Kids and adults alike can enjoy a hands-on, interactive outdoor activity and help wildlife at the same time this winter by participating in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Winter Bird Feeder Survey.

Providing food for wintering birds is popular in Oklahoma in both urban and rural areas, and people in both places can help the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation monitor the state’s birds this winter.

Upcoming 2009 Activities

January 17 & 18—Eagle Days
St. Louis, Missouri
Eagle Days is held at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge at 10950 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO 63137. It is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. There is an educational eagle program repeated every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. – 2:40 p.m. Hands-on, bird-oriented educational displays will be manned by…[more]

To many people, bird song can herald the coming of spring, reveal what kind of bird is perched nearby or be merely an unwelcome early morning intrusion. But to Sandra Vehrencamp, Cornell professor of neurobiology and behavior, bird song is a code from which to glean insights into avian behavior.

Birds use song systems to communicate about mating and reproduction, territorial boundaries, age and even overall health. Vehrencamp…[more]

Birding Binoculars are made specifically for birdwatching. Pick something that is light enough to carry around your neck for a while, but sturdy enough for everyday use. It takes some time to get used to holding binoculars steady. Pick your binoculars based on image quality. Viewing objects up close and quickly can be harder to focus, so you need to get some that will work good when needed quickly. Make…[more]

Take advantage of the opportunity to view bald eagles as they come in to roost Saturday, Dec. 20, at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, this event is the second of three eagle viewing events at the park. The programs are free and open to the public.

Join a park naturalist at the park’s nature center at 3 p.m. for…[more]

Significant portions of the American landscape are no longer providing adequate habitat for many native bird species, according to the Top 20 Most Threatened Bird Habitats in the United States, a new report by American Bird Conservancy (ABC). ABC’s report is available online at http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/habitatreport.pdf

“Millions of Americans love to watch birds, whether on organized outings or in their own backyards,” said George Fenwick, President of American…[more]

Eagle Days’ 30th anniversary takes flight Dec. 6
Visit one of these locations to see bald eagles in the wild and up close in indoor programs.

News item photo
Missourians have been spying on bald eagles for 30 years at events organized by the Missouri Department of Conservation. This year, Eagle Days kick off with an event at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge Dec.…[more]

(NewsUSA) - This winter, you may notice what appears to be a binocular brigade, counting birds in your local woods.

From Central Park to backyards in Biloxi, tens of thousands of citizen scientists are taking action. For some, these counts are a competitive sport. To many, they serve as a real way to tackle environmental challenges. Because birds are early indicators that a habitat is disturbed, they are…[more]

Take advantage of the opportunity to view bald eagles as they come in to roost at Roaring River State Park near Cassville. The park will host three eagle-viewing events. The first is Saturday, Nov. 15. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the programs are free and open to the public.

Join a park naturalist at the park’s nature center at 3:30 p.m. for a short video…[more]

Kimberly Smith, professor of biological sciences in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, replies:

Vertebrates commonly form aggregations: fish form schools, mammals form herds, and birds form flocks.  In birds, flock formation is generally associated with cooperative food hunting, information exchange and protection from predators.  While there are disadvantages to being in close association with lots of other animals, the fact the…[more]