August 2008 BirdNote Episodes:

Birds on the Menu!

You’re one lucky duck to have landed at our little diner. This is no fly-by-night joint. May we start you with a drink – a swallow of Old Crow or Wild Turkey, perhaps? You’re just in time for the early-bird specials, when toucan eat for the price of one. The Four and Twenty Blackbirds Baked in a Pie were Eurasian Blackbirds, like this one. “Eating crow” also has its roots in history. Learn more. What’s the problem with bird’s nest soup? Click here to learn.

How Birds Drink

How do birds drink? A robin takes a mouthful of water and then tips its head way back to send the water down its gullet. Pigeons are among the few birds that can suck in water with their heads down. Swallows and swifts skim a beakful of water on the wing. Gulls like this Western Gull can even drink salt water! Learn how.
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Begging Sounds and Postures

By August, many young birds are full sized, have left the nest, and can fly short distances, but they still follow their parents and beg for food. Not only do they squawk, but they also assume a begging posture, wings drooping and head hunched down, and they frequently quiver. Baby ducklings, goslings, and quail feed themselves immediately after hatching. But most young birds—like this European Starling— depend on their parents for days, weeks, or even months after leaving the nest. Catch a video! Sign up for our podcast. Start here.

Ospreys Weather the Storm

Ospreys nest near water in a tall tree or on a tower, where they are exposed to all the elements, including direct sunlight which can sometimes produce scorching temperatures. At other times, they’re pounded by rain, as they protect their young. When the storm’s over, it’s back to feeding those hungry young birds. How do wild creatures withstand such rigors in order to protect and nurture their offspring? While we strive to understand, they have our profound appreciation.

Male Mallards Disappear

By late summer, the male Mallard’s need for fancy feathers to attract the females has passed. These birds have molted, and their bright feathers are replaced with mottled brown ones. Subdued colors help camouflage the male ducks, protecting them from predators. Come fall, the male Mallards will molt again and become the colorful dandies we remember. Learn more about the Mallard at Cornell's AllAboutBirds. To find your local Audubon chapter, click here.

Birds That Say Their Own Names

Some birds, such as the Black-capped Chickadee, take their names from their songs or vocalizations:“Chick-a-dee, dee, dee.” The Killdeer is another bird named for its song: "Kill-dee, kill-dee, kill-dee." There are others. “Poorwill, poorwill, poorwill” calls this Common Poorwill. This bird is the cousin of the Whip-poor-will, another bird that calls its own name. Search for your favorite bird on BirdNote. Or visit Cornell's Macaulay Library and see what you can find.

Sky Larks of Victoria

The Sky Lark inspired English poets, and gave its name to the phrase “an exaltation of larks.” To glimpse a singing Sky Lark, look high up, where the male flutters and circles perhaps 100 feet off the ground, broadcasting its complex song. Around 1902, Sky Larks were brought to Vancouver Island from England, to satisfy the desire of English immigrants there to hear the lark's lovely song. And Vancouver Island remains the only place in North America where the Sky Lark can still be heard.

A Crow that Makes Tools

The New Caledonian Crow is known for using twig-like implements to feed itself. A crow named Betty learned how to take a straight piece of wire and bend one end into a hook. She then used the hooked end to haul up a tiny bucket of meat from the bottom of a long tube. The country even made a postage stamp in her honor. Watch the video. Learn more!
Have you seen a crow or any other bird do something clever? Send us a photo or tell us what you saw at info@birdnote.org.

Hazel Wolf and the Brown Creeper

The Brown Creeper lives in a mature forest where evergreen and deciduous trees reach for sun. Its habit of moving up the trunk, looking for insects, inspired Hazel Wolf, who—when she was 64—got involved with the Audubon movement. The Brown Creeper’s industry impressed Hazel, and she became a birder and a social and environmental activist. For more about Hazel, click here. To find your local Audubon chapter, click here.

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