Avian Beauty

Thanks for listening to the 21st episode of the Avian Beauty podcast. Today I have some news. I have listened to the feedback I am getting from listeners and the majority of you want a longer show. Those who I polled overwhelmingly want me to bring on guests as well. This involves a lot more planning and logistical consideration as well as longer recording and edit times, so I am going to a once per month schedule. Beginning the second week of October, I'll start publishing one episode per month. If you have any suggestions for guests, please email me at Scott@scottbourne.com. Additionally, I am going to introduce a news or current events component to the show. I'll discuss how climate and over population have impacted bird populations and bring on specialists who can discuss possible solutions to the problems birds face. Right now, I'll give you an idea of what I mean by finishing off today's podcast with some items of interest to most bird lovers. According to Birdwatching Magazine, new research at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows how the world’s most widely used insecticides could be partly responsible for a dramatic decline in songbird populations. A new study published in the journal Science is the first experiment to track the effects of pesticides on birds in the wild. The study found that White-crowned Sparrows that consumed small doses of an insecticide suffered weight loss and delays to their migration–effects that could severely harm the birds’ chances of surviving and reproducing. According to Aquarian Weekly, a musician named Stephanie Seymour has found a way for bird lovers and music fans to unite. Stephanie is an avid birdwatcher and has brought two unlikely interests together to create the album, "There Are Birds." It's a solo album all about birds (literally, metaphorically, from their perspective, etc.) There is a link to the album in the show notes at avianbeauty.com.https://stephanieseymour.bandcamp.com/album/there-are-birds And finally this piece of news. If you are love birds, you aren't alone. Bird-watching is a multi-million dollar industry and one of the biggest attractions for ecotourism . The recreational sport associated with bird-watching, called "birding," has one of the largest followings of any leisure activity in the world. According to the U.S. census, 24 million Americans play basketball; 23 million play baseball, and nine million play football. By comparison, the census says that roughly 60 million people consider themselves birdwatchers. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study, in the United States alone, bird watchers contributed about $36 billion to the U.S. economy. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. If you have news about birds or birding, or if you have show content ideas, please send me an email at: scott@scottbourne.com. I'd love to hear from you. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you'd like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott's bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

Today's Avian Beauty podcast will be a departure. Instead of talking about a specific bird, I'll be sharing some basic tips on how to enjoy birdwatching, or birding as those of us in the trenches call it. The first thing you need to do is get yourself a set of binoculars. Don't worry if you can't afford the fancy kind. Just look for something from Celestron if you're on a budget. If you can spare the change, the more you spend, the better your results. My favorite pair come from Olympus and in today's show notes, I've linked to an article I wrote about the Olympus binoculars that will help you select a pair, regardless of your brand preference https://avianbeauty.com/2019/04/08/olympus-10x42-pro-binocular-first-look/ Next you'll need a good hat, some sun screen and the all important field guide. A field guide is a book that helps you identify birds. While there are plenty of apps for this, I like to encourage beginners to use an actual book they can take anywhere, regardless of access to wifi. My favorite for beginners is The New Birder's Guide to Birds of North America by Bill Thompson III. He passed away recently and was much loved in the birding world. His book is his legacy and will help anyone interested in the hobby. https://amzn.to/2Ut4GjK If you do want to use an app on your phone, the free Merlin Bird ID is the best there is. It's from The Cornell Lab and the link to find it is in the show notes http://merlin.allaboutbirds.org You don't need to go to an exotic place to start birding. Head to the back yard, set up a few feeders, add a simple bird bath, sit down on the porch with your binoculars and field guide and you'll begin to see birds in a new light. You'll want to build a list of birds you see (called a life list) and you may even want to snap a few photos of the birds that visit your backyard. Lastly, I'd suggest going to some bird meetups. They are available almost everywhere and you can find other birders by visiting your local Audubon chapter. Most importantly, have fun. Birding is a great hobby and you'll find yourself relaxing in new ways while getting closer to our feathered friends. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you'd like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott's bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

Bird Songs - Hummingbirds Birds are like mother nature's juke box. Their songs and sounds fill the morning air. Birds have different kinds of calls. Just as you and I will change our tone, delivery and volume depending on what we're doing or trying to communicate, birds - especially hummingbirds, have many ways of doing this. LET'S START WITH THE HUM You can't take the hum out of the hummingbird, but then again - that has nothing to do with the bird's song. The hummingbird's wings are responsible for that sound. More on that in a minute. Some of the sounds a bird makes are vocal sounds which are made by a special organ only birds possess called the syrinx. These sounds are usually made to defend or to impress. Hummingbirds are especially territorial, so a majority of the sounds they make are warnings to other birds. The syrinx is small and generally not capable of creating complex vocalizations. Hummers have regular calls, aggressive calls, and they do sing songs. Mostly they just chirp. Many hummingbird sounds are produced by the feathers of the wings or tail vibrating against the air. The male broad-tailed hummingbird of the Rocky Mountain region has an especially impressive sound. You can always tell when an adult male broad-tail flies past, because of the high, metallic trilling of his wings. Some of the sounds you hear from hummingbirds come from the males fighting for territory. They duel with their beaks, clicking a distinct clicking sound. While they sound very much alike to humans, there are distinct differences between the sounds made by different hummingbird species. Some hummers squeak, still others make a whirring sound or a shrill wing whistle. What's your favorite hummingbird sound? I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you’d like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott’s bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

Last week we talked about why birds matter. But some people have birds that they just don't like. What are some of the least popular birds in the USA? It may seem unusual to find someone who hates birds of any kind but it's common to at least dislike certain bird species. Most of us who are birders spend our time looking for our favorites and don't give much thought to the species we don't enjoy. But there are people who really don't like some birds. Call it a bird phobia - still others just find themselves disinterested in certain species. On the least favorite list would be Couch's Kingbird (a bird that is very successful in south Texas but doesn't travel to other part's of the country and therefore isn't very popular. The MacGillivray’s warbler is near the bottom of the list because it is very shy. It skulks under thick vegetation most of the time. You will most likely never see one in your lifetime unless you are really searching for one. The European Starling is universally disliked because it is one of the most prevalent species in the USA and it's an invasive species. It's very destructive to native wildlife. For instance, these birds can damage crops and their waste can spread invasive seeds and spread disease. One more unpopular bird is the Lucy's warbler. It's a small, dull-colored homebody, that hates social interaction. Those aren't necessarily factors that make birds popular. Another bird that is low on the list - and I confess, one of my personal least favorite is the obnoxious plain chachalaca, a pheasant-like bird with ugly brown feathers. Its favorite activity is hopping up into a tree and screaming at the top of its lungs. At best these birds are a nuisance. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you'd like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott's bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

Why should birds matter to you or me? Simple - birds can save us - but only if we can save them first. Beyond culture, color and the enrichment that they offer all of us, birds offer practical help. My goal this week is to get you thinking about all of this and why birds matter. Birds offer something for every constituency. They offer ecosystem services. Because they are an “umbrella” species, their protection ensures good habitat for many others. Birds disperse seeds, helping to revegetate habitats and allow the survival of many species. They even protect drinking water by preventing erosion. Do you like flowers? Thank the birds. Hummingbirds pollinate individual flowers, flowering shrubs and blooming trees. Just think if YOU had to do all that work. They also help slow the spread of disease by eating carrion. Those vultures may be ugly, but they are saving lives. Birds consume 98% of the most harmful pests, giving farmers a chance to grow the crops we all depend on. They also directly stimulate the economy. According to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, birding created more than one million new jobs. There are at least 45 million birders in the USA, contributing $80 billion to the US annually. Birds have important cultural relationships with humans. In addition to occasionally being someone's pet, birds have a role in folklore and in certain religions. Commanders used birds during time of war to communicate with troops. Birds are used to find food. Birds inspire art and design. Their feathers are used to produce more than 100 products. Beyond all these practical matters, birds bring us song and beauty which both nourish our souls. They face lots of challenges and more than 1,200 species face extinction over the next century which is alarming. Because as birds go - so do we. I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you’d like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott’s bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

What's the most popular bird in the United States? Well if you guessed Bald Eagle - you'd be right. But what about the second most popular bird? Believe it or not it is the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus). There's a reason that the Snowy Owl is so popular. Firstly, raptors in general and owls specifically are some of the most popular birds worldwide and have been the subject of attention by poets, authors and artists going back to the cave paintings in Europe. These owls are often used in movies and other popular culture to depict wisdom or strength. (Remember Hedwig in Harry Potter?) Those are admirable qualities that most people can identify with. And the snowy owl has other qualities that make it attractive. Their white color makes them striking and easy to identify. Another reason that people like snowy owls is that they are diurnal - you can see them at all hours of the day. The reclusive nature of most owls makes them hard to adore. Snowy's are considered more approachable. My favorite thing about snowy owls is that there are many stories, most of them true, about the feats of these magnificent birds. No less than John James Audubon said he once saw a snowy owl lying at the edge of an ice hole where it waited for fish and caught them with its feet. Another story about snowy owls tracks one young bird that flew from its nest in Victoria Island in the Canadian Arctic and flew all the way to Hudson Bay. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding. If you'd like to show your appreciation for this site, please consider the purchase of prints or gifts featuring Scott's bird art, visit scottbourne.photos for more information.

Last week on Avian Beauty, I talked about the role of owls in our culture. This week, it’s the eagle’s turn. Whether it’s music, the written word or our national symbol, the eagle is a much beloved figure in popular culture. Bald Eagle Photograph by Scott Bourne Bette Middler sang of eagles as the wing beneath her wings. Singer-songwriter John Denver wrote and performed a song about an eagle and a hawk. An American rock band is even named The Eagles. And while every state in the United States of America has its own official bird, the bald eagle soars high above them all, representing the United States of America. Images of the iconic raptor can be found everywhere, from coins and paper currency to passports and the president’s official seal. The bald eagle was partly chosen because of its association with authority and statehood in fact, the eagle had been used as a symbol of governmental power since Roman times. The USA’s first official use of the bald eagle was on the one-cent coin issued in Massachusetts in 1776. Not only is the eagle a national symbol, but a religious symbol too. In Christian art, the eagle often represents the resurrection of Christ. It is the artistic symbol of the Gospel of St. John, perhaps because that text is lofty in it theological perspective, and it is one of the four animal symbols seen by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1:10. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we read, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) It’s not just modern religions – the eagle prominently appears in many ancient religions. It was sacred to the Greek god Zeus, to the Sumerians and to the Egyptians. If you aren’t convinced that the bald eagle is extremely important to Americans, I’ll leave you with this. At least two acts of Congress make it a potential crime to possess even a single unauthorized feather. Bald eagles are a special part of our lives here in America. Are there other avian species that are special to Americans? Tune in next week to find out. I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Based on response I get to this podcast and to my bird photography, it's safe to say that people love raptors and particularly owls. (One exception is on the African Continent where most people think they are evil - but that's another podcast.) For all of man's time on this earth, owls have been used as symbols of knowledge, wisdom, power and even as idols in some religions. Whether it's ancient or modern culture, owls seem to capture our hearts and our minds. Owls are referenced in many spiritual texts, including the Bible. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. Job 30:29 Many North American Indian tribes thought owls were sacred. Yakima Indians used them on totems. Owls have always been part of the root metaphors of how humans relate to the land. One of the earliest human drawings dating back to the early Paleolithic period was of a family of Snowy Owls (Nyctea scandiaca) painted on a cave wall in France. They pop up in petroglyphs, paintings and now in books and movies. U.S. Geological Survey databases reveal 576 places in the United States that in some way are named "owl," such as Owlshead Canyon, Owl Mine, Owl Creek, and Owl Hollow. Owls play a big part in our popular culture. Whether it's Wini the Pooh or The Owl And The Pussycat, owls have been featured in nursery rhymes. In movies, owls were prominent figures in Twin Peaks and of course Harry Potter, where Hedwig serves as an important symbol of Harry's childhood and owls are used to deliver the mail. Woodsy Owl, the U.S. Forest Service mascot, has encouraged children to protect the environment for almost four decades. His motto was “Give a hoot, don’t pollute!” Then there is Hooters the restaurant chain and I think I'll stop there. Owls are a big part of our lives and are possibly the avian world's best known ambassadors. Next week, I'll talk more about raptors - this time bald eagles, and how they fit into our popular culture. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a successful hunter. Early naturalists called these owls "winged tigers" because of their ferocity. While rare, a great horned owl can occasionally catch and kill even a peregrine falcon! When clenched, a Great Horned Owl’s strong talons require a force of 28 pounds to open. The owls use this deadly grip to sever the spine of large prey. To aid them in their hunt they have large eyes and large pupils that open wide for excellent night vision, paired with excellent hearing. Distributed throughout vast portions of North and South America, the great horned owl is famous for its hoot. This is the owl most children are first exposed to in story tales. They hunt at night, drifting silently looking for insects, reptiles and other birds. There are roughly 225 living owl species, and of those about 50 have ear tufts - including the great horned owl. Though the tufts on their heads resemble ears, and are indeed often called "ear tufts," they are really just tufts of feathers. An owl’s ears are located lower down on its head, on the margin of the facial disk. Great horned owls use these tufts of feathers when they are agitated by a potential intruder or when they want to carry out threat displays. Some researchers think the tufts are helpful in species recognition. Without birds like the great horned owls, the food chain would be unbalanced. Also some animals would become over populated. Owls are important to farmers because they kill/eat rodents that kill the farmers crops. Next week, I'll talk more about owls and how they are referenced in both ancient and modern culture. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Imagine that you're a mourning dove - happily flying around when all of a sudden, you see a terrifying peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) flying straight at you. Peregrine falcons are very powerful, fast-flying hunters who's favorite meal would be another bird. The Peregrine eats mourning doves, pigeons, shorebirds, waterfowl, ptarmigan, grouse, and smaller songbirds. The most common prey item is pigeons. Peregrine falcons will also eat small reptiles and mammals. But don't hate them because of their diet. In fact, like most things in nature, they're part of a grander plan. With a hat-tip to Jason Ward, these sky Lamborghinis are the fastest animal on the planet, capable of reaching speeds of more than 200 miles per hour in a dive. They are found worldwide and are one of the most widespread terrestrial vertebrate species in the world. Because of their fantastic agility and capability for high speeds, peregrine falcons have been the favorite choice of falconers. Falconers train them to hunt other birds. They were virtually eradicated from eastern North America by pesticide poisoning in the middle 20th century. After significant recovery efforts, Peregrine Falcons have made an incredible rebound and are now regularly seen in many large cities and coastal areas. While Peregrine falcons are high up on the food chain, they aren't completely free from predators. Next week, I'm going to talk about one of the birds that can introduce turn about is fair play to the Peregrine. Want to find out which bird eats the falcon tune in and please tell your friends. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Thankfully - birders only need one thing to be successful - they need birds. And finding birds is easy - if you know where to look. I live in the United States and here, we have a wonderful National Park System as well as a superb National Wildlife Refuge System where you can find hundreds of different bird species in a given year. No matter where you live, chances are good that you live near a park, a zoo, a bird rescue center or an aviary. All these places are great for birding. I have my own personal favorites and I'd like to share two with you now. My top spot for birding is Alaska. I like to go in late Winter because bald eagles are abundant in the Cook Inlet. Summers there bring the chance to see tens of thousands of kittiwakes in the same location. If you base out of Homer, AK you are nearby some of the best birding in the world. There's a great shorebird festival in Homer the first week of May. My second favorite place for birding is the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, near Socorro, NM. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 to provide a critical stopover for migrating waterfowl. The refuge is well known for the tens of thousands of cranes, geese, and ducks who winter here each year. During spring and fall migration, the 57,331-acre refuge is a spot to rest and refuel for many birds as they follow the Rio Grande through the woodlands which hug the riverbanks, called bosque. And if neither of these places are within your reach, try your own backyard. Properly set up with food, water and cover it can be a great place to bird - year after year. Next week, I'm going to talk about the fastest animal in the world - you won't want to miss it. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

You light a fire with a simple spark. And in birding, that first bird that really captures your attention and makes you fall in love with birds and birdwatching is called your "spark bird." For some people, it's a regal bird, like the golden eagle. For others, it's as simple as a goldfinch or a blue jay. Your spark bird can come up anywhere and at any time in your life. I fell in love with birds as a teenager, but recently, I came upon an incredibly dedicated birder from New Jersey who didn't find her spark bird until her 75th birthday. For some people, it's not a spark bird, but rather a spark person who creates a passion for birdwatching. I have a friend who swears her high school biology teacher was far more important to her eventual career as an ornithologist than any one bird species. My spark bird was the bald eagle. It's selection as our nation's symbol, combined with its constant use to signify patriotism got me interested at a young age. When I saw how bald eagles could turn on a dime in mid-air; catch fish in their talons and dive at speeds reaching nearly 100 miles per hour - I was hooked. After I fell in love with the bald eagle, I fell in love with more raptor species, then my love of birding expanded and I became interested in just about every species found in North America. So how about you? What was your spark bird? Leave your story in the comments and let everyone know what sucked you in. Next week I am going to share with you about my favorite birdwatching spots of all time. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

If you hang out with birders for any length of time, you'll eventually come upon the term, "lifer." In a sentence, you'll hear it used like "That bird was a lifer for me." Simply put, a lifer is a bird you observe for the first time. Most birders keep lists (life lists) and every time they encounter a new bird, it's added to the list. Upon first sighting, birders claim a "lifer." Technically, for a bird to be considered a lifer it needs to be observed in the wild - and while alive. Birds in zoos don't count. "Life birds" are very important to serious birders. Dedicated birders have been known to save up their vacations to go bird watching to acquire new lifers. A life bird can be any bird species at all that the birder sees for the first time. Some birders have specific lists they're working on with species that are rare or difficult to spot in the wild. Each person's list is an individual creation. For me, a bird makes my life list if I can take a full-frame picture of it. While I have probably seen three to four times more birds than occupy my list, I only count the birds I've successfully made publishable photographs of. I'll mention this beautiful scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) as an example of a lifer for me. I encountered this bird near the Mexican border, in southern Texas. I was sitting in a blind photographing warblers and song birds. The blind was position next to a pond which helped my cause because the birds would come for the water. While I was sitting there - up walked this incredible quail, in perfect light, to pose for me for all of ten seconds. I have never seen one since, but he's on my list. How about you? Do you have a favorite lifer you'd like to talk about? Leave a comment and know that next week, I'll talk about Next week I'll talk about something that may just light a fire under you. Be sure to tune in. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

I am a lucky guy. I live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and in my backyard, it's very easy to meet up with a Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). There are jays in every corner of the USA. But each region has their own jay. In the midwest and east, it's the blue jay. In the southwest it's the Mexican jay. In my part of the country it's the Steller's jay. While often confused by amateurs as a "blue jay" because of its feathers are primarily blue, the black stripes on its crest differentiates the Steller's jay is different. It does share two other traits with blue jays. Steller's jays and blue jays are the only North American jays with crests. And both jays are the only new world jays that use mud to build their nests. The Steller's jay is certainly stellar - but the name and the bird are spelled differently. The bird was named after the famous naturalist and explorer Georg Steller. Uf that name is familiar it may be because Mr. Steller also discovered the Steller's sea lion and Steller's Sea-Eagle. Some people think of jays as nuisance birds. They are aggressive and loud and Steller's jays have been known to attack and kill smaller birds like dark-eyed juncos. Steller's jays also have a bad reputation because they are always stealing nests from other species. They are also vocal chameleons since they can vocally imitate other birds, even squirrels, cats, dogs and mechanical objects. While common to some and a bother to others, the Steller's jay is one of my favorite birds of all time. They are handsome and brave and love the peanuts and suet I put in my feeder. In next week's episode, I'll talk about a bird-related thrill of a lifetime. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Do you have a favorite diner? Maybe you just love grandma's home cooking. All of us have a favorite dish. Well if you're a bird, native flowers, berries and seeds are the best meal available and your backyard can be their favorite place to stop in to dine. Did you know that more than 150 bird species recognize when a berry is ripe on the vine? Birds and plants (especially native plants) have a very symbiotic relationship. The plants feed the birds and the birds help spread the plant's seed so that they can flourish. Hummingbirds love the nectar of a sweet flower and they spread pollen, helping the flowers to multiply. Regardless of where you live, all the plants in your garden attract insects, which is more good news for the birds. Birds love to feed insects to their young, and native plants offer caterpillars which is a particularly favorite of momma birds everywhere. And what about after dinner? After a good meal, the birds rely on plants to provide them with nest-building material. If you want to attract birds to your backyard, plant native plants from your region and try to offer our avian friends a good mix of both berry and seed bearing plants. And don't forget the shrubs and even trees. Oaks, maples, ashes and other trees attract birds because the trees' branches offer shelter and safety. Birds also use shrubbery for cover. Depending on where you live, if it's in North America, plants such as lupines, sunflowers, brown-eyed sisals, Black-eyed Susans and fire wheel are some well-known favorites. You know which bird loves a good backyard garden? The ever-present jay. Next week, I'll talk about one jay that is absolutely steller. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Do you recognize that sound? It's very possible you've heard it emanating from your own back yard. It's the song of a northern cardinal; one of the most popular birds in the USA - despite the fact it's also one of the most common. The cardinal is the state bird of seven different states, including Indiana - my home state. It's also the mascot of may prominent sports teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, the Arizona Cardinals, the University of Louisville and many more. One of the reasons that the song of a cardinal is so familiar is that it's one of the few species where both the female and the male sing. In fact, the female typically sings more often. Another reason that the cardinal is so popular is that in courtship, the males exhibit affection by feeding beak-to-beak. Displays of affection between bird species is a rare and delightful thing to see. There's one thing you can do to make life easier for the male cardinal. Coat your windows with anti-reflective material because during the spring, you may see males attacking the window because the bird thinks he is defending his breeding territory from intruding males. Everyone loves a good backyard bird -- but how do you get birds to visit? Next week, I'll tell you a story about the average bird's favorite restaurant. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

The cry of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is memorable - the golden eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the northern hemisphere. It's also one of the largest birds in North America - with wings that are longer than a red-tailed, hawk. These birds are fast - with a top speed of up to 200 miles per hour and they are very nimble. They get their name from the lustrous gold feathers on the back of the head and neck. While popular in North America - they are beloved worldwide - and always have been - even in ancient times. Falconers in medieval Europe referred to golden eagles as royal eagles. In Greek and Roman mythology, the golden eagle was the messenger of the gods. And if you listened to last week's show, you heard me talk about the bald eagle - America's national symbol. Well it turns out, the bald eagle almost didn't make the grade. The golden eagle was also considered (as was the turkey.) The bald eagle won out because it is exclusive to North America. But the golden eagle's wide range brought it other accolades. Even though it's not the American symbol, it still reigns as the most common official national animal in the world. It's the emblem of Albania, Germany, Austria, and Kazakhstan. These powerful hunters often work in pairs while hunting: one eagle drives the prey to its waiting partner.The talons on their feet kill and carry the prey. Next week, I'm going to talk about one of the most common birds in the United States. It's one of the most counted and seen birds and yet, it's also one of the most popular of the backyard birds. Be sure to listen to find out more. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit www.avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

This episode of Avian Beauty starts with a quiz... The term "king of birds" relates to: A song by R.E.M. from the album Document. Garuda, the king of the birds in Hindu mythology The Peacock - especially in the western part of Nigeria The bald eagle... Actually, it was a trick question because the answer is - all of the above, but on today's show, we'll focus on the Bald Eagle - a truly American Bird and my favorite king of the birds. One of the reasons that America's founding fathers picked the bald eagles as the symbol for America is very simply because bald eagles are only found in North America. There are lots of different kinds of eagles - such as the African Fish-Eagle - the Banded Snake-Eagle the Congo Serpent-Eagle and the Ornate Hawk-Eagle to name a few. But few eagles inspire the way that the bald eagle inspires. Most people know that these birds are apex predators and that they are the American symbol, but why is it that they are popular - worldwide? Perhaps it's their majestic 7 and a half foot wingspan or their contrasting bodies with very dark, brown feathers and a white crown on their head. Maybe it's because they were nearly wiped out but fought back after pesticides like DDT wreaked havoc on eagles and other birds. Of course the bald eagle is very popular in the USA. So much so, that in the United States, when zoos feature eagles and those birds have eaglets, contests are often held to give the young birds names. Bald eagles are truly special - and being the symbol of a great nation is quite an honor. But it almost wasn't so. In next week's show, I'll talk about one of the runners up in the contest to be our nation's symbol. It was a golden opportunity - missed. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

What do bees, bugs and butterflies have in common with birds - other than the fact that they can fly? Birds are great pollinators. Somewhere between 1000 and 2000 bird species pollinate and without them, our flower shops would likely go out of business. Do you remember the old television commercial where the actor says "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature?" Well it really isn't. When humans disrupt the relationships between birds and the plants they pollinate, they put the entire world ecosystem AND economy at risk. How does this all work? Let's take an easy example. Hummingbirds love flowers. And when feeding on a flower, the bird gets pollen on its body. When it visits the next flower, looking for food, the pollen rubs off on that flower. The pollen fertilizes the plants eggs which produce seeds and assure the plants reproduction. Don't think that hummingbirds are the only pollinators. Spiderhunters, sunbirds, honeycreepers and honeyeaters are also common pollinator bird species. Birds are not known for pollinating food growing crops, but this does not mean that they are not important. If it were not for the assistance of our feathered friends, many plant species would be in danger of extinction. In next week's episode, I'll tell you about "The King Of The Birds." It should be majestic. I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

SHOW NOTES: That's the sound of a Lucifer Hummingbird - one of more than 300 species of hummingbird in the world. And while only two dozen or so of those species make it as far north as the United States, polls show that most Americans love hummingbirds - and that's no surprise. These colorful little birds are quite unusual. Did you know that they are the only bird in the world that can fly backwards? They weight in at less than a US nickel but they are fast and acrobatic. They need powerful wings because they beat up to 80 times per second. And hummingbirds have far more unique flight abilities than any other bird. Not only can they fly backwards - they are able to fly forward, sideways, and straight up. They can also hover extensively, much longer than short-term hovering birds like ospreys, kestrels, kingfishers, and a select few other species. Hummingbirds can even do aerobatics such as backward somersaults as they dart among flowers searching for nectar and insects. There are plenty of remarkable things about hummingbirds. It's hard to imagine that a bird bird that is 3.1 inches long has the maneuverability and speed of a fighter jet - relative to its size. They do all that flying without many feathers. Hummingbirds typically have fewer feathers than any other bird. Hummingbirds are always busy and when they do take just a moment to perch, they often sing to us. Then they go back to work - looking for food. They even have busy tongues, they can move 13 times per second to take in nectar - and that is a good thing. Hummers can (and often need to) eat twice their weight in a day. I'm so glad you stopped by to learn a few fun facts about hummingbirds. I'd like to end this podcast with beautiful words from Maya Angelou - "A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Thanks for listening, be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information. I'm Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

The call of an American Goldfinch starts us off today on Avian Beauty which is something of a brand new journey for me. While I have hosted many podcasts in the past, they have always been about technology or photography – including bird photography. But at my heart – I am a birder first and decided to try my hand at sharing my knowledge of – and love for – birds. So welcome to Avian Beauty the podcast. There is a companion blog at http://www.avianbeauty.com and soon there will be a coffee table book produced, along with other interesting products that relate to the show. I’ll be here every Friday with a short podcast about one aspect of birding or maybe even just a quick note about one bird. These short duration podcasts are a perfect weekly pick me up for those who just need a moment to consider our avian neighbors and for those who may wish to go to my blog for more information. This first show is what we call a placeholder show, this establishes the podcast in iTunes and other popular podcast applications, builds the RSS feed (that helps others find the show) and puts a stake in the ground for what I hope will become time we share together on a weekly basis. Because this is a placeholder show, the rest of today’s inaugural episode is simply a poem by Robert Frost. “Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the year. Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white, Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night; And make us happy in the happy bees, The swarm dilating round the perfect trees. And make us happy in the darting bird That suddenly above the bees is heard, The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill, And off a blossom in mid air stand still. For this is love and nothing else is love, The which it is reserved for God above To sanctify to what far ends He will, But which it only needs that we fulfill.” Here’s hoping this poem, helps you find some peace, joy, beauty and happiness today. Let’s try to be more like our feathered friends. Living in the moment – happy where we are. In episode two, I’ll share some information about the only bird in the world that can fly backwards! I can’t wait. Thanks for listening, be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.