Whether it was in the wild or in captivity, most of us have seen a box turtle at least once in our lives. At the time, we may not have given this small reptile much consideration. They move slowly, lumbering along on their short legs and seldom seem interested in interacting with the curious humans who cross their path. They generally retreat at [Read More …]
Pesticide Use Impacts Gardens And Wildlife
Whether you garden on a large or small scale, what you do has consequences. Sometimes there is something obvious like baby birds drowning in a backyard pond after mosquito spraying, but usually the effects are slow and largely invisible unless we know what to look for. The truth is that any action we take, whether it is planting native or [Read More …]
How You Can Help Baby Birds This Spring
Leave Fledglings Alone. During the spring and summer you will probably see quite a few baby birds hopping around on the ground. These are most likely young birds who are learning to fly, also known as fledglings. Fledglings get their name because they are at the stage where their feathers and wing muscles are developed enough for them to begin [Read More …]
Profile Of An Eastern Screech Owl
A Trill Sounds In The Night Chances are you’ve never seen an Eastern Screech Owl but you have probably heard one. This tiny owl has a voice of a bird many times its size. Their haunting trill sounds at dusk and continues through the night and into the very early morning. Like most owls, Eastern Screech Owls are nocturnal. They hunker down in [Read More …]
The Truth About Opossums
Virginia Opossums Get a Bad Rap People often blame them for things they didn’t do such as tipping garbage cans or killing chickens. A lot of the time the only major complaint people have about them is simply that they are there. Opossums usually don’t tip the trash cans or dig up gardens but they often stop to clean up the mess left by another [Read More …]
Migration Is No Simple Task. How Can You Help Migrating Birds?
Migration is Risky Business Migration can be a very dangerous undertaking. The journey sends birds across great distances and into unfamiliar territories. They must overcome many obstacles including: lack of food increased exposure to predators physical exhaustion bad weather These things are largely out of the birds’ control. Much is [Read More …]
Migratory Birds Are Coming to DC! Find Out How Much You Really Know About Migration.
The Birds Are Returning! Spring is not yet upon us but subtle shifts are already in the air. The light is changing and with it, many birds who vacated the city during the winter months are beginning to return. In February, large flocks of American Robins appeared in the area and began gathering in Rock Creek Park, picking through leaf litter, [Read More …]
