Bird & Nature Blog

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Let's Stop Conservation Easement Ripoffs

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In a recent blog, I opined that some conservation issues could serve as the basis for finding common ground in legislative arenas. No sooner had I written that, then, lo and behold, such an issue plopped in my in-box.

Conservation easements are a standard tool land trusts use in their business of preserving land and habitat. Madison Audubon has used them on occasion. A conservation easement is a legally binding and usually permanent restriction that prevents the landowner from developing a parcel of land or imposes strict limits on certain types of development.

Madison Audubon photo

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There’s No Better Time to Join Project FeederWatch

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Every year, on the second Saturday of November, a long-running citizen science program kicks into gear. Thousands of participants join Project FeederWatch and—from the comfort of their homes—begin collecting data on the birds that visit their yards or feeder setups. There’s no driving anywhere, no donning of winter clothes, no braving bitter winds or snow. There’s just you, a window, and a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate. (The beverage is optional, of course, but why not?)

Project FeederWatch can be a great entrance to the world of birding. Maybe you’ve been following our Entryway to Birding series but have been unable to venture out on your own. Maybe the incoming colder weather is shifting your attention indoors. Or maybe you’re looking to refine your birding skills with some up-close study of some winter birds. No matter your experience level, Project FeederWatch has something to offer you—even if you don’t have any feeders at all! Here’s five reasons why you should join and start counting winter birds for science.

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Thank You's and More

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The votes are in. The turnout in the Madison Audubon region renders the odds that just about every reader of this blog (all 6 of you, bless your hearts) voted along with just about every Madison Audubon member and the vast majority of our neighbors. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It might seem that voting is an important and obviously right thing to do, but at a time of great anger, pain, cynicism, and complications, one could think of lots of reasons not to. More on the results in a moment but a couple of more thank you's.

Photo by Monica Hall

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Get Ready … Winter Finches are Coming!

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Every fall, birders anxiously await the predictions of the Winter Finch Forecast—a long-running, volunteer produced publication that aims to predict whether or not boreal finches will move south for the winter. We are still in the midst of fall migration, with hopefully more time before the deep chill of winter sets in, so you might be reading this and thinking this week’s Entryway to Birding blog is a little premature.

Rest assured, it’s not. Boreal finches are here, baby! And, if reports from northern Wisconsin are a sign of what’s to come, a whole lot more are on their way. This week’s blog brings you everything you need to know about what winter finch species to expect this year, where to look for them, and how to attract them to your feeder.

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Mom, Mike, Moon, and Mallards

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Many of you reading this have fond memories of being introduced to birding, hiking, gardening, hunting, or fishing by your parents and those must be fond memories. But many of us had parents who had no interest in outdoor activities, physically could not participate in them, or were working so hard they had no time for them. Some of those parents, though, recognized that, for Lord knows what reason, their child wanted to watch birds or fish or camp, etc. They'd make special arrangements so their children could have those opportunities. I will always remember and cherish the memories of my Mom giving up afternoons to take me fishing.

Photo by Arlene Koziol