Bird Watching - The Outdoor Directory for Birding

There are 16 species of parrots classified as Macaws. These colorful birds live in warm neotropical regions from southern Mexico, Central America and central South America. Media attention is given to the many birds here in our country that are on the decline and on the Endangered Species List. Birds In other countries are facing similar environmental threats and extinction as well. Macows are on the endangered species lists due to destruction of rain forests and breeding habitat. They also face the additional threats from the pet trade. Millions of these beautiful birds are captured and sold to the United States, Europe and Asia.

The Macow Landing Foundation, located in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to educational and conservation projects the help the Macaw species survive. They have an educational center and rescued Macaws on display to help promote their work. Check out their web-site: www.macawlanding.org for much more information about their good work and also for information on planning your next neo-tropical birding trip to Central or South America.

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We were birding around the Fern Ridge Reservoir west of Eugene, Oregon and in addition to many species of waterfowl we spotted several wild turkeys. In pre-Columbian times the wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, was numbered an estimated 10 million birds in the United States. It was domesticated by Indians, especially in Mexico and was taken from Mexico to Europe by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The English brought the domesticated turkey back to the American colonies. Quite a round trip!

The turkey, once so common in America, was considered as a choice for our national emblem, along with the bald eagle. Due to relentless hunting and habitat destruction wild turkeys have disappeared from large parts of their original range in our nation. Due to their re-introduction in areas and attempts to protect habitat the wild turkey, almost our national symbol, has been making a comeback.

Happy Thanksgiving
Bill@birdingguide.com

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In addition to feeding backyard birds many people enjoy attracting nesting birds. For detailed information on attracting nesting tree swallows go to www.treeswallowprojects.com for good detailed information on how to attract nesting tree swallows, nesting box sizes, predator control, record keeping and other information. The folks there are also open to answering specific questions about tree swallows. Helping provide nesting boxes for birds is a great project when so much bird habitat is on the decline. Involving your children and grand-children in such projects is a good learning opportunity and helps instill a love for the natural world.

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 08:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the holidays around the corner, think about voluntering for the Christmas Bird Count in your area. The Christmas Bird Count started in protest of the thousands of birds being slaughtered at Christmas hunts where every bird seen was shot. Now over a hundred years later the Christmas Bird Count program has grown to include over 55,000 people world wide counting all the birds to be seen at Christmas time. It is an imprtant source of scientific information for the monitoring of bird populations and fun too. Birds are counted mid December to the beginning week of January. Head for the outdoors this Christmas with your new binoculars or other outdoor gear and participate in this important event. Contact your local Audubon Society for details. You can find contact information at our site: birdingguide.com under the Menu and "clubs".

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