Greg Hanisek

6 days ago | milfordmirror.com | Greg Hanisek

Generally the term “bird calls” is used to encompass sounds of any kind, but to anyone with a deeper interest, songs and calls are different things. Songs are primarily the products of passerine species, more generally known as songbirds. These are relatively complex, learned vocalizations specifically aimed at attracting mates and discouraging rivals of the same species. Calls are more terse sounds, signalling things like food and alarm.

6 days ago | ctinsider.com | Greg Hanisek

If you are interested in birds, you really have to be interested in birds songs - and really any kind of sounds birds make. Generally the term "bird calls" is used to encompass sounds of any kind, but to anyone with a deeper interest, songs and calls are different things. Songs are primarily the products of passerine species, more generally known as songbirds. These are relatively complex, learned vocalizations specifically aimed at attracting mates and discouraging rivals of the same species.

1 week ago | ctinsider.com | Greg Hanisek

What is the most remarkable thing about birds? It would be close to unanimous if posed as a general question: the ability to fly. Even though we see them do it every day with apparent ease, just a moment's reflection underscores the physical achievement. I won't dispute the obvious, but as one who studies birds with a broader scope of interest, I'm amazed at another ability that takes more effort to appreciate: the building of nests.

2 weeks ago | milfordmirror.com | Greg Hanisek

If you've never seen — or even heard of — a solitary sandpiper, the name alone may seem suggestive. To hear someone say, for instance, 15 solitary sandpipers, that may bring to mind the incongruity of something like jumbo shrimp. But anyone with an ardent interest in birds knows names are often arbitrary or based on things that may not be obvious. Article continues below this adFor every perfectly named scarlet tanager there's a denizen of a northern bog named palm warbler.

2 weeks ago | ctinsider.com | Greg Hanisek

If you've never seen - or even heard of - a solitary sandpiper, the name alone may seem suggestive. To hear someone say, for instance, 15 solitary sandpipers, that may bring to mind the incongruity of something like jumbo shrimp. But anyone with an ardent interest in birds knows names are often arbitrary or based on things that may not be obvious. For every perfectly named scarlet tanager there's a denizen of a northern bog named palm warbler.