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In addition to our year-round finches, the House Finch and the American Goldfinch, winter often brings more species of finches into our area. Irruptive migrations of Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, and Purple finches typically occur every two to three years or so....

Boisterous Blue Jays

Blue jays are some of the most intelligent and brightly colored birds in your backyard. Not to mention some of the noisiest. Their raucous “jay! jay!” is probably their most familiar call and one that is easily identifiable. However, they also make a variety of more...

Goldfinches –They’re Not Always Gold

Often referred to as “wild canaries,” Goldfinches are actually in the finch family. American Goldfinches, those found in the Omaha area, and Lesser Goldfinches, are the two types found in North America. In flight, Goldfinches have a distinct dipping pattern. They also...

Bats: Nature’s Bug-Zappers

Although bats are among the most beneficial of mammals, they are much maligned in folklore and the media. Because of this unwarranted reputation, or perhaps because they are unfamiliar creatures of the night, bats are frequently feared. Each night a bat eats nearly...

Marvelous Monarchs

On velvet wings of black and orange, a Monarch silently flutters by. Just looking at this delicate creature, it’s hard to imagine the amazing metamorphosis and the perilous annual migration, which are necessary for preservation of the species. Like other butterflies,...

Bald Eagles

Bald Eagles live throughout a large part of North America, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, and are usually found near rivers and other bodies of water. They are opportunistic feeders and prefer to eat fresh fish. When fish are scarce, they will eat birds, mammals...

Wonderful Wrens

Wrens are small birds with loud, often complex, songs. Predominantly brown in color, they have narrow heads, with thin, down-turned bills for probing crevices for food. Their wings are short and rounded; this causes them to have a quick and erratic flight pattern. Two...

Red-winged Blackbirds

I often have red-winged blackbirds visit my yard for a day or two in the spring, and this year I had two males for only one day each. They were probably in a hurry to stake their territories for the breeding season. In summer, Red-winged Blackbirds are commonly seen...

Nesting Season: A Time for New Families

Spring brings us warm weather, a reawakening of perennial plants, and the most interesting and entertaining bird behavior. Over the next few months, you can witness all aspects of bird life – courting a mate, nest building, laying and incubating eggs, feeding...

Red-tailed Hawk

As you drive along area roadways, it is not uncommon to see a hawk sitting atop a utility pole, a road sign, a fence post or a tree. More than likely, it will be a red-tailed hawk. This large hawk is found throughout North America in a variety of habitats. Red-tailed...

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