On our latest show (#978 March 24): Birds in the Sierra Nevada foothills; saving the Greater Sage-Grouse; and fighting plastic pollution with water filters. Plus, Mike O’Connor on Red-headed Woodpeckers, and the right way to deal with insects on your trees. Hear it here.

The times manufacturers ran out of numbers and letters and named cars after birds

Picking the right name for a car is a risky business, and that’s why many legacy brand manufacturers play it safe by opting for alphanumeric names. But sometimes automakers name their cars after something else and get it right. (3/19)

Citizen scientists help track Painted Buntings

Experts capture the birds, put a small color-coded band on their leg, and release them. Then citizen scientists in North and South Carolina report sightings of the birds. They've found some surprising things. (3/21)

Gentoo Penguins in the Falklands

Photographer Shawn Carey sent us some stunning photos from his recent trip to the Falkland Islands. Here’s a great one of Gentoo Penguins. See more of his work at MigrationProductions.com. (3/14)

Peter Kaestner breaks record for 10,000th milestone sighting

Depending on the taxonomic authority, scientists generally agree that there are roughly 11,000 bird species in the world. Fewer than 60 people have ever seen 8,000; fewer than 20 have surpassed 9,000. (3/11)

Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary cam

This five-mile stretch of the Platte River, Nebraska, is one of the most densely populated Sandhill Crane roosts in the world. You can see 100,000 -200,000 cranes there at the height of migration! Best viewing times are early mornings and evenings, Central time. (3/20)

Birds eat poop a lot, and scientists are still trying to figure out why

A wide range of birds actually like to chow down on the sticky stuff, and it could have a profound and overlooked impact on their health. In fact, their penchant for poop could be a crucial reason for the resilience of birds across continents and millions of years. (3/18)

A Facebook post from Sesame Street’s Big Bird

We have to admit that he has a point. (3/12)

Spectacular hummingbirds

For this week's webcam, we bring you the hummingbird feeders at Sachatamia Lodge in Ecuador (Central time). We saw five hummers perched and sipping when we checked mid-afternoon. The Youtube page lists fifteen species at these feeders. See how many you can spot! (3/13)

Northern Pintail close-up

Photographer Maia Kennedy sent us some lovely photos of Northern Pintails that she took at Mystic Lake Valley in Medford, Massachusetts. Click below for her website, where you’ll find more wonderful photos. (3/6)

 

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Bird vocalizations provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 
Website photography by Shawn Carey/Migration Productions.