Articles written by Rosemary Drisdelle
All 321 articles written by Rosemary Drisdelle
Golden Jade – Hornbill Ivory: A Treasured Carving Material Comes from the Helmeted Hornbill
Category: Birds (general)
Unique among hornbills, the Helmeted Hornbill has a casque of solid keratin called hornbill ivory, valued for carving jewelry and other small items. more...
Category: Human Infections
Opisthorchis viverrini, common in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, comes from raw fish and causes many deaths from liver cancer in Southeast Asia. more...
Strongyloides stercoralis – Threadworm: Strongyloidiasis and the Intestinal Parasite That Causes It
Category: Human Infections
The threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, is a persistent parasite in warm climates and a significant cause of potentially fatal parasitic disease. more...
Bird Nests – How Do Birds Protect Them?: Keeping Nestlings Safe From Predators and Other Dangers
Category: Bird Habitats
A bird's nest is meant to be a safe place for eggs and young. Adult birds use location, camouflage, design, odor, deception, and renewal to ward off various threats. more...
Wind Turbines and Bird Fatalities: Are Windmills Killing Too Many Birds?
Category: Bird Habitats
We need to support renewable forms of energy like power generated by wind turbines, but can birds and wind power exist together? The evidence suggests they can. more...
Birds in Peru: The Best Country in the World for Bird Watching
Category: Bird Watching
Peru is home to about 1800 different bird species, and birders see hundreds of species in a single day. Varied habitat and climate support bird biodiversity. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Old stories of seagulls are found in British folklore, Native American myth, and beliefs from various places in the northern hemisphere. more...
Anisakis simplex and Anisakiasis: Parasites of Ocean Mammals and Fish that Infect People by Accident
Category: Human Infections
Anisakis simplex and a group of similar worms are the cause of numerous cases of food borne illness. It usually starts with eating raw ocean fish. more...
The Life Cycle of Anisakis simplex: Worms Parasitic in Marine Mammals, Fish, and Sometimes Humans
Category: Marine Biology
Anisakid worms have a complicated natural history that involves sea mammals, crustaceans and other small marine creatures, and fish. more...
Human Parasites in Raw Fish: Can People Catch Parasitic Diseases From Raw Seafood?
Category: Human Infections
Millions of people host parasites that they have acquired from eating raw fish. Rare in some countries, very common in others, some of these infections are dangerous more...
What is a Tapeworm?: Cestodes - Flat Segmented Intestinal Parasites of Vertebrates
Category: Biology (general)
Adult tapeworms are fascinating hermaphrodites with no mouths. Most must first live in one or two other animals before they mature in a vertebrate intestine. more...
Sparganosis - Parasitic Zoonosis: A Rare Parasitic Disease in Humans Caused by a Tapeworm
Category: Human Infections
The most familiar human tapeworms live in the intestine, but in sparganosis, the parasite lives in tissues and organs. The infection is rare, but it can be horrific. more...
Common Starlings in Europe: Beneficial Bird of the European North, Pest in the South and West
Category: Wild Birds
The Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is native to Europe and Asia. Its relationship with people has helped it flourish, with both good and bad results. more...
Mute Swans – Large Waterfowl: Cygnus olor Identification, Diet, Breeding, and Conservation Status
Category: Wild Birds
Mute swans are wild waterfowl in Europe and Asia, domesticated in many parts of the world, and feral in North America. Globally, they are doing well. more...
Category: Wild Birds
The Great Spotted Woodpecker lives in much of the northern hemisphere, except in North America, and still thrives despite human activities throughout its range. more...
Category: Wild Birds
Birds that belong to the woodpecker family, Picidae, include woodpeckers, flickers, and sapsuckers, as well as species in two subfamilies, the piculets and wrynecks. more...
European Starling Nests: A Common Problem Bird in Eaves, Vents, Lights, and Nest Boxes
Category: Wild Birds
The European Starling (or Common Starling), introduced to North America, nests in cavities including holes in man made structures. Many people try to keep starlings away. more...
All About Seagulls - Gulls and Kittiwakes: A Family of Birds Concentrated Along Northern Coastlines
Category: Wild Birds
Gulls live all around the world, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Species differ but have similar behavior and diet, as well as nesting and roosting habits. more...
Interesting Facts About Pinworm: Things Most People Don’t Know About Seatworm
Category: Human Infections
Scientists have discovered a number of interesting facts about pinworm infection, as well as the life cycle, close relatives, and history of Enterobius vermicularis. more...
Herring Gulls – The Most Common Sea Gull: A Sea Bird Found in North America, Europe, and Asia
Category: Wild Birds
The Herring Gull is the most familiar gull because it does well wherever there are people. For the same reason, it has increased to unnaturally high populations globally. more...
Category: Biology (general)
Hookworms have infected human intestines since prehistoric times. It's only in the last two centuries that humans have discovered and come to understand them better. more...
Hookworm Infection in Humans: A Common Intestinal Nematode of the Tropics
Category: Human Infections
Two species of hookworms infect humans in warm climates, causing mild to serious disease. More than a billion people have these worms. more...
Common Murre – The Turre, or Guillemot: The Largest Auk, Agile Swimmer of Northern Oceans
Category: Wild Birds
The Common Murre fishes on northern continental shelves and breeds on steep cliffs and flat islands. A weak flyer and awkward on land, the Turre excels at swimming. more...
Parasites and the "Hygiene Hypothesis": A Few Intestinal Worms Might be Beneficial to Our Health
Category: Autoimmune Disease
New scientific evidence that parasitic worms help protect against disease challenges Western beliefs that parasites are invariably bad for human health. more...
Human Head and Body Lice in History: A Collection of Facts About the Louse and its Impact on People
Category: Crawling Insects
From the time the first louse bit a human being, we've put up with them, misunderstood them, hated, them, and used them. They've affected us in return. more...
A New Cure for Head Lice: Heating and Drying Treats Pediculosis Without Chemicals or Drugs
Category: Human Infections
Biologist Dale Clayton discovered that lice can't survive hot dry conditions and subsequently invented a new safe and effective treatment for head louse infestations. more...
Category: Wild Birds
Scientists and birders learn a lot from owl pellets-undigested food regurgitated by roosting owls after they have eaten and digested prey. more...
Category: Human Infections
Wherever meat inspection fails and people enjoy eating rare or raw beef, the beef tapeworm finds a home in the human intestine. Luckily, it causes few health problems. more...
Category: Oceanography
When a container full of rubber ducks, turtles, beavers, and frogs fell off a ship in the Pacific, it was the surprise start to a long term study of ocean currents. more...
Birds of Chile – Where to See Them: Birding in Diverse South American Habitat
Category: Bird Watching
Birders find Chile a wonderful place to visit because of its wide range of ecosystems and easy-to-spot spectacular birds. Chile has five distinct birding areas. more...
Barrow's Goldeneye – Diving Duck: A Striking Medium-sized North American Bird of Cold Water
Category: Wild Birds
The Barrow's Goldeneye is not rare, but it has a limited range and prefers cold water. Residents of northern North American seacoasts may see this bird in winter. more...
How Do Birds' Lungs Work?: An Explanation of a Bird’s Respiratory System
Category: Birds (general)
Unlike human lungs, a bird's lungs supply a constant flow of oxygenated air by routing incoming air through an arrangement of air sacs. more...
Birds of Panama: Hundreds of Bird Species in Varied Habitat and Altitude
Category: Bird Watching
The range of different habitats, tropical climate, and unique position as a land link between two continents makes Panama a wonderful destination for birders. more...
Go Winter Birding, Find New Birds: Bird Species, Appearance, and Behavior Change With the Seasons
Category: Bird Watching
When the weather gets cold, it's still worth getting out to look for birds. In the winter you'll see different behavior, and species that aren't around in summer. more...
Two Turtle Doves: Famous Bird of the Second Day of Christmas
Category: Birds (general)
"On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me..." Millennia of tradition and symbolism lie behind the gift of two Turtle Doves. more...
Eurasian Robin—A Christmas Symbol: Britain’s National Bird Brings Colour and Song Even in Winter
Category: Wild Birds
Robin Redbreast frequents gardens, hedges, and woods in England, Continental Europe, and Asia all round the year and has long been associated with winter and Christmas. more...
Category: Bird Watching
There's a right and a wrong way to approach birding. Good preparation, a sense of timing, mindful behavior, and birding ethics make a big difference. more...
How to be a Bird Watcher – the Gear: From Binoculars to Life Lists - the Basics of Serious Birding
Category: Bird Watching
Equipment for the serious bird watcher includes binoculars, a bird guide, a notebook, a bird call, check lists, and a life list. more...
How to Attract Wild Birds to Your Yard: Plants, Nesting Sites, Feeders, and Water Build Bird Habitat
Category: Bird Watching
The way to attract birds to your yard is to provide them with everything they need: food and water, shelter from weather and predators, a place to nest, a dust bath. more...
Raccoon Roundworm Life Cycle: The Natural History of an Emerging Parasite in Humans
Category: Zoology (general)
Baylisascaris procyonis lives in the intestines of raccoons, but causes serious disease by invading the tissues of many other animals including humans. more...
Birds for Halloween: Crows, Ravens, Barn Owls and Vultures Fit the Part
Category: Birds (general)
Like other creatures, some birds have earned a place in Halloween tradition and decoration, including black crows and ravens, gruesome vultures, and scary barn owls. more...
Ravens and Crows – Halloween Symbols: People Associate These Black Birds With Death and Bad Luck
Category: Birds (general)
Ravens and crows are the subject of unpleasant folklore and superstition in many countries. Black plumage and repelling habits make them perfect Halloween symbols. more...
All About Homing Pigeons: Rock Doves are Bred for Their Ability to Find the Way Home
Category: Domestic Birds
Pigeons have a natural ability to return to their birth place. Homing pigeons have been specially bred to enhance this ability for use as messengers. more...
Bird Migration Patterns: Some Migratory Birds Travel Circuitous Routes but There are Trends
Category: Wild Birds
Bird migration takes birds to habitats that support their survival and/or reproductive success. But migration routes and patterns differ widely. more...
An Avian Migration Glossary: Definitions of Terms Used to Discuss Seasonal Bird Movements
Category: Wild Birds
The study of bird migration has a vocabulary used to refer to characteristics, behavior, and habitats of migrating birds. These terms have specific meanings. more...
Myths and Legends of Bird Migration: Traditional Folklore Explanations of Where Birds Go in Winter
Category: Wild Birds
Centuries ago, people noticed that birds disappeared in winter. They came up with explanations that are amusing, intuitive, and curiously apt. more...
Why Do Birds Migrate?: Evolution, Advantages, and Triggers of Bird Migration
Category: Wild Birds
The reasons why so many species of birds migrate are hidden in prehistoric times. Then, as now, climate, geography, and competition all played a part. more...
African Grey Parrot History: Centuries of Trade in a Popular, Now Threatened Pet Bird
Category: Pet Birds
African Grey Parrots have been traded as pets for centuries. Even Egyptians and Romans may have kept them, but today they're declining in the wild. more...
Good Perches for Pet Parrots: Cage Birds Perch for Comfort, Exercise, and Entertainment
Category: Pet Birds
A variety of perches is important for a pet parrot's physical and emotional health. They replace natural perches, and help groom beaks and nails. more...
The Attacking Red-winged Blackbird: Blackbirds Aggressively Defend Territory and Young
Category: Birds (general)
Every year, during the breeding season, there are reports of Red-winged Blackbirds attacking people. The birds are just scaring off predators and rivals. more...
What are Passerine Birds?: The Order Passeriformes Includes the Majority of Bird Species
Category: Birds (general)
Passerine birds are those that belong to the taxonomic (scientific) order Passeriformes, the largest of the twenty-seven orders of birds on Earth. more...
A Review of a New Bird Book: Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Category: Bird Watching
Ted Floyd, editor of Birding Magazine, gives us the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Collins, 2008). The book has some unique and useful features. more...
Purple Martins, Colony Nesters: Colonies, Breeding, Range, Migration and Interesting Facts
Category: Wild Birds
One of the Swallows, the Purple Martin (Progne subis), heralds spring. This interesting bird is popular because of its nesting habits and conspicuous fall migration. more...
Category: Birds (general)
People who feed the birds are often annoyed by red squirrels, but others find them amusing, and they're good for the ecosystem. more...
Threats to the Bald Eagle: Bald Eagles Fall to Pesticides, Poisons, Hunters, and Other Dangers
Category: Wild Birds
Bald Eagles have gone from plentiful through threatened, endangered, nearly extinct, recovering and now thriving once again. more...
Bald Eagle Breeding and Nesting: In the Eagle’s Nest from Building to Fledging
Category: Wild Birds
The Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, builds the largest nest of any North American bird. Look for nests where fishing is easy and large trees are available. more...
Make Your Own Suet Feeder: An Attractive and Inexpensive Way to Offer Suet to Birds
Category: Wild Birds
Suet is a high energy food for birds. With a few basic tools and a piece of wood, anyone can create a decorative and practical suet feeder. more...
What is Trichinosis?: Trichinella spiralis Causes a Serious Parasitic Disease
Category: Human Infections
The intestinal nematode Trichinella spiralis infects people through undercooked meat, causing trichinosis (or trichinellosis), a potentially life threatening illness. more...
Storks and Migration: Where Do European Storks Go In Winter?
Category: Wild Birds
Storks are birds of the tropics, but White Storks and Black Storks breed in Continental Europe, and then migrate south to Africa to spend the winter. more...
The Return of the Brown Pelican: Endangered Since the 1960s, Pelecanus Occidentalis is Thriving
Category: Wild Birds
Brown Pelicans inhabit warm coastal areas of the Americas. Almost wiped out by DDT and hunting, they may be coming off the endangered list. more...
Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Still Missing and Feared Extinct After More Than Sixty Years
Category: Wild Birds
In the last decade there have been numerous reported sightings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but definitive proof still eludes search teams in the Southeast US. more...
Rooke's Island: The Prophecy of the Staring Eyes, by S. K. Whalen
Category: Children’s Books (general)
A new and unique fantasy for young readers, Rooke's Island: The Prophecy of the Staring Eyes, has great characters, extraordinary settings, and lots of magic. more...
The Most Popular Pet Birds: Finches, Waxbills, Weavers, and Parrots are Common Cage Birds
Category: Pet Birds
Talking birds, singing birds, and birds with bright plumage are all popular for aviaries and cages. Birds that interact with their owners are favorites too. more...
Why Are Some Birds Bald?: A Bare Head is Normal for Some Bird Species, Unusual for Others
Category: Wild Birds
Some species of birds have naturally bald heads for various reasons; for others baldness is caused by abnormal molting or health problems. more...
Living Things in Soil: Soil Contains Rock, Organic Material, and Many Live Species
Category: Biology (general)
It starts with broken up rock, but soil contains the wastes and remains of living things, as well as fungi, bacteria, algae, protozoa, lichens, invertebrates, and seeds. more...
What is a Species?: Each Type of Living Thing Has a Specific Latin Name
Category: Biology (general)
A species is a type of living thing, a specific plant, animal, or other life form that has features making it distinct from all others. more...
How Does a Taser Work?: Stun Guns Disrupt the Body’s Electrical Circuits
Category: Biology (general)
Tasers and stun guns seem like space age technology-they're really just guns that shoot electricity instead of bullets. The jolt is usually safe but there is a risk. more...
Head Lice Basics: The Natural History of Pediculus humanus capitis
Category: Human Infections
Head lice are parasites. They cling to hairs, feed on blood and crawl from head to head. They are not dangerous; however, treatment is usually difficult. more...
The Peacock Courtship Dance: Male Indian Peafowl use Their Beautiful Trains to Attract Peahens
Category: Birds (general)
The display feathers of the male Indian Peafowl are an amazing spectacle. The peacock with the best display attracts a harem of peahens with his courtship dance. more...
How Fluoride Works on Teeth: Preventing Tooth Decay, and the Fluoridation Debate
Category: Biology (general)
Fluoride protects teeth from developing cavities when it comes in direct contact with tooth enamel. Swallowing fluoride has little or no benefit and may be harmful. more...
Water Birds and Trematodes: Parasitic Flukes Kill Coots, Scaup, and Other Waterfowl
Category: Wild Birds
Intestinal flukes-trematodes-have been killing thousands of bluebills, coots, and other water birds in the Great Lakes and Mississippi regions of North America for years. more...
Mistletoe – a Plant Parasite: Facts About the Object of a Familiar Christmas Tradition
Category: Botany (general)
Mistletoe is associated with Christmas and kissing, but the natural history of this familiar group of parasitic plants is as interesting as the tradition and folklore. more...
Dicrocoelium dendriticum: The Lancet Fluke Controls Intermediate Host Behavior
Category: Zoology (general)
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a liver fluke of animals. It occasionally infects people, but scientists study it because it alters the behavior of its ant intermediate host. more...
How to Tell a Crow From a Raven: Differentiating the Large Black Corvids of North America
Category: Wild Birds
How can you tell a crow from a raven? Various things help, such as location, size, shape, behavior, and flight pattern. If the bird speaks, however, you'll know. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Birders appreciate Christmas gifts that help the birds. Wings of Wonder, a non-profit charitable
organization in Michigan, is all about helping raptors.
more...
Alcyon – Bird of Peace and Calm: Halcyon Days Surround the Winter Solstice and Christmas
Category: Birds (general)
Halcyon birds, according to Greek mythology, bring us days of peace and calm around Christmas time--halcyon days. The bird in the legend is the European Kingfisher. more...
Black-capped Chickadee Facts: Social, Roosting, Feeding and Breeding Habits of Poecile atricapilla
Category: Wild Birds
Black-capped Chickadees look like happy carefree visitors to woodlands and bird feeders, but these birds are intelligent, hierarchical, and territorial. more...
Leishmania Parasite Life Cycle: Leishmaniasis is a Parasitic Disease Caused by a Protozoan
Category: Human Infections
Leishmania parasites cause a variety of similar diseases but in each case the organisms follow a similar life cycle in sand flies and humans. more...
Ascaris lumbricoides – Life Cycle: Natural History of the Large Intestinal Roundworm of Humans
Category: Human Infections
Ascaris lumbricoides is the large intestinal worm familiar to people all over the world. This roundworm infects people when they swallow soil containing infective eggs. more...
Ascaris lumbricoides: Large Intestinal Roundworm of Humans
Category: Human Infections
Ascaris lumbricoides evolved with humans, and it lives in the intestines of millions of people. Large and active, it has inspired many tales and considerable folklore. more...
Leishmania mexicana – Parasite: One of a Group of Parasites That Cause Leishmaniasis
Category: Human Infections
Leishmania mexicana, a tissue parasite, causes large skin lesions that are slow to heal. It may be expanding its range northward in the United States. more...
Blue Chaffinch – Fringilla teydea: A Rare Bird that Lives Only in the Canary Islands
Category: Wild Birds
The Blue Chaffinch has evolved on the isolated islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife, but its habitat has dwindled and the species is listed as Near Threatened. more...
Facts About Pigeons and Doves: The Natural History of Pigeon Species and Their History With Humans
Category: Birds (general)
The familiar city pigeon is just one of a large family of beautiful and adaptable birds. Humans have a mixed relationship with these interesting species. more...
Columbidae – Doves and Pigeons: The Ubiquitous Rock Dove and Other Pigeon Species
Category: Birds (general)
The Columbidae, pigeons and doves, have played a large part in human cultures all over the world. A diverse and fascinating group, they are both loved and despised. more...
Demodex spp. – Face Mites: Follicle Mites are Common Parasites of Human Facial Skin
Category: Skin Disease
Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands and usually do no harm. Many of us have these tiny skin parasites. more...
Cryptosporidium parvum Life Cycle: What’s Happening in a Cryptosporidium Infection
Category: Human Infections
Cryptosporidium sp., the parasite that causes the disease called cryptosporidiosis has a complicated life cycle. Read about the stages of Cryptosporidium infection. more...
What is a Ramsar Wetland?: The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance
Category: Bird Habitats
Wetlands are under threat worldwide. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands exists to protect the world's wetlands for plant and animal species, ecosystems, and people. more...
The Canada Goose and Parasites: Canada Geese Unwittingly Spread Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp.
Category: Birds (general)
Canada Geese, Branta canadensis, are great migrators that have adapted to life with humans. Studies show that they help spread human parasitic diseases to new places. more...
Kirtland’s Warbler: The Jack Pine Warbler is Very Rare and Faces Many Threats
Category: Birds (general)
Kirtland's Warbler, Dendroica kirtlandii, has a tiny habitat and almost became extinct. Conservation measures have brought it back in Michigan, USA. more...
Great Bustard – Otis tarda: The Largest Flying Bird is Vulnerable but Increasing in Some Places
Category: Wild Birds
Great Bustards, Otis tarda, native to grasslands of Europe and Asia, are listed as vulnerable. Conservation measures are increasing numbers in some places. more...
Seal Island and Seabirds: Atlantic Puffins and Other Sea Birds Breed on an Offshore Refuge
Category: Bird Habitats
Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge, off the coast of Maine, is home to Atlantic Puffins, Roseate Terns, Great Cormorants, and other breeding seabirds. more...
Hoatzin – Beautiful Stinkbird: Opisthocomus hoazin is a Unique and Fascinating Bird
Category: Wild Birds
Not only does the Hoatzin look strange, this South American bird has characteristics unlike any other. Read some interesting facts about Hoatzins. more...
Treating River Blindness: Onchocerciasis Can Be Treated, Perhaps Even Eradicated, But Not Yet
Category: Human Infections
A few drugs have been used for treating river blindness, but none so far has proved to be the answer to curing onchocerciasis and eradicating this parasitic disease. more...
Eliminating River Blindness: Merck and Co. Inc. and Ivermectin, Against Onchocerca volvulus
Category: Human Infections
Merck and Co. Inc., a large pharmaceutical company set a precedent by donating a drug to treat millions suffering from the onchocerciasis, or river blindness. more...
What is River Blindness?: An African Disease Involving a Parasite Transmitted by Biting Flies
Category: Human Infections
River blindness is caused by a parasitic worm that lives under the skin - blindness is just one of the symptoms of this devastating human parasite. more...
Whip-poor-will – Familiar Nightjar: A Vociferous Bird Often Heard and Rarely Seen
Category: Wild Birds
The Whip-poor-will, a nightjar of North and South America, is a night bird but it's still well known within its range because of its distinctive call. more...
North Pole Penguin: Why Don’t Penguins Live in the Northern Hemisphere?
Category: Bird Habitats
Penguins live in the south and have never colonized the North Pole for several reasons. A North Pole penguin is a rare and puzzing phenomenon. more...
Malaria in Birds: Avian Blood Parasites Cause a Parasitic Disease Familiar to Humans
Category: Birds (general)
Malaria in birds can be a serious parasitic disease, as it often is in humans. Some birds die from the infection while others spread it. more...
What is Anting?: Birds Use Ants, Beetles, Plants, and Other Substances on Feathers
Category: Birds (general)
Many species of birds pick up insects and other objects and rub them over their feathers, or allow insects to crawl about on skin and feathers. more...
The Spread of Schistosomes: Globetrotting Parasites that Continue to Spread and Cause Disease
Category: Environmental Microbiology
Schistosoma spp., tiny worms that live in the blood of humans, spread to new places when infected people move, and increase locally due to water resource projects. more...
Harbor Herons in New York: New York City Audubon Monitors Wading Birds on Harbor Islands
Category: Bird Watching
New York Harbor, once home to few wading birds, now hosts more than 1700 breeding pairs. New York City Audubon monitors, protects, and showcases them. more...
Dirofilaria immitis – Heartworm: A Parasitic Worm Transmitted to Dogs by Mosquitoes
Category: Dogs (general)
Dirofilaria immitis is a roundworm that lives in the hearts of canines and a few other animals. Heartworm disease is a serious health issue for domestic dogs. more...
Build a Dust Bath for Birds: A Patch of Dry Dusty Soil Helps Birds With Cleaning and Preening
Category: Bird Habitats
You can improve the appeal of your backyard bird habitat by giving birds a dust bath where they can clean and condition their feathers. more...
The Fate of the Bobwhite Quail: Like Masked Bobwhites Before Them, Northern Bobwhites are Decreasing
Category: Wild Birds
In the 1950s Masked Bobwhite Quail were feared extinct due to habitat loss. Now Northern Bobwhites, once very common, dwindle for the same reason. more...
Capillaria spp. – Tiny Worms: Dangerous Parasitic Nematodes of Humans and Animals
Category: Human Infections
Capillaria hepatica lives in the liver; Capillaria philippinensis infests the intestine. Both are unusual but serious infections in humans. more...
Garden Plants That Attract Birds: Eight Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Flowers to Plant for the Birds
Category: Bird Habitats
Gardeners often choose garden plants that are attractive to birds. Here's a sampling of plants of various types that you might use. more...
Nosema spp. – Honeybee Parasites: Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae Cause Honeybee Disease
Category: Other Insects
Nosema apis has long been known as an intestinal parasite of European honeybees. Nosema ceranae seems to be new and may be causing colony collapse disorder. more...
Honeybees and Varroa Mites: Asiatic Honeybee Mites Spread Worldwide Infesting European Honeybees
Category: Other Insects
The varroa mite of honeybees sweeps through hives and kills bees. The parasite has spread from continent to continent. more...
Category: Bird Habitats
A garden transition zone, where open space gradually changes to the deep shade of mature trees, is prime backyard bird habitat. more...
Spring Gardening for Birders: Attract Birds to Your Garden by Adding Features that Birds Like
Category: Bird Habitats
The availability of food, shelter, nesting sites, and water has a big impact on the number of birds that live in your backyard habitat. more...
Dermatobia hominis – Warble Fly: The Human Bot Fly Causes Painful Lesions in Human Skin
Category: Other Insects
Dermatobia hominis needs a warm-blooded host for its larvae to feed on. Humans are often the unwitting hosts for these large maggots. more...
Toxoplasmosis – Parasitic Disease: Spectrum of Human Disease Caused by the Cat Parasite, T. gondii
Category: Human Infections
Toxoplasma gondii, a tissue and intestinal parasite of cats, is a tissue parasite of humans and other animals. Infection causes various types of disease. more...
Scabies mite – Sarcoptes scabiei: An Itchy Contagious Parasite That Lives On Skin and Burrows
Category: Other Insects
The scabies mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, comes from a family of parasitic mites that cause scabies, or mange, in humans and animals. more...
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: What is the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology?
Category: Birds (general)
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology conducts research, aids bird conservation, educates students and the public, and involves ordinary citizens in science. more...
Screwworm – Parasitic Fly: Screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Produces Carnivourous Maggots
Category: Other Insects
The New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax has parasitic maggots that infest animals and people and cause terrible tissue destruction. more...
Giving a Chick at Easter: Chicks are an Easter Tradition, But Think Before Giving a Live Chick
Category: Pet Birds
Chicks given to children as Easter gifts often die, and sometimes they pass on infectious diseases. There are creative alternatives. more...
Cats and Toxoplasma gondii: The Natural History of a Parasite of Cats That Also Infects People
Category: Cats (general)
Toxoplasma gondii affects many different species, but it's a cat parasite. Cats spread it while they are acutely ill. more...
Bicknell’s Thrush: The History, Range, and Conservation Status of Bicknell’s Thrush
Category: Wild Birds
After more than a century Bicknell's Thrush, Catharus bicknelli, gained its own species designation. The next century may record its decline. more...
Hummingbird Nests: What Does a Hummingbird Nest Look Like and Where Is It?
Category: Wild Birds
Hummingbirds are visible while they're feeding, but many people never see a hummingbird nest. Here's what to look for. more...
A Parasite in the Blood Supply: Trypanosoma cruzi, Found in Blood and Organs, Causes Chagas Disease
Category: Human Infections
American sleeping sickness, or Chagas disease, is caused by a parasite, and it can be transmitted through organ or blood donation. more...
Kakapo Recovery: How the Kakapo Almost Died Out and How We Saved It
Category: Birds (general)
The Kakapo, Strigops habroptilus, a flightless parrot of New Zealand, very nearly became extinct. A recovery program is bringing it back. more...
Do Birds Sweat?: How Do Birds Keep Cool on Hot Days?
Category: Birds (general)
Birds don't sweat but they have other ways of cooling off when they get too hot. more...
Category: Wild Birds
The Sandhill Crane is the crane species most commonly seen in North America. It is found in Mexico, the United States, Canada, and eastern Siberia. more...
Category: Human Infections
Travelers need to be alert to health risks from mosquito bites in some parts of the world. Mosquito borne diseases can be avoided with simple precautions. more...
IUCN Red List: A Database of the Earth'sThreatened Species
Category: Wild Birds
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides a uniform method for assessing how well a species is doing and assigning a conservation status. Here are the basic ideas. more...
Kakapo, Flightless Parrots: Life Cycle, Habitat, Diet, and History of the Largest Parrot Species
Category: Birds (general)
The Kakapo, native to New Zealand, is a large flightless parrot that was almost wiped out by people and introduced species. Slowly, Kakapo are recovering. more...
Pet Birds and Toxic Foods: A Short List of Poisonous Plants You Should Never Feed Your Pet
Category: Birds (general)
Lots of plants, or parts of plants, that we have around the house are toxic to birds. This article describes just a few of them. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Members of three penguin species - Emperor Penguins, Adelie Penguins, and a Rockhopper Penguin - all star in the popular movie "Happy Feet." more...
Category: Birds (general)
Species of Pitohui and Ifrita have a potent toxin in skin and feathers that repels parasites and predators. Other birds may use toxins similarly. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Exotic Newcastle disease can kill more than 90% of the birds it infects. Amazon Parrots, often the victims of international bird smugglers, are known to carry the virus. more...
Category: Birds (general)
In the early 1950s, a boy raised a crow as a pet - a pet that lived up to all the intriguing stories we hear about crows. Bill Bennett shares his memories of Ralph. more...
Endangered Albatross: Albatrosses Face a Number of Threats, but the Worst is Long-line Fishing
Category: Birds (general)
Long-line fishing boats catch tuna and other fish, and many an albatross. Most species of albatross are now threatened with extinction. more...
Category: Birds (general)
People love turkeys - as wildlife, for sport, or as food for the table. These large North American birds were nearly hunted to extinction, but they're back and spreading. more...
Category: Birds (general)
The story of Noah's Ark, the Phoenix of ancient mythology, Sadako and the Paper Cranes, and the Great Seal of the United States all gave rise to bird peace symbols. more...
Category: Birds (general)
A roost box is designed to accommodate lots of birds and to keep the heat in. Birds that use nest boxes in summer will readily use a roosting box in cold weather. more...
Birds and Windmills: The Whirling Blades of Wind Turbines Can be Deadly to Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Windmills, especially older ones, in the wrong places can cause many bird deaths. Newer technology and thoughtful location of wind farms can minimize the death toll. more...
A Gentoo Penguin’s Life Cycle: A Look at a Gentoo Penguin Breeding Colony and the Birds Themselves
Category: Birds (general)
All about Gentoo penguins: appearance, range, location of the breeding colony, fishing and swimming ability, parenting and moulting. more...
Migrating Birds and Buildings: Birds Fly Into Glass Because They Just Don’t See It
Category: Birds (general)
Millions of birds die each year when they crash into buildings. With careful architecture and some changes in behavior, humans might spare some of them. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Roast goose didn't start with the Christian holiday of Christmas. Read about what geese symbolized in other religions and cultures as far back as ancient Egypt. more...
Category: Birds (general)
The deadly parasite Trichomonas gallinae can be spread among wild birds at feeders and bird baths. Bird watchers can avoid accidentally spreading this and other diseases. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Bird banding has been used for 100 years to keep track of the activities of wild birds. Today's system uses bands, tags, flags, collars, markers etc. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Bermuda Petrels (Cahows), nest on offshore islands in Bermuda. Hurricanes wash away sections of these islands and threaten the breeding season of the endangered birds. more...
Category: Birds (general)
The Christmas Bird Count takes place in late December or early January in locations in North, Central, and South America. Data aids research and conservation efforts. more...
Birds Glossary: Definitions and Descriptons of Words from Birding
Category: Birds (general)
Here you will find general descriptions of cranes, birds of prey, and other groups of birds, and definitions of unusual or unfamiliar words we use when we discuss birds. more...
What is an Emu?: What are the Characteristics of the Birds Known as Emus?
Category: Birds (general)
A brief description of Emus, including physical characteristics, habits, preferred food, and conservation status. more...
What is a Crane?: What are the Characteristics of the Group of Birds Commonly Called Cranes?
Category: Birds (general)
A description of cranes including physical features, habits, and how they differ from similar birds. more...
What is Carrion: A Short Description of Carrion, a Food Source of Scavenging Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Carrion, the dead remains of animals, is removed by scavengers and insects. more...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree: A Birder's History of the Christmas Carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas
Category: Birds (general)
The Twelve Days of Christmas once had birds as the gifts on each of first seven days, and may have started out as a game – but why a partridge in a pear tree? more...
What is Ground Effect Flying?: Ground Effect Flying is an Aerodynamic Effect Exploited by Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Read a brief defintion of ground effect flying, an aerodynamic effect exploited by birds and by designers of fuel efficient aircraft. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Hungary's Hortobagy National Park is a migration stopping place for more than 60,000 Common Cranes. Birds and wildlife make Hortobagy a tantalizing vacation destination. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Influenza spreads from birds to people. When it passes from human to human efficiently, it can cause a pandemic. Domestic birds are the ones to watch with the H5N1 strain more...
The National Audubon Society: What is the Organization Called The National Audubon Society?
Category: Birds (general)
A short description of the National Audubon Society explaining its origins and its current mandate. more...
Category: Birds (general)
A nesting box has to be right for the bird. Choose a local bird, check box dimensions, hole size and position, and select an appropriate location for a perfect fit. more...
What is a Flyway?: Migrating Birds Use Flyways - What are They?
Category: Birds (general)
A definition of the word "flyway," used in discussions of bird migration. more...
What is the CWF?: A Description of the Canadian Wildlife Federation
Category: Birds (general)
The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CFW) Protects Birds and Other Species. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Bird shelter, such as trees, brush piles and nesting boxes, adds warm, dry, safe refuges to your backyard bird habitat. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Summary: For centuries, duck curiosity has led ducks into traps. Foxes, Native Americans, hunting dogs, hunters, and photographers have all used duck tolling. more...
When Birds Attack Windows: Birds Attack Their Own Reflections in Shiny Surfaces
Category: Birds (general)
Birds are often seen attacking a window, pecking at, or tapping on a window. Birds will also attack mirrors on cars, glossy flower pots, and shiny hubcaps. more...
The Intelligent American Crow: Smart Crows, Strategizing, Tool Use, and Crow Families
Category: Birds (general)
The American Crow is known for feasting on garbage, carrion, crops, and livestock, but these intelligent birds eat pests, clean up road kill, and raise big families. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Hummingbirds are migrating at this time of year and are just arriving at the limits of their range. Hang a hummingbird feeder for an early glimpse. more...
Why Do We Watch Birds?: Thoughts On the Allure of Birds - the Mystery and the Familiarity.
Category: Birds (general)
Why do we watch birds? Birds are everywhere, and everywhere, different. Birds are mysterious, beautiful, and sometimes wonderfully elusive. Many people watch birds. more...
Hornbills of Africa, Asia, and Indonesia: Colourful Birds with Big Bills and Strange Nests
Category: Wild Birds
Like the familiar showy Great Hornbill, Ground Hornbill, and Rhinoceros Hornbill, most hornbills are black and white with bright bills, eyes, and skin patches. more...
Ruffs – Philomachus pugnax: A Common Eurasian Sandpiper with Interesting Breeding Behavior
Category: Birds (general)
The male Ruff is a memorable sight in full showy breeding plumage, competing for females at the lek. Ruffs are more commonly seen during migration when males are plainer. more...
Category: Wild Birds
Common wading birds of beaches, estuaries, mud flats, and other wet lands, members of the sandpiper family migrate long distances to breed in the north. more...
The Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus: A Common Marsh Bird of North America
Category: Wild Birds
In North America, a black bird with red wings - or at least red patches on its wings - perched on a cattail and singing is a red-winged blackbird. more...
Category: Wild Birds
The Common Grackle prefers open spaces and is frequently seen foraging on the ground. It looks black but has beautiful shades of colour when seen from the right angle. more...
Hand Feeding Wild Chickadees: This Common North American Backyard Bird Will Eat From Human Hands
Category: Bird Watching
Bird enthusiasts enjoy hand feeding backyard birds. In Canada and the United States, learning to hand feed wild chickadees is the easiest way to start. more...
Category: Human Infections
Gnathostoma spinigerum is a parasitic nematode of carnivores, especially dogs and cats, in Southeast Asia and Japan. It sometimes infects humans, causing gnathostomias. more...
The History of Anisakiasis: Anisakis simplex and Other Anisakids Cause Human Infections
Category: Human Infections
Since the 1950s, it's emerged that herring worm, cod worm, and similar parasitic worms of marine mammals and fish cause a range of disease symptoms in humans. more...
The Mute Swan in History and Culture: A Common Bird Symbol of the Arts, Love, Luck, and Beauty
Category: Birds (general)
The beautiful Mute Swan, a native to many parts of the world where today's civilizations developed, has had a significant impact on arts and culture. more...
Category: Wild Birds
European Starlings are highly adaptable birds of Eurasia that have been introduced in many countries - nowhere more successfully and regrettably than in North America. more...
Woodpecker Conservation Status: Are the World’s Woodpeckers Declining and Going Extinct?
Category: Wild Birds
Most woodpeckers are doing well, but some are endangered and many could face serious losses soon if we continue to destroy their mature forest habitat. more...
Diphyllobothrium latum – Fish-borne Parasite: Broad or Fresh Water Fish Tapeworm of Humans
Category: Human Infections
Diphyllobothrium latum persists because humans eat raw fish and contaminate water sources with sewage. The natural history of this fish-borne tapeworm is interesting. more...
Mute Swans in North America: Cygnus olor - a Domestic Pest Bird Multiplying in the Wild
Category: Birds (general)
Mute Swans were introduced to North America. Their growing population and spread causes problems for the environment and native species of the Atlantic Flyway. more...
Pileated Woodpecker: Dryocopus pileatus Identification, Diet, Nesting, and Conservation
Category: Birds (general)
Possibly the largest of North American woodpeckers, the Pileated Woodpecker relies on forests with large dead trees and lots of insects, especially carpenter ants. more...
Category: Biology (general)
Reading about parasites can be confusing because of all the specialized words that scientists use. This brief parasitology glossary can help. more...
Category: Dogs (general)
The roundworm Angiostrongylus vasorum infects members of the dog family in isolated places around the world. Dogs suffer chronic illness and sometimes death. more...
Category: Human Infections
The rat lungworm is a natural parasite of rats in warm climates, but when it accidentally infects humans it can cause serious disease and even death. more...
Category: Wild Birds
Though it's one of the seagulls, the Black-headed Gull doesn't go to sea: it prefers shallow waters and gentle coastlines, and tolerates humans. Most live in Europe. more...
Category: Human Infections
Infecting 400 million people, pinworm is the most common nematode parasite of humans in many places. It owes its success largely to the simplicity of its life cycle. more...
How Do Birds Get Their Names?: The Origin and Meaning of Scientific and Common Bird Names
Category: Birds (general)
Each kind of bird has a scientific, or Latin, name and one or more common names. Understanding scientific names helps us refer to birds and be understood everywhere. more...
The Newfoundland Murre Hunt: Traditional Turr Hunting in Canada and Greenland
Category: Wild Birds
The aboriginal people and settlers of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Greenland, have hunted murres for food for generations. Now the birds need conservation. more...
The Thick-billed Murre, Arctic Auk: Northern Penguin-like Bird of Sea Cliffs and Continental Shelves
Category: Wild Birds
The Thick-billed Murre, among the birds commonly referred to as auks, is a common northern sea bird - it swims well and breeds in large colonies. more...
Magellanic Penguins – Warm Water Species: A Declining Penguin of Coastal Argentina and Chile
Category: Wild Birds
It's still relatively easy to see Magellanic Penguins in the wild because they are common, they live in warmer water, and they breed in places that are easy to get to. more...
National Pigeon Day in New York: An Event to Educate People About Pigeons and Doves
Category: Birds (general)
Lots of people dislike pigeons but these gentle birds, urban companions to people for generations, don't deserve their reputation as pests and disease carriers. more...
The 1916 Migratory Bird Convention: First International Conservation Agreement in the West
Category: Wild Birds
In 1916 the United States and Canada agreed to enact legislation to prevent migratory birds from being hunted and harvested to extinction. more...
Bird Irruptions – Causes and Features: Unpredictable Movements of Wild Bird Populations
Category: Birds (general)
Bird irruptions are the focus of inquiry and research for ornithologists. They're also a source of delight to birders, who see different species in irruption years. more...
The Beef Tapeworm and the Human Host: Esoteric Facts About Taenia saginata, Large Cestode of Humans
Category: Human Infections
The beef tapeworm has been with humanity a long time - long enough to inspire a collection of stranger-than-fiction facts and peculiar misunderstandings. more...
How to Find an Owl - Roosts, Pellets, and Calls: Tips For Locating Owls During the Day and at Night
Category: Bird Watching
Owls are popular birds but among the hardest to see because most are active at night. With a little skill and patience, birders find these elusive raptors. more...
Wood Duck – Beautiful Waterfowl: A Common Bird in North American Ponds, Rivers, and Swamps
Category: Wild Birds
The Wood Duck is a strikingly beautiful bird, long a favorite of bird watchers, hunters, collectors and fishermen. The species is interesting in other ways as well. more...
Spotted Owl - Declining Bird of Prey: A Near-Threatened Raptor of Western Old-growth Forests
Category: Wild Birds
The Spotted Owl lies at the center of conservation debates because it requires large tracts of old-growth forest to find mates, nest, and hunt for food. more...
Bald Eagles in Winter: Where Do These Birds of Prey Go for the Cold Months?
Category: Birds (general)
Bald Eagles usually breed in rugged remote areas, but in the winter they gather further south, making winter a good time to look for eagles in North America. more...
What is an Endemic Bird Area?: Important Places for Bird Conservation Around the World
Category: Bird Habitats
BirdLife International identifies 218 endemic bird areas where it's particularly important to focus on conservation of birds, habitat, and biodiversity. more...
Baltimore Oriole, a Bird With History: Also Known As the Northern Oriole or Golden Robin
Category: Wild Birds
Exclusive to the Americas, the Baltimore Oriole has long been a welcome summer visitor to parks, forest edges, and garden feeders over much of the temperate north. more...
Crow Roosts – Huge Flocks of Crows: These Birds Sleep Together in Trees in Fall and Winter
Category: Wild Birds
Thousands of crows gathering together in stands of trees are an incredible sight. These days, crow roosts are common in cities; they inspire both wonder and irritation. more...
Seven Swans a-Swimming: Famous Bird of the Seventh Day of Christmas
Category: Birds (general)
In the famous Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas," the seventh day brings seven swans a-swimming. What's so special about swans? more...
Decorate a Christmas Tree for Birds: Nutritious Treats to Supplement Birdfeed in Cold Winter Months
Category: Birds (general)
At Christmas, when it's cold in the north and deep snow may make it hard for wild animals to find food, decorate a bird's Christmas tree. more...
Category: Bird Watching
Every serious birder has a favorite field guide and knows how to use it to make quick and accurate bird identifications in the field. It's an easy skill to learn. more...
Category: Bird Watching
Every experienced birder has a practiced method for bird identification. The experts offer good step by step advice for the rest of us. more...
Passenger Pigeons, Ectopistes migratorius: An Extinct Pigeon Species Wiped Out by Humans
Category: Wild Birds
Once, there were so many Passenger Pigeons that they may have been the most numerous bird ever to fly. By the early 1900s they were all gone. We killed them. more...
Category: Human Infections
Raccoon roundworm infection is common and usually harmless in raccoons but serious in other hosts. Most human cases are seen in children; many are fatal. more...
Vultures - Spooky Birds for Halloween: Carrion Eaters That Inspire Dark Superstition and Mythology
Category: Birds (general)
Large birds that eat carrion, vultures have been reviled for centuries. They're connected to death, bad luck, and Hell. Look for them at Halloween. more...
Barn Owl – One of Our Halloween Birds: A Bird With a Spooky Reputation - Specter in Legend and Myth
Category: Birds (general)
Because if its appearance, hunting habits, and roosting sites, the Barn Owl gives people a fright. It turns up in superstition, and in ghost and Halloween stories more...
Category: Domestic Birds
Chickens are the world's most common domestic bird, outnumbering humans four to one, but how much do most people really know about them? more...
Where to See Baby Pigeons: Why Don’t We See Young Pigeons in the City?
Category: Bird Watching
People often wonder why they never see baby pigeons, but the answers are simple: nests are inaccessible, and young pigeons look like adults when they fledge. more...
Cher Ami and the Lost Battalion: The Story of a Famous and Heroic Homing Pigeon in World War I
Category: Birds (general)
Cher Ami was one of hundreds of homing pigeons used by American forces in France during World War I. A war hero, he saved what remained of the 77th Infantry Division. more...
Birds Know When to Migrate: Environment and Physiology Trigger Bird Migration
Category: Wild Birds
Changes in light exposure and seasonal temperature swings cause migratory birds to embark on the journey to their spring breeding grounds. more...
White-tailed Sea Eagle: Natural and Social History of a Persecuted Raptor
Category: Wild Birds
Like many raptors, the White-tailed Eagle has been persecuted, but today it's thriving in the wild and its conservation status has risen to "Least Concern." more...
Good Toys for Pet Parrots: Keep a Parrot Busy With Challenging Puzzles and Games
Category: Pet Birds
Parrots need stimulation and activity to keep them both physically and emotionally healthy. Provide parrots with a variety of safe puzzles and foraging toys. more...
Buying a Cage For Your Parrot: Important Features of a Good Enclosure For a Pet Bird
Category: Pet Birds
A pet parrot spends a lot of time in its cage, so it's important to choose the right cage for your bird. Size, features, safety, materials, and security are important. more...
Common Nightingale, Famous Songster: A Bird of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and of Folklore and Art
Category: Wild Birds
The Common Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos, is not only a common bird; it's a well-known songster and subject of traditional tales all over the world. more...
When Birds Take Garden Pond Fish: Deter Herons and Kingfishers from Fishing Your Water Feature
Category: Birds (general)
Herons, kingfishers and other birds see your pond fish as fair game. There are a few tricks to discourage them from killing or injuring your fish. more...
Facts About the Hoopoe: A Common and Interesting Bird of Europe, Asia, and Africa
Category: Wild Birds
The Hoopoe, Upupa epops, is familiar in southern Europe, southern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. A figure of folklore, it's also known for its foul smelling nest. more...
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus: Description, Range, Breeding, Threats, and Fascinating Facts
Category: Wild Birds
The Short-eared Owl is found almost everywhere. It migrates widely and is familiar because it's active during the day and hunts in the open. more...
Piping Plovers in Canada, 2008: The Slow Recovery of an Endangered Shorebird
Category: Wild Birds
Recognition of threats and pressures that Piping Plovers face has lead to effective conservation measures. In Canada; the species is making a slow recovery. more...
Bald Eagle, Fish Eagle: Haliaeetus leucocephalus, A Large Raptor Unique to North America
Category: Wild Birds
The Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, ranges throughout North America except in the very far north. It is the national emblem of the United States. more...
The Burrowing Owl, or Ground Owl: Small Owls of North and South America That Nest in Burrows
Category: Wild Birds
The Burrowing Owl, or Ground Owl, Athene cunicularia, stands out from other owls of the Americas because it nests in the ground and is active during the day. more...
Make Your Own Suet Mix for Birds: A Recipe and Some Helpful Tips For Filling a Suet Feeder
Category: Wild Birds
Lots of birds visit suet feeders for a high energy meal. Birdwatchers can make their own suet mix with a few basic ingredients and create a simple suet feeder. more...
Where do American Robins Nest?: How to Attract the Friendly Robin, Turdus migratorius
Category: Wild Birds
American Robins are common in North America and frequently feed and nest in urban and suburban landscapes. It's easy to attract Turdus migratorius to a bird-friendly yard more...
Choosing the Right Pet Bird: Think About Personality, Cost, Life Expectancy, Noise Level and More
Category: Pet Birds
Choosing the right pet bird is easy if you match your expectations with the bird's needs. There are lots of features, requirements, costs, and risks to consider. more...
Pet Bird Medical Symptoms: Signs That You Should Take Your Pet Bird to the Veterinarian
Category: Pet Birds
If you notice any of the following signs of illness in your caged bird, it may be a medical emergency. You should take the bird to an avian veterinarian immediately. more...
Less Common but Popular Pet Birds: Mynahs, Doves, Toucans, and Crows Are All Kept as Cage Birds
Category: Pet Birds
Almost everyone is familiar with canaries, budgies and parrots, but mynahs, doves, toucans, and crows are often kept as pets as well. more...
All About Canaries: Descendants of the Island Canary are Popular Pet Birds
Category: Pet Birds
Bred in captivity since the 1500s, Serinus canarius domesticus is a colorful independent songster that is easy to keep, even in an apartment. more...
Finch Irruption and Superflight: When Grosbeaks, Redpolls, Crossbills, and Siskins Migrate
Category: Wild Birds
Winter finches and seed eaters sometimes move in large numbers in search of food. Depending on bird numbers and geography, the movement is an irruption or a superflight. more...
Five Kingdoms of Life: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
Category: Biology (general)
Scientific classification sorts all life forms on Earth into five kingdoms: monera, protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia. Together they form the tree of life. more...
What is an Ecosystem?: A Place Where Life and the Environment Work Together
Category: Biology (general)
An ecosystem is the integrated collection of living things and non-living things that, together, create a stable home for life of various kinds. more...
The Montreal Biodome: A Series of Climate Controlled Ecosystems You Can Visit
Category: Biology (general)
The Montreal Biodome offers a fascinating walk through tropical and Laurentian forests, an Atlantic marine ecosystem, the subarctic and the subantarctic. more...
Sea Lice and Salmon: Crustacean Parasites Kill Wild and Farmed Fish Species
Category: Marine Conservation
Sea lice are a problem in fish farming; now scientists fear that they will wipe out wild populations. They infest salmon, trout, charr, dace and other species. more...
Theories of How Life Began: Did the First Cells Form in a Soup, Sandwich, or Pizza?
Category: Biology (general)
Theories about the first life forms tend to agree on what had to happen, but differ in their explanations of where and how. There are three strong contenders. more...
The Biology of Christmas Trees: Firs, Pines, Spruce, and Cedars are all Different
Category: Biology (general)
Real Christmas trees are living plants that grow outside and have distinct characteristics. Growing trees, live trees indoors, and cut trees all have requirements. more...
Facts About Indian Peacocks: Pavo cristatus is the Familiar Peafowl from Southern India
Category: Birds (general)
The beautiful Blue Peafowl, often simply called the peacock, originated in India. We are learning more about its natural history, habitat, feeding, and breeding habits. more...
Hang a Bluebird Nesting Box: Eastern and Western Bluebirds Like to Nest in Birdhouses
Category: Birds (general)
Bluebirds, found throughout most of North America, need places to nest and they'll use a nesting box if it's in the right location and has the right features. more...
Crows Make and Use Tools: Corvus moneduloides Uses Twigs, Wires, and Probes to Get Food
Category: Birds (general)
Most animals don't use tools and even fewer make tools - the New Caledonian Crow does both, using twigs, probes, and prefabricated hooks to get at buried or hidden food. more...
Protozoan Parasites in Dirt: Amoebae, Flagellates, Ciliates, and Coccidia
Category: Human Infections
Many protozoan parasites have a hardy stage that survives for long periods in soil and water. Others normally thrive and multiply in the environment. more...
Lesser Flamingo – Pink Wader: Phoenicopterus minor Range, Feeding, Breeding, and Threats
Category: Wild Birds
The Lesser Flamingo inhabits coastal and inland wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. It's breeding and feeding habits are unusual and interesting. more...
Human Parasites in Soil: Do You Catch Worms From Eating Dirt?
Category: Human Infections
The infective stage of many human parasites is found in soil, but not just any soil. How they get there, and how they infect people, isn't so straightforward. more...
Strongylus vulgaris – Bloodworm: A Dangerous Global Intestinal Parasite of Horses
Category: Horse Care
Strongylus vulgaris adults live in the intestine. Larvae migrate in blood vessels. This is a deadly parasite of horses in temperate zones all over the world. more...
Hang a Chickadee Nesting Box: How to Get Black-Capped Chickadees to Nest in Your Yard
Category: Wild Birds
Black-capped Chickadees will nest in a bird house if you use the right design and choose the right location. These birds prefer certain nest box features. more...
Phoenix – Symbol of Immortality: A Mythical Bird Connected With Resurrection, Healing, and Peace
Category: Birds (general)
The Phoenix lives a long life, and then is consumed by flames, only to immediately rise again from the ashes. This mythical bird is surrounded by folklore and legend. more...
Bird Identification Tips: Key Features Help Identify Birds You Haven’t Seen Before
Category: Wild Birds
Taking note of certain characteristics can help with wild bird identification. This article describes specific things to look for. more...
Action Plan for Species Recovery: The Blue Chaffinch of the Canary Islands Provides an Example
Category: Birds (general)
When bird species are threatened, human intervention and an action plan for recovery can help. The Blue Chaffinch of Gran Canaria may yet be saved in this way. more...
Build Mourning Dove Nest Baskets: Mourning Doves Don’t Use Nesting Boxes but Will Use a Cone
Category: Birds (general)
A nest basket for Mourning Doves is one of the simplest kinds of bird house you can build. Place it in shrubs or the branches of a conifer. more...
Naegleria fowleri – Deadly Amoeba: Agent of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis, a Fatal Meningitis
Category: Human Infections
Naegleria fowleri lurks in warm waters and in rare isolated instances infects humans and animals. Few survive primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). more...
Neospora caninum and Neosporosis: A Parasite of Dogs Causes Abortion in Cattle
Category: Dog Care
Neospora caninum is a coccidian parasite of domestic dogs but it causes big problems for the cattle industry. We're still learning about N. caninum and neosporosis. more...
The Cozumel Thrasher – T. guttatum: If Not Already Extinct, Mexico’s Most Endangered Bird
Category: Birds (general)
Once there were thousands of Cozumel Thrashers on Cozumel Island, but they've declined so precipitously that they may actually be extinct. more...
The Trouble With Pest Birds: Avian Visitors Sometimes Become Problem Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Many people love birds and know that they're important in the ecosystem, but sometimes birds come into conflict with humans, becoming bird pests. more...
Bird’s Nest Soup - Asian Delicacy: Bird Saliva Provides a Prized but Contentious Food
Category: Birds (general)
What is bird's nest soup, and why is it a source of conservation concern after centuries of East Asian tradition? Edible-nest swiftlets are in decline. more...
What is Cryptosporidiosis?: A Common Parasitic Disease of Humans and Animals
Category: Human Infections
A tiny protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhea and a particular threat to those suffering with AIDS. It infects both humans and animals. more...
Cryptosporidium parvum - Parasite: A Protozoan that Gets Into Drinking Water and Swimming Pools
Category: Human Infections
Cryptosporidium parvum is a tiny parasite that causes outbreaks of diarrhea. Drinking water is one source of this parasitic disease, but there are others. more...
Giardia lamblia and Giardiasis: The Common Waterborne Parasite that Causes Beaver Fever
Category: Human Infections
Giardia lamblia contaminates surface water all over the world and can cause an unpleasant prolonged intestinal illness known as giardiasis, or beaver fever. more...
What Causes Deformed Frogs?: Extra Legs on a Frog are Usually Caused by a Parasite
Category: Reptiles & Amphibians (general)
When people find frogs with too many legs, they often suspect pollution. In many cases, this type of frog deformity results from parasitic disease caused by a fluke. more...
Cowbirds – Nest Parasites: Molothrus spp. are Brood Parasites in the nests of Other Species
Category: Wild Birds
The cowbird doesn't need to build a nest or raise young-these parasitic birds, known as brood parasites, let other species do the work of raising young cowbirds. more...
Birds and Pesticides: How DDT and Other Insecticides and Herbicides Kill Birds
Category: Bird Habitats
DDT insecticide caused pesticide poisoning in birds forty years ago. Today it's still with us, along with other toxic pesticides and herbicides that kill birds. more...
Facts About Chimney Swifts: How the Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica, roosts, nests, and eats
Category: Birds (general)
North American chimneys east of the Rockies are often occupied by roosting flocks of Chimney Swifts. These birds are also tireless fliers-masters of the air. more...
Quelea quelea – African Pest Bird: The Red-billed Quelea Travels in Huge Flocks and Destroys Crops
Category: Birds (general)
Red-billed Quelea, African weavers, are so prolific that a flock can contain millions of birds and consume every grain crop in their path. more...
Greater Shearwater – Seabird: A Champion of Bird Migration that Breeds in the Southern Hemisphere
Category: Wild Birds
The Greater Shearwater, Puffinus gravis, nests in the South Atlantic and follows a surprising migration route that makes it familliar all around the North Atlantic. more...
Malaria Linked to Cancer in Africa: Plasmodium falciparum Infection May Initiate Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Category: Human Infections
Researchers in Sweden and Uganda have discovered a long-suspected connection between Epstein-Barr virus, falciparum malaria, and Burkitt's lymphoma. more...
Salmonella Infection in Birds: Maintain a Bird Feeder that Won’t Spread Salmonellosis
Category: Wild Birds
When a salmonella outbreak strikes in bird populations, feeders can be an important focus of the spread of the disease. Keep your feeder safe for birds. more...
Acanthamoeba – Eye Parasite: An Environmental Amoeba Takes Advantage of Contact Lenses
Category: Human Infections
Acanthamoeba spp., amoebae that live in water and soil, can hitch a ride on a contact lens, then invade a vulnerable eye and destroy the cornea. more...
What is Schistosomiasis?: A Parasitic Disease Acquired From Fresh Water and Spread by Snails
Category: Human Infections
Schistosoma spp. are tiny worms that live in the blood and cause damage to organs and other tissues with their spiny eggs. more...
Wilson’s Snipe: A Secretive Bird With a Memorable Courtship Flight
Category: Birds (general)
Formerly known as the Common Snipe, Gallinago delicata is a common and interesting bird of bogs and marshes in North America. more...
Hoffman and Swinburne – Bird Isles: Man-made Islands in New York Harbor are Bird Sanctuaries
Category: Bird Habitats
Hoffman Island and Swinburne Island were created in Lower New York Bay to receive, quarantine, and give medical treatment to immigrants. Now they harbor birds. more...
Eastern and Western Meadowlark: A Familiar Blackbird of North American Grasslands
Category: Wild Birds
Western and Eastern Meadowlarks are very similar and their ranges overlap. They're visible, beautiful, and interesting birds. more...
What is Swimmer’s Itch?: An Avian Parasite in the Wrong Host Causes an Irritating Rash
Category: Wild Birds
Swimmer's itch, a danger of summer swimming, is caused by a blood parasite of birds that accidentally gets into people instead. more...
Chernobyl Birds Endure Radiation: Birds Can Tell Us Things About Radiation at Chornobyl, Ukraine
Category: Birds (general)
At the site of the world's worst nuclear accident, nature has taken over. Research on birds in the area tells us how things are going for species at Chernobyl. more...
Where to See an Albatross: Open Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere is Albatross Habitat
Category: Bird Watching
Albatrosses were immortalized by Coleridge in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. People on land usually don't see these beautiful seabirds. more...
Window and Balcony Bird Habitat: Attracting Birds When You Have No Yard or Garden
Category: Bird Watching
Birders who have only a window or a small apartment balcony may still be able to attract a few birds to their tiny habitat. more...
Create Natural Nesting Sites: Manage Your Backyard Bird Habitat to Attract Nesting Birds
Category: Bird Habitats
The right features can increase your chances of attracting nesting birds to your property and having wild birds nest and raise young in your backyard bird habitat. more...
What is Malaria?: A Parasitic Disease Affecting Humans and Many Other Species
Category: Human Infections
Malarial parasites have a complicated and fascinating life cycle that requires an Anopheles mosquito host and a vertebrate host. Mammals, birds, and reptiles get malaria. more...
Install a Birdbath to Entice Birds: Water Features Attract Birds and Encourage Them to Nest Nearby
Category: Birds (general)
Water is one of the things that make good bird habitat. Here are some pointers for choosing a bird bath or water feature, picking the best location, and maintaining it. more...
Toxoplasma gondii and Behavior: Toxoplasmosis Appears to Cause Personality and Psychological Changes
Category: Human Infections
Research on Toxoplasma gondii, a cat parasite, suggests that chronic infection causes subtle behavioral, personality, and psychological changes in infected people. more...
Aspergillus and Birds: Aspergillosis is a Serious and Often Fatal Fungal Disease of Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Birds inhale or ingest spores of Aspergillus fungus in warm moist environments. Aspergillosis is a serious fungal infection. more...
Why Do Birds Preen?: Preening With Beaks and Claws is Important for Feathers and Skin
Category: Birds (general)
Birds preen to maintain their feathers, to keep themselves warm and dry, to remove parasites, and to strengthen relationships. more...
Endangered California Condor: A North American Vulture, Gymnogyps californianus, Makes a Comeback
Category: Wild Birds
The endangered California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, was extinct in the wild in 1987. Now there are hundreds. Mature birds are mating, nesting and raising young. more...
Fasciolopsis buski – Fluke: The Natural History of F. buski, the Giant Intestinal Fluke
Category: Human Infections
Fasciolopsis buski, often referred to as the giant intestinal fluke, is a parasite of southern Asia. Read about its life cycle, distribution, and significance. more...
Screwworm Fly Eradication: Screw-worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Can Be Wiped Out
Category: Other Insects
A weak link in the life cycle of the New World screwworm fly made it possible for scientists to wipe it out in the United States and Central America. more...
Toxoplasma gondii: A Cat Parasite That Infects Humans As Well
Category: Human Infections
Toxoplasma gondii is a cat parasite first, but it also infects other vertebrates. This is its life cycle in humans. more...
Malaria Resistant Mosquitoes: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Could Help Reduce Malaria Cases
Category: Other Insects
The creation of malaria resistant mosquitoes using genetic modification has potential, but there are still problems to be solved before this technology can be used. more...
Raptors Hunting Birds and Pets: Birds of Prey Often Hunt at Backyard Birdfeeders and May Take Pets
Category: Wild Birds
When raptors threaten family pets and backyard songbirds, we need to take precautions and learn tolerance for these vulnerable large birds. more...
Facts About Hummingbirds: A Collection of Fascinating Hummingbird Facts for the Hummer Fan
Category: Wild Birds
Hummingbirds are beautiful, fascinating, engineering marvels. Here are some interesting facts about hummingbird classification, natural history, anatomy, and metabolism. more...
Kissing Bug – Disease Vector: Conenose Bugs Transmit a Dangerous Parasite – Trypanosoma cruzi
Category: Other Insects
The kissing bug, an insect of many names, lives close to people in Central and South America and sucks their blood, transmitting Chagas disease in the process. more...
Chiggers – Parasitic Mites: Chigger Mites have Parasitic Larvae that Inflict Intense Discomfort
Category: Other Insects
The young of chigger mites prey on mammals and other animals. They occasionally bite humans, causing unbearably itchy lesions. more...
Lead Poisoning in Birds: How and Why Birds Die from Lead Poisoning
Category: Birds (general)
Lead poisoning is common in birds - most affected birds die. People accidentally contaminate the environment with lead. more...
Chigoe Flea – Tunga penetrans: The Female Jigger is an Unpleasant Skin Parasite of the Tropics
Category: Other Insects
Chigoe Fleas (Tunga penetrans) are unlike other familiar fleas because they burrow into the skin, causing pain and sometimes serious infection. more...
The Feral Cats and Birds Debate: What to do About Feral Cats - A Contentious Issue
Category: Birds (general)
When it comes to feral cats and their impact on birds, there are strong arguments for and against both eradication programs and trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs. more...
Don’t Disturb the Piping Plover: Endangered Piping Plovers Need to be Left in Peace While Nesting
Category: Birds (general)
Humans often disturb Piping Plover nests without realizing it. Here are some pointers to keep in mind during breeding and nesting season. more...
Bird Unfriendly Wind Farms: Three Wind Energy Projects Proposed or in Place that Threaten Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Wind turbines are popping up in many countries - so is opposition to these alternative energy projects that threaten birds. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Ascension Island is a critical breeding place for seabirds. Feral cats nearly destroyed that, but now the cats have been eradicated. more...
Facts About Piping Plovers: Eight Interesting Things You Might Not Know About the Piping Plover
Category: Birds (general)
Most of us have heard of the Piping Plover, an endangered shorebird of North America and the Caribbean. Many people, however, don't know much about the Piping Plover. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Poultry, pet birds, and wild birds all catch exotic Newcastle disease. Virulent strains kill more than 90 percent. END is endemic in some countries and absent in others. more...
Feral Cats Kill Birds: The Issue of Feral and Roaming Domestic Cats and the Birds That They Kill
Category: Birds (general)
Feral cats exist in the wild in enormous numbers. They kill hundreds of millions of birds and other wildlife, and it's not going to be easy to get rid of them. more...
Category: Birds (general)
A layer of fossils thought to be between 2000 and 3000 years old is telling scientists about the environment of the Dodo bird long before humans came to Mauritius. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Penguin species have a number of physical features that help them conserve heat in extremely cold conditions. Emperor Penguins keep warm better than any other species. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Build a winter roosting box for chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and small woodpeckers; convert it to a nest box for Northern Flickers in spring. more...
What is a Kestrel?: A Brief Description of Kestrels, One of the Falcons
Category: Birds (general)
Birds of prey, the kestrels are widespread. Some species are easily seen as they hunt for prey from a vantage point in the air. more...
Type E Botulism and Birds: The Great Lakes Have Become a Toxic Place for Fish Eating Birds
Category: Birds (general)
Invasive species of mussel and fish in the Great Lakes are fostering an increase in Type E botulism with a devastating impact on fish eating birds. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Albatrosses are large seabirds best known to those who spend a lot of time at sea south of the equator or in the North Pacific. more...
A Christmas Idea for Birders: This Christmas, Adopt a Bird for Yourself or Your Favorite Birder
Category: Birds (general)
At the Long Point Bird Observatory in Canada, you can adopt a banded bird or give an adoption certificate as a gift. more...
Category: Birds (general)
El Nino, a regular and predictable phenomenon that affects many species, results from changes in Pacific winds and currents. El Coyote is something new and mysterious. more...
Category: Birds (general)
An explanation of what we mean when we say a species is critically endangered, endangered, threatened, vulnerable, at risk, or of special concern. more...
Category: Biology (general)
Keystone species provide vital habitat, food, or other necessity to a variety of other species in an ecosystem. more...
Category: Birds (general)
The Sensitive Wilderness Around Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska, is About to be Opened to Alaska oil Exploration and Development. Birds, Wildlife, and Native People Will Suffer. more...
Places to See Atlantic Puffins: It's Hard to See Atlantic Puffins but There are a Few Good Places
Category: Birds (general)
You don't see an Atlantic Puffin every day for several reasons, but there are some places you can go where you're almost guaranteed a good view of these charming birds. more...
What is an Ornithologist?: A Brief Description of the Professional Ornithologist
Category: Birds (general)
This brief article describes the profession of ornithologist and the scientific field of ornithology. more...
What is a Godwit?: What are the Characteristics of the Group of Birds Known as Godwits?
Category: Birds (general)
A brief description of the godwits, some of the sandpipers, including physical characteristics, migration, preferred food, and habits. more...
What is a Crossbill?: What are the Characteristics of the Small Group of Birds Known as Crossbills?
Category: Birds (general)
A description of the crossbills including physical cahracteristics, habitat, preferred food, and what differentiates them from the rest of the finches. more...
What is the Boreal Forest?: A Description of the Boreal Forest and its Relevance to Birding
Category: Birds (general)
The boreal forest is home to many birds and other animals. This is a breif description of its location and characteristics. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Dodos were extinct by 1700, and we don't know much about them. Read some interesting facts about Dodos - big, flightless, fruit loving, isolated by ocean, and doomed. more...
What is Trichomonas gallinae?: The Parasite Trichomonas gallinae Kills Birds
Category: Birds (general)
A short article describing Trichomonas gallinae, a protozoan parasite of pigeons, doves, raptors, and other wild birds. more...
Category: Birds (general)
A Western Reef Heron, native to Africa, spent part of its 2006 summer in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Natural history and identifying features of the bird are discussed. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Red-crowned Cranes are traditional symbols of peace and harmony. Sadako Sasaki, a young Hiroshima victim, made paper cranes an international peace symbol too. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Birds become infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, the cause of Lyme disease, and they also spread the organism and its tick carriers. Lyme is spreading to new places. more...
West Nile and Birds: Birds Carry West Nile Virus all Over North America
Category: Birds (general)
West Nile virus probably came to North America with a bird, and it's spreading. Mosquitoes are infected when they bite birds. Then they bite people. more...
What is an Eagle?: What are the Characteristics of the Group of Birds Known as Eagles?
Category: Birds (general)
A description of the eagles, members of the birds of prey, or raptors, including habits, preferred food, and conservation history. more...
What is a Falcon?: What are the Characteristics of the Birds of Prey Known as Falcons?
Category: Birds (general)
A brief description of the falcons including habits, preferred food, geographical distributon, identifying characteristics, and use by humans. more...
What are Birds of Prey?: A Description of the Bird Group Commonly Called Birds of Prey
Category: Birds (general)
A brief glossary entry describing the birds of prey, or raptors. This group includes the hawks and owls. more...
Category: Birds (general)
The Piping Plover is a small bird that is very hard to see on the beach. It nests on beaches, and on inland slat flats. Nests are frequently destroyed by human activity. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Keeping squirrels out of your bird feeder can be difficult, but remember not to harm the squirrels. Various ingenious tricks and designs foil squirrels, or distract them. more...
Amazing Crow Stories: Crows Manipulate Other Animals, Plan Ahead, and Even Learn to Talk
Category: Birds (general)
Three amazing Crow stories illustrate the intelligence of Crows. Amusing crow stories introduce the trickster crow, the talking crow, and the feathered problem solver. more...
Category: Birds (general)
Bird watchers can adopt simple birding ethics to avoid disturbing birds, people, and the natural environment. more...
Category: Birds (general)
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates and highlights the annual migration of billions of birds. Read some interesting facts about migrating birds. more...
How to subscribe to Rosemary Drisdelle's article feed