there are so many interesting things about them that you may not know. In this video, I’m going to tell you five things you may not know about nuthatches.

Number 1: Their movements are unique

Nuthatches are quite acrobatic and like to climb up and down trees scouring cracks and crevices in bark. There are other birds that do similar things such as tree creepers and woodpeckers but nuthatches move in a way that is unique to them. They are some of the only North American bird species that routinely move face first down trees. Woodpeckers typically backtrack down trees and birds like Brown Creepers usually only move up the tree, flying back to the base and climbing higher. This nuthatch behavior leads to them having a specific pose that involves their body facing downward and their head facing outward. Nuthatches spend a lot of time in this position especially on large trees around bird feeders.

Number 2: There are 4 different species that live in the United States

Nuthatches aren’t quite as diverse as some other common birds such as chickadees or finches that have many different species in different parts of the country, but there are four distinct species and a few more subspecies that reside in the United States. The one that most feeder watchers probably encounter the most is the White breasted Nuthatch that lives year round in most parts of the continental United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The Red Breasted Nuthatch is another fairly common bird that shows up in greater or lesser numbers depending on the year. Pygmy Nuthatches are birds of the western United States, living in particular habitats. And last but not least, the Brown Headed Nuthatch can be found in the southeastern part of the United States. There are also other nuthatch species that live on completely other continents but in the US these are the four expected species.

Number 3: Most don’t migrate

Nuthatches in the United States are not birds that are known for their migrations. Three out of the four species generally stay put residing in the same areas year round. Part of the reason for this is that they can be habitat specific, especially the brown headed nuthatch and the Pygmy Nuthatch. There is one North American species that does migrate though; the red breasted Nuthatch. Red Breasted Nuthatches are irruptive migrators, meaning they move based on available food sources in the north. The more food available the less they move, if food is scarce, they spread out, sometimes all over the country. There are many different bird pieces that migrate this way, and Red Breasted Nuthatches are actually among the first to move south.

Number 4: They’re named after one of their behaviors

Nuthatch is an odd sounding name, but its actually a reference to one of their behaviors. Nuthatches have a habit of taking seeds and other food items and using their bill to hammer them into crevices in trees. There are multiple stories about exactly how the name came to be with some people thinking the hatch part is short for hatchet and others think it comes from the word nuthack, but either way, this common behavior is what these birds are named for.

Number 5: Some live in family units

It’s not uncommon for small birds to travel around together in mixed flocks. This is especially true for kinglets, Chickadees, and Warblers. Some species of nuthatches, most notably Pygmy Nuthatches and Brown headed Nuthatches take it a step further and routinely live in small flocks. These aren’t just groups of random individuals though, they are actually family units consisting of last year’s young. These birds stick around to help raise the next generation. For birders and feeder watchers in areas with these birds, its common to see them show up together in these small groups.

Nuthatches are some of the most energetic and entertaining backyard birds and I hope you learned a few things you didn’t already know. If you liked this video, take a look at another one of our videos about birds and birding and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time on Badgerland Birding.

In a world where things like politics and religion can trigger people to act in ways that can only be described as crazy, one would think a topic like birds would be a safe haven from the strife and arguments that come along with simply living in a diverse society. Well, you would be wrong. While at first glance, the world of birds seems simple and innocent enough, there are actually some species of birds that can cause quite the debate between people sitting on opposite sides of the fence. Whether it’s because of conservation status, a nonnative history, or something else altogether, here are five species of North American birds that are shockingly polarizing.

5. Double-crested Cormorant

The first bird on our list is a fish eating specialist, the Double-crested Cormorant. Double-crested Cormorants are widespread across the United States and extremely numerous in many parts of the country. This is part of what makes this species a somewhat complicated subject. Double-crested Cormorants are native to North America, yet many people view them as a pest. In particular, those who are part of the fishing industry. Cormorants are masters at catching and eating fish, this can be a major problem for people who rely on fishing and fisheries for their livelihood. As a result, there have been cormorant culls instituted to thin the population. The reasons levied have been ecological and having to do with wildlife management but many people aren’t buying it and believe the actual cause of the culls have more to do with money than environmental stability. Is there an actual environmental reason that cormorants should be killed? That’s very unclear and what makes this species polarizing. Obviously bird lovers would say that the cormorants have as much right to eat fish as the humans hoping to profit from them and that evidence that large cormorant populations hurt the ecosystem is thin at best. Either way, this species and this topic are worth keeping an eye on in the future and can certainly cause some spirited discussion.

4. European Starling

European Starlings are incredibly fascinating birds. Known for their large murmurations and impressive range of noises they make including imitating human speech, this species is quite beautiful to look at especially in the light and well appreciated in their native range. The big problem with starlings is that their original native range is nowhere near North America. These cavity nesting birds were brought to the new world by people thinking they would be a pleasant species to have in America. They quickly spread throughout the country and are now considered a pest by many due to their nonnative status and the way they have thrived in their new home. Large flocks of starlings can often be seen feeding in farm fields, lawns, and at bird feeders seeming to edge out some native species. When European Starlings are brought up, the population seems very split on them with half believing them to be an awful species and others being quite enchanted by them. While they are definitely a polarizing bird in North America, they are nothing compared to a another nonnative species later on this list.

3. Sandhill Crane

At first glance it wouldn’t seem like there would be much to debate about Sandhill Cranes. These large and majestic birds were once in big-time trouble as a species but had one of the most successful resurgences in modern conservation history. Sandhill Cranes are now common in many parts of North America and are a species of low conservation concern. Similar to why Double-crested Cormorants are on this list, the reason the Sandhill crane comes in at number three is the controversy around hunting them. Ever since Sandhill Crane populations became more stable hunters have been wanting a season for them. Some people cite the taste of the meat as the reason while others say it’s for population control and to make sure they don’t destroy crops. On the opposite end of the spectrum are those that ponder questions such as “why would it be a good idea to hunt a creature that was almost on the edge of extinction.” Another potential issue with hunting sandhill cranes is hunters accidentally shooting the endangered whooping crane. Whooping crane numbers are still incredibly low and each one is important to helping the species regain its footing. Several incidents of whooping cranes being shot have already been documented. Whenever the killing of any animal is happening regardless of the reasons behind it, there will be division, and the sandhill crane is certainly at the center of such a debate.

2. House Sparrow

The House sparrow is one of the most recognizable birds in the world. Living in almost every country on the planet and having a propensity for spending time around humans, these are a normal part of life for many people. As a result, they are beloved by backyard bird feeders simply due to the fact that they are so common around homes. Particularly in cities and neighborhoods, these gray and brown birds are almost guaranteed to be visiting feeders and in the process endearing themselves to those that enjoy watching them. The problem is that this species has a darker side. While they do look pretty cute, House Sparrows are incredibly violent when competing for nesting sites and have a well documented reputation of killing more timid birds like bluebirds. They are also one of the most invasive nonnative species, spreading out all across the country and battling with native birds, often contributing to the decline of the native species. What’s the truth about House Sparrows? Are they a devastating plague upon North America or a cute human companion? To a degree both things can be true, but this is what makes the House Sparrow such a contentious topic.

1. Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Is it really accurate to have a possibly extinct species topping the list at number one. If you have been at all familiarized with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker debate you would know that it absolutely is. Just a quick bit of background on the ivory-billed woodpecker. It is or depending on who you ask was an extremely large species of woodpecker native to the American southeast. It is now believed by many to be extinct, and that’s where the controversy comes in. There is a large passionate contingency within the bird and birding community that believes this species is still alive somewhere in the swamps of the south. Numerous expeditions have taken place to find it with evidence that is far from conclusive. This noticeable divide between the believers and non believers has led to the entire topic being banned from many birding groups due to the shocking outrage that it seems to spark. For more information on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and why it can be such a crazy topic to discuss, check out the videos in the description below and be sure to read the comments to see the true magnitude of the controversy.

While its somewhat surprising to have so much controversy surrounding particular animals, these five bird species have certainly found themselves at the center of some contentious debates. Whether it’s because of how numerous they have become, or simply whether they still exist at all, humans will always find a way to take sides on issues in the natural world. Do you know of some other polarizing bird species, let us know in the comments below and as always thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland Birding.

In the 90s, a craze hit the United States that was unlike anything anyone had ever seen: Pokémon. Pokémon, which included an animated tv show, a trading card game, video games, and several movies, was based on a fictitious version of earth where creatures called Pokémon existed alongside humans. These creatures were essentially animals with some being domesticated and some being wild. Additionally, there were people known as Pokémon trainers who went out into the wild and caught Pokémon to add to their collection. Something about this phenomenon hit home with children and even adults across the globe with many kids playing the games and watching the shows, dreaming of getting as close as they could to being a real-life Pokémon trainer, but unfortunately, there is nothing in the real world that even resembles Pokémon; or is there? Enter the past-time known as birding. Birding, which was once stereotyped as a hobby reserved for the elderly and retired, has started to catch on with younger people, and the fact that it’s surprisingly close to playing Pokémon in real life, might be a reason why. Here are 5 reasons birding is extremely close to Pokémon in real life.

You can capture them

One of the most interesting things about Pokémon is the collecting aspect. In the tv show, the main character named Ash had a goal to catch every Pokémon, spawning one of the primary slogans of the intellectual property: Gotta catch em all. In the show and game, Pokémon are captured by way of a pokeball and registered to something called a pokedex which is pretty much an electronic field guide. In birding, the concept of catching something is still there but instead of physically obtaining the bird, it’s gathering photos, checkmarks on lists, and experiences. The goal for many birders is to see as many species as possible or to photograph as many species as possible. The idea of a pokedex even lines up well too, especially considering the way birders can keep track of so many stats and sightings through websites like eBird. 

It’s driven by rarity

In pokemon there are many different common types of creatures, but the ones that people are really interested in finding are the ones that are low in numbers: the rare ones. Some of these pokemon are simply few and far between, but others that are known as legendaries only have one in existence. This idea of rarity is mirrored in the world of birding. The birds that people most want to see are the ones that either don’t frequently make it to their area or those that are even in low numbers globally. There are even some birds that actually are so endangered that there may only be one left in existence, causing avid birders to make long trips to try and see them. While rarity is an important aspect of many collection based hobbies, in both pokemon and birding, the way in which rare creatures are coveted seem too similar to ignore.

The species vary based on region and habitat

In the animated TV series and various pokemon games, different types of pokemon are found in different regions and habitats. For example, electric types of pokemon are found near power plants and grass and bug types are found in forests. Each one of these pokemon can be found in other locations but has a general place they can more often be located. This is the same with bird species. Some birds are extremely habitat specific and can only be found in particular places with specific conditions and vegetation. Going to different habitats will yield completely different sets of species than others. This is so much the case, that experienced birders can fairly reliably predict what species they will come across in a new place just by paying attention to the habitat. In addition to habitat however, both birds and pokemon vary by region, with completely different species living in the different continents of the world. This was a major point in pokemon with the original region being called Kanto and having certain pokemon that live there. As the franchise evolved more regions were explored that unlocked even more never before seen pokemon. In birding, as one explores more parts of the world, the more birds they see and the more species they add to their list.

Shinys exist

In pokemon, there are plenty of creatures to find, but sometimes the rarest don’t necessarily depend on the species. Something called shinies exist in the pokemon world. Shiny pokemon are essentially a different color variation of the normal pokemon and are coveted because of their rarity and uniqueness. In the bird world, something similar exists. While there are color morphs to some species such as eastern screech owls that come in a gay and a red morph, there are also some especially interesting pigment mutations. The most common of them is leucism. Leucism can be caused by a variety of different things but what it boils down to is a partial or complete loss of pigmentation, usually resulting in white patches of skin, fur, or feathers. This leads to a one-of-a-kind look, different than any other individual of their species: a real life shiny.

Some Pokémon are actually birds

Funny enough, most pokemon are based off of real life plants and animals. Certainly birds were a major source of inspiration for the creators of pokemon. It’s safe to say you could easily see something that looks precariously identical to tailow in real life. Or wingull, or peliper. And you’ll never be able to convince me that pidgey isnt a House Sparrow. For this reason, you can literally see a pokemon just by going out and looking for birds. 

At the end of the day, the world of pokemon is of course fictitious and nothing quite like it will ever exist in the real world. However, birding is pretty much the closest hobby there is to being a real life pokemon trainer. Have you ever made this connection before, let us know in the comments below and as always, thanks for watching, we’ll see you next time, on Badgerland birding

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.