BirdNote Daily

Horned Larks rival meadowlarks as the most colorful birds of North American grasslands. They live in prairies, fields, and tundra, but agriculture and development now intrude on many of the Horned Lark's traditional nesting areas. The farmland Conservation Reserve Program encourages agricultural landowners to plant resource-conserving vegetation. This practice protects topsoil and provides habitat for birds like the Horned Lark, as well as other wildlife.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Of all the birds out there, the corvid family — the crows, ravens, and jays — might have the spookiest reputation. But the idea that corvids are spooky is far from universal — it's mainly in the Western world, as corvid researcher Kaeli Swift explained in season 3 of Bring Birds Back.
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Writer and naturalist J. Drew Lanham tells the story of watching – and being watched by – a Common Raven.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Near their frog-like mouths, Eastern Whip-poor-wills sport long, thin feathers that look a little like cat whiskers. Called rictal bristles, scientists are still investigating what these feathers do. They might help nocturnal birds sense air currents in dark environments, allowing them to orient themselves in three dimensions, dodge obstacles, and catch their prey. It’s also possible that whiskery bristles do different things for different birds!
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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Not all owls live in the deep woods. Many Great Horned Owls make their homes in urban areas. Though mostly nocturnal, Great Horned Owls are also active early in the morning and just after sunset, offering a chance to see them hunting for rodents and other prey. Look for their distinctive horns, which are really just feather tufts. At night, you might hear their deep, syncopated hoots echoing through the neighborhood. Avoiding toxic rodenticides helps protect Great Horned Owls and other urban raptors.
More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.
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