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Feathering Their Nests Happening upon a bird's nest, especially an occupied one, is a delight. Hearing the word "nest" often invokes a mental picture of the familiar "cupped" nest, such as the one of the Northern Cardinal (pictured left), but this is but one of several nest types found among birds. Building a nest is one aspect of reproductive behavior found in most bird species. Adaptations related to nesting can be quite interesting, as evidenced by the brood parasitism strategy employed by Brown-headed Cowbirds and several other species which lay their eggs in other bird species's nests, passing off parenting responsibilities to the unsuspecting host bird. |
Ornithology Ornithology is a branch of zoology concerned with the science or study of birds. Texas Ornithological Society is a state-wide birding and bird conservation organization that welcomes members of all skill levels, with approximately 120 Dallas-area members. The term ornithology has Greek origins, deriving from the word " ornis." Those immersed in the scientific discipline encounter a myriad of Greek/Latin-derived scientific names for bird groups. In Bird Name Etymologies a college professor offers his students (and eavesdroppers) a lighthearted deciphering of group names.
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Citizen Science Cornell Lab of Ornithology's " NestWatch" is a nationwide nest monitoring program, open to all, to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds. A minimum amount of homework is required to become "certified" to participate: - Review the Code of Conduct and Nest Monitoring Protocol.
- Take a brief quiz.
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Searching Nearby Even if you don't participate in Cornell Lab's NestWatch project, you can still use their nest-finding tips to systematically search for nests in Dallas area yards and parks. Do you want to focus your search on the tiniest of nests? This article reveals some favorite locations hummingbirds use for nests. On the other end of the spectrum, the massive nest of the Bald Eagle can be observed from afar on property associated with John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville. For more information, contact the Wetland Center.
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Bird homes and habitats by Bill ThompsonTwo of the best-known names in birding--Peterson and Bird Watcher's Digest--team up to provide reliable, expert advice on how to attract the birds you want into your yard. Which birds use nest boxes? What's required to maintain a birdhouse? What kind of habitat will attract which birds? What does it take to be a bluebird trail operator? What does it mean if baby birds or eggs disappear from their nest? Bill Thompson III answers all of these questions and more, helping readers to create yards and gardens where birds will make their homes and raise their young. It's easy enough to hang a birdfeeder. But there are plenty of other things that can attract birds to a landscape--and, in fact, birds need four essentials: food, water, shelter, and a place to nest. The more of these elements a yard has, the more attractive it is to birds.
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The mating lives of birds
by James Parry
Provides an illustrated account of bird courtship, from dancing cranes to somersaulting hummingbirds, and discusses how the reproductive strategies of birds have evolved over time
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Nests : Fifty Nests and the Birds That Built Them
by Sharon Beals
Sharon Beals' gorgeous photographs of nests offer a new window onto the life and beauty of birds. Drawn from the collections of the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, these birds' nests from around the world offer astonishing insight into the intricate detail wrought by nature's most fastidious architects.Lovely images of nests and eggs are set against rich black backgrounds, and are accompanied by fascinating and informative portraits—conveyed through words and illustrations—of the birds that built them.
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Business, Science & Technology Dallas Public Library1515 Young St. Dallas, Texas 75201 214-670-1400www.dallaslibrary.org |
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