by Alex Forsythe The House Sparrow was introduced into North America by Europeans who wanted familiar birds from their homeland. The settlers also thought the birds might help to control insects that were damaging their grains. Instead, the birds rapidly proved themselves to be pests and killers of our...
by Alex Forsythe There are seven species of chickadees that breed in North America, but only two breed in Indiana: Black-capped and Carolina. Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees are very similar, and their ranges overlap slightly in Indiana, just south of my home so that I can see both birds...
by Alex Forsythe Baltimore Orioles, with their bright plumage and beautiful song, are favorites among backyard birders. John James Audubon studied and wrote about the Oriole extensively. He wrote: “Much might the traveller find to occupy his mind, and lead him into speculations regarding the past, the present, and...
by Alex Forsythe This golden bird has the Midas touch! It has won the Pulitzer Prize, it was the muse of Rembrandt’s protoge, it defeats brood parasites with nothing more than a healthy diet, and it can build an indoor pool! The American Goldfinch and its less colorful namesake...
by Alex Forsythe Are you right- or left-handed? Are you right-handed when you write, but left-handed when you perform other tasks? How about your vision? Are you right- or left-eyed? American Tree Sparrows have a preference when watching for predators: they use their left eye. Researchers from the Department...
by Alexandra Forsythe The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal in the world, capable of traveling up to 200 mph in a “stoop” or dive. Their primary food source is birds, and they have been documented preying on over 450 species of birds in North America, including Sandhill Cranes,...
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