Field Notes

On February 21, 2005, BirdNote first took flight!15 years and 1500 shows later, we're still delighting listeners around the world with stories of inspiration and hope. During this special anniversary, we honor the people who launched the program, nurtured its growth, and continue making... read more »

Cedar Waxwings eat predominantly fruit, especially in winter. As is the case with fruit-eaters, their distribution is unpredictable and largely dependent on the location and abundance of fruiting plants like serviceberry and mulberry (in summer) and mistletoe and madrone (in winter). Their... read more »

Anna's Hummingbirds sparkle with iridescence... with their emerald green back and hot pink throats — known as gorgets. But wait! Catch them in a certain light, and the sparkle goes away, or entirely new and vibrant colors appear. The microscopic structure of the feather barbules — not pigments —... read more »

Photographer Gregg Thompson had a stroke of good fortune. He wrote:In late September, I noticed a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers on this tree trunk. It was too late in the year for them to have any chicks, and after I read a bit, I decided this was a roosting tree. It could have been a nesting site... read more »