On Birding and Time

This, like many things lately, is a different type of content from The Wild Life. Who knew you could learn so much about authentic expression and finding yourself from producing a podcast? In this episode, I go out for a birding excursion with a major time constraint and ponder on my relationship with time itself. … Continue reading On Birding and Time

Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers: Spot the Difference

These two little woodpecker species are notorious for their visual similarity, but there are some key differences that can tip you off!

The Wild Life’s Binoculars for Young Birders (and naturalist kits) Fundraiser

With this program, we hope to provide every attendee to our events that's under the age of 18 with a free pair of binoculars, and a birding/naturalist kit. We also will have a web form available for individuals to apply for a pair! We have an event coming up on May 8th, a Big Day birding event, which would be perfect for our first distribution!

TWL Hiking Club| Mallards are Actually Really Awesome

It's #TWLHikingClub Tuesday| Today, we're kicking off a new series on appreciating the little things---from urban wildlife to the oh so common Mallard.

Birding by Smartphone

In 1917, the American poet Wallace Stevens published a poem called 13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. In truth, 13 is a major understatement, with just as much variation in "why" as their is in "how". Whether you're a life "lister", a casual admirer, or anywhere in between, at some point each and every one of has had a moment where we saw a bird and thought to ourselves, "what is that?"

Gulls and the Concrete Sea: Why do Seagulls Love Parking Lots?

Most know them as seagulls, a name which implies a proclivity for life at sea. Yet this familiar moniker is neither accurate (scientifically speaking), nor seems to fall in line with a universal observation---gulls love parking lots, whatever their distance from the salty sea

Golden Eagle or Immature Bald Eagle? Here’s How to Tell

It can be hard to tell. Here are some tips to help you get the right ID.

Pelicans Are Pretty Fly

How do Pelican beaks work? How much can they fit in their pouch? How do Pelicans hunt? I've got the answers to those and more!

Ask TWL: The Crested Caracara

The Northern Crested Caracara is a medium-sized raptor, smaller than a goose, but bigger than other birds in the Falcon family like the Peregrine Falcon.

The envy of the Bald Eagle, the Crested Caracara is, well, crested---which is sort of a way of describing a bird faux-hawk (pun-intended).

The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Chrissy Bowker of Texas asks, “What’s this animal?” COMMON NAME: Yellow-crowned Night Heron SCIENTIFIC NAME: Nyctanassa violacea; ORDER, Pelecaniformes DIET: Mainly crustaceans, insects, and some types of fish. Occasionally, it may feed on small lizards, rodents, or other small birds. SIZE: Average height, 25 inches; Wingspan, 44 inches WEIGHT: Average weight, 1.65 pounds HABITAT: Wetlands, marshes, bayous, shallow lake shores, mangroves, and … Continue reading The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

The Northern Cardinal

Species: Cardinalis cardinalis                     Order: Passeriformes Chrissy Bowker of Texas asks, “What’s this animal?” The bird in the picture above is none other than a young Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. This one in particular is very young, presumably a recent fledgling from the nest. Hatchlings leave the … Continue reading The Northern Cardinal