When a Florida couple bought a 45-acre swamp beside their home, their goal was simple: keep it from being developed. Years later, that wetland had become a nesting site for hundreds of wood storks, along with herons, alligators and many other animals. Here is how it happened, and what their story shows about the role of private landowners in wildlife conservation. A Swamp … [Read more...] about Florida Couple Buys 45-Acre Swamp in 2007 to Protect It from Development. 15 Years Later, It’s Home to Hundreds of Wood Storks
birdwatching
Can Turkeys Fly? The Surprising Truth About These Big Birds
Turkeys are best known as plump, ground-strutting birds, so it's easy to assume they're stuck on the ground. The truth is more interesting. Wild turkeys can fly, and quite well over short distances, while the turkeys raised on farms generally cannot. Here is why. Can Wild Turkeys Fly? Yes. The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) spends most of its time walking and foraging … [Read more...] about Can Turkeys Fly? The Surprising Truth About These Big Birds
This African Bird Wears Sunflowers Around Its Eyes — Meet the White-Crested Helmetshrike
Fluffy, stiff-crested and ringed with bright yellow around each eye, the white-crested helmetshrike looks like a cartoon character. It's a real bird, and one of the most sociable in the African savanna. A Face Like a Yellow Flower The white-crested helmetshrike, also called the white helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus), is a small black-and-white songbird about 19 to 25 … [Read more...] about This African Bird Wears Sunflowers Around Its Eyes — Meet the White-Crested Helmetshrike
Bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow Welcome Two Eaglets in Big Bear Nest
A well-known pair of bald eagles in Big Bear Lake have welcomed two new chicks, drawing attention from wildlife observers following their nesting season. The eagles, named Jackie and Shadow, saw their first eaglet hatch early Sunday morning after a process that reportedly lasted around 36 hours. Footage from the nest showed the newly emerged chick moving shortly after … [Read more...] about Bald Eagles Jackie and Shadow Welcome Two Eaglets in Big Bear Nest
The Potoo: A Curious Bird of the Rainforest That Masters the Art of Camouflage
In the lush rainforests of South America, there lives a peculiar bird that spends its days pretending to be a tree. Meet the Potoo, a curious bird with a unique talent for camouflage. The Potoo, also known as the Poor-me-one, is a nocturnal bird that belongs to the Nyctibiidae family. With its large, round eyes and cryptic coloration, the Potoo is a master of disguise. … [Read more...] about The Potoo: A Curious Bird of the Rainforest That Masters the Art of Camouflage