Nate Swick

1 week ago | aba.org | Nate Swick

A warmer and drier world means, unfortunately, a world in which wildfire becomes a greater risk. We know, all too well, the risk these fires pose to wild places, but there is surprisingly little we know about the risk to wildlife. That is the work of Dr. Olivia Sanderfoot, a researcher at UCLA looking at the impacts of wildfire smoke on wild birds and trying to answer a few of those increasingly relevant questions. Also, Nate is out of town and hoping to see Mississippi Kites.

2 weeks ago | aba.org | Nate Swick

Texas continues to host a truly impressive selection of ABA Area rarities into this week, with Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) still being seen in the Valley, and Amur Stonechat (5), Cattle Tyrant (5), and Yellow-headed Caracara (5) up the coast.

2 weeks ago | aba.org | Nate Swick

A deeply felt love of birds is something that can wind its way into all aspects of our lives. It is a journey that writer and pastor Courtney Ellis weaves into her most recent book, Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief, published last year and now available in audiobook. She is also the host of The Thing with Feathers podcast, available in a lot of the same places you can find this one.

3 weeks ago | aba.org | Nate Swick

Migrating warblers are heading back to our backyards and patches, and included among that wonderful diversity come the weirdo “winged” warblers, Golden and Blue, whose intermixed genetics have long been fascinating and confusing.

4 weeks ago | aba.org | Nate Swick

Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include the long-staying Gray Gull (ABA Code 5), an ABA 1st, turning up again in Alabama. Brown Jay (4) continues in the Lower Valley of Texas, while Yellow-headed Caracara (5) and Asian Stonechat (5) continue up the coast. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (5) on Adak, Alaska, was seen again this week, and the Yellow Grosbeak (4) in Arkansas also continues.