Prairie Bird Life
Understanding Bird Flight Patterns on the Prairie
Learn to read bird flight patterns on the prairie: wingbeats, gliding, soaring, hovering and undulating flight, plus a comparison chart and field-note diagrams.
Franklin's Gull vs. Bonaparte's Gull: How to Tell Them Apart on the Prairie
Franklin's Gull vs. Bonaparte's Gull compared by wing pattern, bill shape, head markings, size, nonbreeding plumage and season, with steps for your next prairie outing.
What Are Songbirds? Understanding the Singers of the Grassland
What songbirds are, how oscines and passerines differ, which prairie birds count as songbirds, and how to notice, record and protect them on your next outing.
Reporting Sick or Dead Wild Birds: What to Notice, Record and Share
How to notice, document and report sick or dead wild birds safely using a wild bird disease reporting form, with field-note tips, a photo checklist and seasonal patterns for prairie birdwatchers.
Crows vs. Ravens: Identification Differences for Patient Birdwatchers
A calm field guide to crow and raven differences: size, tail shape, bill, calls and flight, with notes for prairie, UK, Australian and Indian birdwatchers.
Diving Ducks in Minnesota: A Field Companion for Lakes and Prairie Wetlands
A guide to diving ducks in Minnesota: how to tell them from dabblers, which species to expect, when they pass through, where to watch, and how to observe them with care.
Do Birds Have a Sense of Smell? What Prairie Birdwatchers Can Notice
Yes, birds have a sense of smell. Learn how avian olfaction works, how vultures, kiwis and hummingbirds use scent, how birds compare to humans, and what to watch for on prairie outings.
Geese in Prairie Grasslands: A Quiet Guide for Patient Birdwatchers
A calm field guide to grassland geese on the prairie: how to identify common species, where they feed and roost, how flocks behave through the seasons, and how to watch them respectfully.
Waterfowl Hybrids: Identification and Reproduction
A calm field guide to waterfowl hybrids: why many hybrid ducks can reproduce, how to tell hybrids from domestic breeds, and what to note on prairie outings.
Recognizing Illness in Wild Pigeons
How to spot illness in wild pigeons and doves, including posture, feeding trouble, lesions and droppings, with field-note steps, seasonal cues and safe ways to help.