Photo credit: www.popsci.com
Forget binge-watching your favorite shows this weekend. The Cornell Bird Cams provide a unique glimpse into the lives of various bird species, offering valuable insights into science and conservation related to our avian companions worldwide.
Owl Attempts to Eat a Turtle
Owls exhibit a remarkable feeding strategy. They consume what they can from their prey and subsequently regurgitate pellets that resemble lint from a dryer. These pellets often contain bones, beaks, and other materials that are indigestible.
Recently, the Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl Cam captured an intriguing moment when a male barred owl delivered a juvenile turtle to his female mate. On April 20, he presented this unusual meal, which she found challenging to swallow, choosing not to share it with her chicks. Although barred owls are known to consume a diverse array of reptiles and amphibians, this marks the first recorded instance of a turtle being brought to the nest in over a decade.
White-Faced Heron Wiggles its Neck in New Zealand
In New Zealand, a spirited white-faced heron has captured attention by cleverly wobbling its neck side-to-side in front of the RoyalCam, located on the southeast tip of the South Island. While the exact purpose of this behavior remains speculative, herons employ their remarkably flexible necks for striking at prey from a distance.
Baby Owl Head-Bobbing (No Music Required)
A young barred owl was recently observed exhibiting amusing head-bobbing behavior as it gazed up at the Barred Owl Cam. This common trait among owls, which are unable to move their fixed forward-facing eyes, allows them to better assess their surroundings and the distance to potential targets by moving their head.
American Kestrel Lays an Easter Surprise
As spring ushers in nesting season for many avian species, an American kestrel in Wisconsin surprised observers by laying her fifth egg of the season on April 19. By April 21, the five speckled eggs made an appearance, marking a significant event for the nest. The American kestrel cam is a joint effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Raptor Resource Project. Typically, the chicks will hatch about a month after incubation begins and undergo a transformation, losing their downy feathers over the subsequent weeks as they learn essential survival skills alongside their parents.
The Osprey Nest Defense System
Ospreys, formidable anglers also known as “sea hawks,” are not to be trifled with. A recent video features a female osprey named Iris fiercely defending her nest from an approaching intruder. Although she initially fends off the threat, she later takes a moment to enjoy a meal.
Situated at Hellgate Canyon near Missoula, Montana, this osprey nest is conveniently located near the Clark Fork River, allowing the birds access to ample fish. With wingspans reaching six to seven feet, ospreys survey the water from above and can dive up to three feet to catch prey. Adult ospreys typically weigh between three to four pounds and can carry fish weighing as much as half their body weight.
Gazing at Sun Gems
For those enamored with the beauty of swift, jewel-like birds, the Panama Hummingbird Feeder Cam is a spectacle worth watching. This cam displays a vibrant array of tropical hummingbirds, including the violet-bellied, snowy-bellied, blue-chested, and white-necked jacobin species. As hummingbirds migrate through various regions of the United States, you can utilize Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer to follow their paths.
The Panama Hummingbird Cam is a collaboration involving the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Canopy Family, and explore.org. Located about 35 miles north of Panama City, it resides in a lush tropical rainforest.
Source
www.popsci.com