List of Columns

Each of the columns available on this web site and listed below contains all of the material that appeared in the newspaper and in addition , each one usually has some extra information on the subject.

Click on the date to display the column on your computer screen.

Sept. 14, 2008 - Topic: The bird behavior called "anting" occurs when a bird is observed beside an ant hill picking up ants, crushing them in its bill and then rubbing them on its feathers.

Jan 7, 2007 - Topics: The great horned owl, the first bird to nest in the spring.

Dec 10, 2006 - Topic: Making Nest Boxes

May 14, 2006 - Topic: How to keep birds from attacking their reflection in a window.

Jun26, 2005 - Topic: The rose-breasted grosbeak arrives for the summer

Jun 12, 2005 - Topic A pileated woodpecker has been attacking his reflection in outside rear view mirrors of cars as well as his reflection in the windows of homes nearby in a suburb near Syracuse, NY. When he taps the mirror or the windows he smashes them!

May 29, 2005 - Topics: 1. Reader question as to how to get more than one pair of bluebirds to use the nest boxes he has put out for bluebirds. 2. The Results of the May Feeder Survey.

May 15, 2005 - Topics: 1. Reader question about the nature of the cardinals nest and eggs. 2. The “All About Birds” website from The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology now available to the public. 3. The Birds of North America website from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology with the complete life histories of the 716 North American birds.

May 1, 2005 - Topic: How to deal with starlings and house sparrows that try to take over bluebird nest boxes. The May feeder survey starts today. The results of the April Feeder survey.

April 17, 2005 - Topic:The Derby Hill Bird Observatory ( the Hawk Lookout ). Why this is such a great place to see hawks in the spring. How to reach Derby Hill and the approximate dates for the arrival of spring migrants in the next two weeks.

April 3, 2005 - Topic: Reader question: what is the bird with a red breast, but is not a robin? Arrival Dates for migrants from Mar 30 to Apr 17. The eastern towhee. The results of the March feeder survey. The April survey starts today.

March 20, 2005 - Topic: Migrants that arrive in the next two weeks with emphasis on the fox sparrow and the special courtship ritual of the woodcock.

March 6, 2005 - Topic: The first birds to arrive in the Spring Migration including some comments about the first flycatcher, the phoebe plus the Results of the February Feeder Survey.

February 20, 2005 - Topic: The Great Horned Owl, the First Bird to Nest Here in the Spring plus Making a Nesting Platform for the Great Horned Owl.

February 6, 2005 - Topic: The Unusual Fall Migration of the Tree Sparrow plus the Results of the January Feeder Survey

January 23, 2005 - Topic: Identifying Coopers and Sharp-shinned Hawks in your Yard,. How to tell one from the Other.

January 09, 2005 –Topic: The Results of the December Feeder Survey

December 26, 2004 - Topic: Providing Shelter Near the Feeder to bring in more birds

December 12, 2004 - Topics- The Results of the November Feeder Survey

November 28, 2004 - Topics: Food Storage by the Chickadee, titmouse, nuthatch and blue jay.

November 14, 2004 - Topics: Why crows are bolder and being seen near our homes, in our parks and even roosting in towns overnight.

October 31, 2004 - Topics: The Results of the October Feeder Survey plus a question from a reader, “Where have all the male Goldfinches gone?”

October 17, 2004 - Topics: Suet Feeders for woodpeckers and other insect eating birds. Several models of suet feeders are described and there is a discussion of the best places to put them.

October 3, 2004 - Topics: The October Feeder Survey starts today.
Fox Sparrows Migrate South through Central New York this month.

September 19, 2004 - Topic: The Birds that migrate in September and early October . The Feeder Survey, what it is and complete Instructions as to how you can help with this scientific project.

September 5, 2004 - Topic: The Danger to Birds Caused by the Reflections from Glass Windows.

August 22, 2004 - Topic: The Breeding and Nesting of the Gray Catbird and why the male flaps his wings a lot when he is near the nest.

August 8, 2004 - Topic: Wind turbines and Birds.

July 25, 2004 - Topic The killdeer and its Nesting Habits

July 11, 2004 - Topic: Attracting Birds with Bird Baths and Dripping Water

June 27, 2004 - Topic: How to Attract Bluebirds, Making a nest box, where to put it, dealing with house sparrows, starlings, tree swallows and raccoons.

June 13, 2004 - Topic: How to attract hummingbirds to your yard

May 30, 2004 - Topics: The Birds that were at feeders during the first month of May. The results of the Feeder Survey for May. May 16, 2004- Topics: The last Spring Migrants and a review of a device that can be used in your house to hear the sounds of birds outside even though the windows are closed.

May 2, 2004 - Topics: Spring arrival dates for the next two weeks. The results of the April feeder Survey.

April 18, 2004 - Topic: Spring arrival dates for the next two weeks. Why do birds sing and why do they sing so much more often at dawn than later in the day?

April 4, 2004 - Topic: Spring arrival dates for the next two weeks. The results of the March Feeder Survey .

March 21, 2004 - Topic: Time schedule for the early spring migration plus the habits of the fox sparrow which arrives this week.

March 7, 2004 - Topic: The Results of the February Feeder Survey and migrant red-winged blackbirds arrived a few days ago.

Feb 22, 2004 - Topic: Bald headed cardinals and blue jays in late summer. How does this happen?

Feb 8, 2004 – Topic: The January Feeder Survey Results and the abundant redpolls.

Jan. 25, 2004 – Topic: Is it unusual to have a pileated woodpecker visit a suet feeder?

Jan. 11, 2004 – Topic: What are the best types of seed for attracting a variety of birds? Which seeds are best for a bird that can not crack open sunflower seeds because its bill is too small?

Dec. 28, 2003 – Topic: The December Feeder Survey Results. The most abundant bird was the goldfinch.

Dec. 14, 2003 - Topic: Why starlings and grackles flock together.

Nov. 30, 2003 - Topic: The November Feeder Survey Results. A hummingbird was still visiting a feeder in the first week of November!

Nov. 16, 2003 - Topic: Hurricane Isabel and the Birds.

Nov. 2, 2003 - Topic: The Oct. Feeder Survey Results. Titmice are still on the increase in Central New York.

Oct. 5, 2003 – Topic: Oct. feeder survey starts today and responses to two readers’ questions: Do wrens really harm other birds? When should I stop feeding hummingbirds?

Aug. 17, 2003 – Topic: Albino female cardinal in Manlius.