A double-crested cormorant in Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo has learned to respond to sound to find his food. The bird, named Oscar, lost his vision due to a virus. Zookeepers worked with the bird, who lacks a sense of smell, in order to insure his survival. Read the story Blind bird plays it by ear in the Chicago Tribune.
“Key West’s city commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday for the removal of free-roaming chickens from city streets and parks, and private property upon request. There are roughly 2,000 to 3,000 chickens in Key West, which lies at the southern end of the Florida Keys island chain.” Read the whole story Citing bird flu fears, Key Westers vote to remove free-roaming chickens in the Sun-Sentinel.
A band-tailed pigeon has been spotted in the back yard of a Wisconsin man’s home. The bird is normally only seen on the West Coast of the U.S., certainly not east of the Rockies. For that reason dozens of birders have made their way to the St. Croix County home where the bird has been hanging out. Read the story Surfer bird on our turf at JS Online.
Personnel of the Sutton Avian Research Center of Bartlesville, Oklahoma recently aimed a video camera at an active bald eagle nest, where two chicks are being reared. To access the live video feed, go to the Sutton Center’s Web site and follow the link to the nest cam video.
“Birdwatchers have been gathering in south London after a rare sighting of an American Robin. This is the first time the species, from north America, has been seen in London, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.” Read the article Twitchers flock to see rare bird on the BBC.
Someone stuck a camera in a tree, hooked it up to an encoder, and pointed it at a wild Bald Eagle nest. The cam is live when there’s daylight on the nest in Vancouver, BC; archive footage is shown overnight.
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Hummingbirds have a unique memory “so exact that it’s unique among wildlife.” Researchers monitored wild rufous hummingbirds as they visited eight feeders filled with sugar solution. The feeders were refilled at different times, and the hummingbirds were able to recognize the pattern and visit the feeders at the appropriate time. Read the story Hummingbirds sing a precise food tune on the CBC.
Last week it was announced that a part of the former Meigs Field airport terminal building would be converted into a bird hospital. Read the story Bird Hospital To Be Established At Old Meigs Field at NBC Chicago.
This Sunday, March 26, the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri will celebrate World Eagle Day. The event will include family activities like crafting, nest building, and face painting. Demonstrations with birds will also be on the agenda.
The World Bird Sanctuary is located at 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road in Valley Park, 25 minutes west of downtown St. Louis. The event takes place 11am to 4pm and admission is free.
Related link: Explore St. Louis Fact Sheet
Hopefully the coming of spring means warmer weather and sunnier days. In the cold days of winter, however, pigeons in Chicago find warmth at the city’s Eternal Flame monument on Daley Plaza. We took these photos on 29 December 2005.
