Heartwarming Bird Stories & Winter Feeder Tips!

 

Joy of Birds | November 2024

From School Talent Show to TikTok Stardom: Meet the Bird Call Prodigy 10-year-old Samuel Henderson is capturing hearts across the globe with his bird calls. What started as a school talent show performance quickly became a viral sensation, earning him praise from bird lovers and celebrities alike. Samuel can replicate the calls of more than 50 bird species with astonishing accuracy—from the hoot of a Great Horned Owl to the gobble of a Wild Turkey. Samuel’s story is a reminder of how nature can inspire creativity and wonder, especially when shared with others. This holiday season, let's take a cue from Samuel and continue celebrating the awe-inspiring world of birds. Click here to read our interview and watch the video

Samuel Henderson. Photo: Lori Henderson

How to Feed Birds Safely This Winter Winter is a vital time to support birds, but proper care is key to keeping them healthy. Clean feeders and birdbaths regularly to prevent disease and position them thoughtfully to avoid debris and window collisions. Provide fresh water daily to prevent freezing, and if you see sick or dead birds, remove feeders temporarily and report sightings to local wildlife authorities. With a little care, your yard can be a safe haven for birds all winter long. Click here to learn more about bird-safe winter practices

Red-breasted Nuthatch. Photo: Carla Rhodes

Two Turkeys, One Remarkable World There are only two species of turkey in the world, and we’re all familiar with one, the Wild Turkey. This Thanksgiving, take a moment to marvel at its lesser-known cousin, the Ocellated Turkey. Found only in parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, this technicolor turkey dazzles with iridescent plumage and a peacock-like elegance. Click here to discover the wild beauty of birds

Ocellated Turkey. Photo: Ray Wilson/Alamy

Serve Up a Special Treat for Birds This Winter Zick Dough is a nutrient-packed treat that’s perfect for keeping your feathered friends fueled during colder months. Made with a protein-rich chick starter, peanut butter, lard, and other wholesome ingredients, this mix is just what birds need to survive harsh weather. Serve it up in a simple feeder to make sure your birds stay strong and healthy—just like the hearty meals we enjoy during the holidays. Click here for the full recipe

White-breasted Nuthatch. Photo: Julie Zickefoose

Guess This Bird with Only 3 Clues! We’re back again with another round of Who’s That Bird? Using the silhouetted image above and the three hints below, can you name this bird? Click here to reveal the answer and learn more about our mystery bird  Clue #1: This bird’s name may raise some eyebrows, but it is actually an onomatopoeia that refers to the piercing call it shouts while in flight.  Clue #2: Although considered shorebirds, they aren’t solely found near water. This bird favors open areas like agricultural fields, tidal flats, pastures, and grass lawns.  Clue #3: Invertebrates can make up more than 90 percent of their diet! These birds love chowing down on everything from beetles and grasshoppers to earthworms and snails.

No cheating! Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies

What Did You Think? We’re always working to share the most impactful and noteworthy stories about birds and conservation with our members. Please consider taking this short survey that will help us get to know what you liked in this month’s newsletter. Click here to take the survey

Wild Turkey. Photo: Joe Trezza/Audubon Photography Awards

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ACT NOW: Stop the Army Corps from Destroying Wetlands

 

ACTION ALERT

Stop the Army Corps from Draining Thousands of Acres of Wetlands

Speak out to protect hemispherically important wetlands in the Mississippi Flyway. Take Action The Yazoo Pumps would drain and damage tens of thousands of acres of wetlands that support 29 million migrating birds annually, such as Roseate Spoonbills. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has renewed an unprecedented effort to build the wasteful, environmentally devastating Yazoo Backwater Pumps Project. You can take action today to help ensure this project—which would drain and damage 90,000 acres of wetlands in Mississippi’s South Delta—is abandoned once and for all. Mississippi Flyway wetlands are some of our nation’s richest habitats that support over 450 species of birds, fish, and wildlife, and are used by 29 million migrating birds each year1. These areas must be protected. In its latest plan for the Yazoo Backwater Area, the Corps has selected a “preferred alternative” that includes building the largest hydraulic pumping plant in the world and operating it to benefit industrial-scale agriculture. But nature-based and non-structural solutions that don’t include pumps would provide effective, environmentally sustainable flood relief for local communities while benefiting wetlands and wildlife.  Effective, commonsense flood relief measures, such as elevating homes and compensating farmers to restore cropland to wetlands, would help people and birds—solutions that many local community members have asked for.   Tell the Army Corps to pursue a natural infrastructure solution—not the Yazoo Pumps—to protect local communities and birds that depend on the Mississippi Flyway. Please take action before the very short window of opportunity to comment closes on August 12.

Sincerely,

Brian Moore Vice President of Coastal Policy National Audubon Society

1These findings are based on 2020 analyses by the National Audubon Society, using data from eBird Status & Trends from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Partners in Flight Population Estimates Database from Bird Conservancy of the Rockies.

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Photo: Marjie Goldberg/Audubon Photography Awards

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National Audubon Society 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 USA (844) 428-3826 | audubon.org © 2024 National Audubon Society, Inc.