Bird News

Wayward Winds

Migration can be interrupted by strong northeasters like we experienced last weekend. The website Birdcas (birdcast.info) uses radar to monitor the skies for migrating birds and posts the results.

Post a comment

Purple Martin

Susan B. Whiting

The bird of the week is a purple martin. The largest of North America’s swallows, this glossy blue black martin is a casual visitor to the Vineyard...

3:50 pm, April 15, 2010
Post a comment

Spring Arrivals

Susan B. Whiting

What is going on? This week I’ve received reports of spring migrants arriving on the Island well ahead of schedule. It is amazing after a...

5:21 pm, April 8, 2010
Post a comment

Ospreys and Buzzards

Susan B. Whiting

Ospreys or fish hawks used to be very common along the shores of the mainland. Matter of fact, I recently heard that Buzzard’s Bay was so named due...

3:22 pm, April 1, 2010
Post a comment

First Ospreys, Spring is Here

Matt Pelikan

We’ve had more than our share of beastly weather recently, which put the brakes on both bird migration and birding activity. But with a run of...

10:55 am, March 25, 2010
Post a comment

Lake Nicaragua

Susan B. Whiting

It was a whirlwind getting ready to leave. On the way to pick up Pat Hughes and Hal Minis, we met Merrily Tuck and her husband, Tickles, for lunch...

12:18 pm, March 18, 2010
Post a comment

Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk

Lanny McDowell

Once the Christmas Bird Count has come and gone, memorable birding experiences can be hard to come by in the dead of winter. What tops the list for...