The Holbrook Explorer
Birding
Tufted, Horned, and Atlantic Puffins: What's the Difference?
There are three species of puffin in the genus Fratercula, family Alcidae, and they all share certain characteristics — small and stocky bodies, black and white plumage, large bills, and orange-red feet. It’s easy to confuse these adorable birds at first glance, but if you look carefully for a few...
The Plight of the Yellow-eyed Penguins in New Zealand
When most people think of penguins, they think of the cute, little birds in tuxedos that frolic in the lands of Antarctica. While this is an accurate description for a large majority of penguins, there is a group that sometimes get overlooked. The Yellow-eyed Penguin is one of the rarest penguins...
Operation RubyThroat Celebrates 25th Citizen Science Hummingbird Expedition
A note from Dr. Bill Hilton Jr.: We will be celebrating the March 2015 Operation RubyThroat trip to Belize as my 25th citizen science hummingbird expedition to the Neotropics, where after ten years I’m still the only scientist conducting systematic research and banding on Ruby-throated Hummingbirds...
Paulo Valerio Reveals Costa Rica's Birding Hot Spots
Join birding and natural history specialist Paulo Valerio as he reveals the birding hot spots of Costa Rica at Lotusland in Santa Barbara, California. Paulo’s presentation, which will take place at 4 p.m. on March 10, will cover popular spots for birders to view some of Costa Rica’s 878 avian...
Protecting the Macaws
Macaws are a species of bird that many people around the world obtain as pets. You may know them for repeating their owners’ lines like, “Polly want a cracker?” But, what you may not realize is that many of these birds are held captive and sometimes even abused by their owners. While leading a trip...
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Join birders all over the world for the 18th annual Great Backyard Bird Count from February 13-16, 2015! The Great Backyard Bird Count is a free, fun event open to birders of all ages and experience levels. The purpose of the event is to engage bird watchers in counting birds in order to create a...
Threatened Birds in Costa Rica
One in eight of the world’s bird species is deemed globally threatened, and the fortunes of 213 critically endangered species are now so perilous that they are at risk of imminent extinction, according to BirdLife International. Professionals think that some of these species that have not been...
10 Bird Families of South Africa
Birds may not be the first wildlife that most people think of when they hear 'South Africa,' but with more than 850 avian species there alone, the vibrant country is home to more than just Simba and his friends from the "The Lion King." These creatures differ from the tropical birds of the Amazon...
Colombia: A Birding Paradise
Colombia. The name often brings to mind a number of things most travelers do their best to avoid. Cocaine, drug cartels, violent rebel groups — for years these have been what many associate with Colombia. What most people are unaware of is that over the past decade the country has undergone a...
ABA's Code of Birding Ethics
According to a 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, about 48 million people in the U.S.—or 21 percent of the population—identify as birders. As interest in birding continues to grow, it's important to ensure the health and safety of birds and their environment. Whether you're a backyard...
Photo Gallery: The Birds of Iceland
Participants traveling with San Diego Audubon Society just returned from a birding program in Iceland June 14-22, 2014. Their driver-guide, Helgi Gudmundsson, was kind enough to share some of the amazing photos of birds, landscapes, and other wildlife that he took during their journey. Enjoy! All...
4 Birds in Belize with Populations in Decline
The importance of species conservation around the world has become impossible to deny. The following four birds share two things in common: they can all be found in Belize (and a variety of other areas in Latin America), and they all have declining populations, in part because they face the threat...