The Journal

All Stories

1,084 stories and counting · Page 43

Bird ProfilesBirdwatchingBirdingMigratory BirdsBirds of PreyBirding TipsBird Sounds & CallsPre-historic BirdsBird CultureBird PhotographyRare & Endangered BirdsForest Birds
A scaly-breasted hummingbird hovers near a yellow flower.
Bird Profiles

Why Some Birds Smell Like Flowers

In the vibrant tapestry of avian biology, one of the most fascinating yet understudied phenomena is the floral scent emanating from certain bird species. While we often associate birds with

Small sparrow bird sitting and dust bathing on dry, dusty soil
Birdwatching

Why Some Birds Take Dirt Baths in Your Garden

If you’ve ever spotted birds rolling around in patches of loose dirt or sand in your garden, you’ve witnessed a fascinating natural behavior called dust bathing. This peculiar yet purposeful

Ant activity on lush foliage along a garden shrub branch
Birding Tips

How to Keep Ants Out of Your Bird Feeders

Birding enthusiasts often face a common frustration: ants invading their carefully maintained bird feeders. These tiny insects can contaminate seed, discourage birds from visiting, and create maintenance headaches for…

Crow perched on a wooden fence, with a woman in the background staring
Birding Tips

How to Turn Your Fence Into a Bird Highway

Your backyard fence is more than just a boundary—it’s prime real estate for local and migratory birds. With thoughtful modifications and additions, that simple structure can become a vital corridor

A Spix's Macaw in Vogelpark Walsrode, Walsrode, Germany in about 1980.
Rare & Endangered Birds

The Bird That Has Fewer Than 50 Individuals Left

In the vast tapestry of Earth’s biodiversity, some threads have become perilously thin. Among the most delicate of these is the Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii), a striking blue parrot whose

A wooden nest box mounted on a tree with zip ties
Birding Tips

This DIY Birdhouse Is Loved by Chickadees

Black-capped chickadees are among North America’s most beloved backyard birds, known for their curious nature and distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call. These small, energetic birds are year-round residents in many…

Wooden compost box filled with leaves
Birdwatching

Why Your Compost Pile Is a Buffet for Birds

The humble compost pile, often tucked away in a corner of the garden, serves as more than just a recycling center for kitchen scraps and yard waste. For many birds,

A Ruby-throated hummingbird perches on a branch.
Migratory Birds

How Desert Stopovers Became Essential for This Migrator

The remarkable journey of migratory birds across vast, inhospitable landscapes has long captivated scientists and bird enthusiasts alike. Among these epic travelers, one species stands out for its extraordinary…

A cluster of delicate white American Elderberry flowers blooms against green foliage.
Birdwatching

The Best Low-Maintenance Plants That Birds Love

Creating a bird-friendly garden doesn’t have to be a time-consuming endeavor. By selecting the right low-maintenance plants, you can attract a variety of feathered visitors while keeping your gardening duties

Curious robin bird perched on sill outside a glass window
Birdwatching

How to Make a Window View a Bird Sanctuary

Birds bring color, song, and natural beauty to our lives, and transforming your window view into a bird sanctuary allows you to enjoy these remarkable creatures from the comfort of

A Red-vented Bulbul perches on a branch during a rain shower.
Birding

Best Weather Conditions for Birdwatching

Birds are creatures of habit, yet they’re remarkably responsive to weather patterns and environmental changes. For birdwatchers, understanding how weather influences avian behavior can dramatically improve sighting…

A Greater Ani, a glossy black bird with a large ridged beak, perches on a branch.
Bird Behavior

This Bird Mimics Insects to Hunt Prey

In the hidden corners of South America’s dense forests, a remarkable bird has evolved one of nature’s most unusual hunting strategies. The Greater Ani, a glossy black cuckoo relative, employs

Red cardinal eating seeds on wooden deck handrail in backyard
Birdwatching

How to Host a Backyard Birdwatching Challenge

Birds bring life, color, and melody to our outdoor spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or someone looking for a new hobby, hosting a backyard birdwatching challenge can transform your

An Arctic tern with a black cap and red beak stands on a rock.
Birdwatching

Why Some Birds Visit Only Once a Year

The natural world operates on remarkable schedules, with few phenomena as captivating as the annual appearance of certain bird species in specific regions. For many bird enthusiasts and casual observers

Seabird Northern Fulmar gliding over open ocean waters
Migratory Birds

What Happens If Ocean Currents Guiding Bird Travel Suddenly Disappear?

For millennia, migratory birds have undertaken breathtaking journeys across vast oceans, navigating with remarkable precision to reach breeding grounds, feeding areas, and wintering sites thousands of miles apart. Many…

Blackbird perched on leafless branch eating berries
Birdwatching

This Fruit Tree Is a Magnet for Migrant Birds

In the shadow of borders and along migration routes across continents, one humble fruit tree stands as an unlikely beacon for those in transit: the mulberry. With its generous branches

Red-crested Cardinal perched on the tip of a broken tree branch
Birdwatching

Why Some Birds Only Show Up After Rain

The world of birds is filled with fascinating behaviors that often seem mysterious to casual observers. One of the most intriguing phenomena is the sudden appearance of certain bird species

Nightjar bird blending into grass ground in dark outdoor setting
Bird Profiles

Top 10 Secrets of the Nightjars Secretive Life Every Birdwatcher Should Know

Nightjars remain among the most enigmatic birds in the avian world, captivating birdwatchers with their mysterious nocturnal habits and remarkable adaptations. These crepuscular and nocturnal birds belong to the family