The guns may be silent at the Civil War battlefield at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas, but the birds are singing. According to a story from NWAOnline.com, monthly birding walks turn up a wide variety of species, including summer tanagers, scissor-tailed flycatchers, ovenbirds, eastern towhees, hairy woodpeckers and many more.

The park’s varied habitat, including forests, ponds, streams and meadows, make it ideal for a wide range of birds, and the undisturbed isolation of the national park offer birds a safe haven on what was once a brutal battlefield. Birders can spot many species right from the park’s tour road, or they can venture along the hiking trails for a closer look, whether they are participating in one of the regular bird walks or not.

For more information about birding at Pea Ridge, visit the National Park Service.

Pea Ridge National Military Park
Photo © Nic McPhee

The Great Salt Lake is well known as a superb bird habitat. Now, thanks to an anonymous donation of more than 1,300 acres along the lake’s southern shore as well as many other acreage purchases, the Edward L. and Charles F. Gillmor Audubon Sanctuary at the South Shore Preserve will provide even more habitat for resident and migratory birds. According to a story from the Deseret News, the new sanctuary was opened by releasing water flow into a centuries-old dry channel of the Jordan River. Within minutes, a Wilson’s phalarope – a type of large sandpiper – was feeding along the newly filled channel.

The new sanctuary encompasses a total of 2,700 acres of wetland and upland habitat and has been in the planning stages for more than a decade. Many organizations, including the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited and Rio Tinto Kennecott Utah Copper contributed to the project, giving birders and nature lovers the chance to see not only Wilson’s phalaropes, but many other types of shorebirds, waterfowl and wildlife in a beautifully restored setting.

Note: There is currently no public access to the sanctuary, but private tours may be possible. For more information, visit Audubon in Utah.

Wilson's Phalarope
Photo © Dominic Sherony

This week’s top bird is a top-notch duck, the ruddy duck. With its bold breeding plumage, large head and unmistakable stiff tail, this is an easy bird to recognize. Its behavior is also fascinating as it sinks below the surface of the water to feed or dives quickly to avoid predators.

What fascinates me about ruddy ducks is their solitary attitude. While they do travel in tight-knit flocks, they often shun the presence of other ducks and geese at the same pond. This may be because they are slower swimmers at the surface of the water, or else their small size can make them feel more threatened in a group of larger waterfowl.

Are ruddy ducks part of your life list? Share your stories in the comments!

Ruddy Duck
Photo © Kevin Cole

According to a recent study reported in the Chicago Tribune, the size of birds’ feathers and the complexity of the molting process can indicate a bird’s flight capabilities. The larger a bird is, old feathers may wear out before new ones can grow in, which can impede the bird’s ability to fly. This may indicate an upper limit on the size of flying birds.

Through this study of more than 40 bird species, scientists discovered that the bird’s size affects how its feathers molt. Smaller birds that weigh less can lose several flight feathers without harm, while larger birds may take much longer to replace their feathers. Some species, such as ducks and geese that do not depend on flight for protection, can even replace all their feathers at once.

This is just one example of what birds can teach us. What have you learned from birds? Share your stories in the comments!

Swan Feather
Photo © Jim Champion