Friday Feathered Feature

Spring ‘Shorebirding’ at Goose Pond

Spring ‘Shorebirding’ at Goose Pond

As we say goodbye to spring and welcome the heat of summer, we must also bid farewell to the birds that keep even the most advanced birders turning the pages of their field guides: the shorebirds. Shorebirds are a large reason spring birding is so exciting—though short-lived!

Photo by Laura Wentz

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

A cheery and rather remarkable looking bird, with an apparent stab wound at its throat (uneven looking red plumage) contrasting its formal looking white chest and black wings. It looks as though this bird attended a dinner party gone wrong.

Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren

10 years of the Reckless Wrens Birdathon Team

10 years of the Reckless Wrens Birdathon Team

It’s hard to believe that the Reckless Wrens have been birding for 10 years. I heard about the Great Wisconsin Birdathon its very first year, and we’ve been doing this every year because it’s fun! It is also a wonderful way to raise money for Madison Audubon and the Bird Protection Fund.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is, in many ways, a particular bird, seeming to prefer to nectar on red and orange flowers. This preference opens up interesting questions of behavioral ecology, evolution, and even etymology. Do the hummingbirds actually prefer red-hued flowers?

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

Filming Grassland Birds at Goose Pond

Filming Grassland Birds at Goose Pond

Since 1970, more than three quarters of all grassland bird species are in decline. In response, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Conservation Media (CCM) began the project “Restoring North America’s Central Grasslands” to advance policy and funding goals through education.

Photo by Arlene Koziol