The following articles are published on the Duke City Fix blog.
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Hairy Woodpecker and Young June 12, 2009
I've always felt that Hairy Woodpeckers were something special. Whereas the almost identical looking Downy Woodpecker was cute and ubiquitous, their larger cousins seemed wild and rare. I felt really lucky last year when an adult male would stop at my peanut-pieces feeder...
Stumpy! The perseverance of a Roadrunner June 1, 2009
Last summer there was a roadrunner in front of the house having a terrible day. He was trying to catch grasshoppers and was having no success. He'd look like he had one and it would hop away; he'd look like he had one and it would hop away...
Green Birding: The Big Green Big Year January 24, 2009
Green Birding and BIGBY are ways to enjoy and appreciate our wild birds without burning fossil fuels or contributing to global warming. They are a way to join, perhaps only in spirit, with other like-minded people to enjoy wildlife without negatively affecting that same wildlife... read more.
When is a Canada Goose NOT a Canada Goose? November 18, 2008
... when it is a Cackling Goose. OK, I admit it, I wasn't even aware of the Cackling until this year and that it was now considered to be a separate species until very recently... read more.
How have you improved your BQ? May 11, 2008
Birding Quotient? OK, maybe that's a stretch, but you're reading, right? My question is "How have you improved the opportunities for wild birds in your yard and/or neighborhood?" I'm not specifically talking feeders, but habitat. Improving your BQ is good for the birds and good for you if you like to watch the birds... read more.
Tell your reps to support the NMBCA June 5, 2008
U.S. Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) have introduced bipartisan legislation to better fund efforts to protect migratory birds. The bill, H.R. 5756, reauthorizes the existing Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) at significantly higher levels to meet the growing needs of our migrants, many of which are in rapid decline... read more.
Amazing, Thieving Steller's Jays November 25, 2007
Steller's Jays flew into the bosque and my yard at the end of last month. I saw a whole, rag-tag flock coming from the direction of the Sandias one morning. Such a strikingly, handsome bird - have you ever had a good look at the delicate variations in blues on their body feathers? Noticed their white eyebrows and head markings? Everyone notices their coal-black crest... read more.
Ring-necked Pheasants November 21, 2007
Like many birders and naturalists, I'm generally not happy with introduced species. Why? Because they are out of their natural habitat and therefore out of their ecological niche. This frequently results in population explosions, since there are no natural predators to keep them in check. An exception to the rule, for me anyway, is... read more.