Long Lake, NY, Dec 14, 2011 — For the 112th year, volunteer birders are fanning out across the country for the annual birding census this winter. The Christmas Bird Count continues through January 5th.

The all-volunteer effort takes a snapshot of bird populations to monitor their status and distribution across the Western Hemisphere. Data collected during the Christmas Bird Count helps researchers monitor bird behavior and bird conservation. You could call it bird watching with a benefit.

Todd Moe spoke with Long Lake birder Joan Collins, who says the Audubon Society started the Christmas Bird Count in 1900 as an alternative to a Victorian-era holiday hunting tradition of shooting the greatest number of birds.  Go to full article

Aug 18, 2011 — Two Adirondack men have been accused of stoning a great blue heron to death. The attack happened last week on the bank of the Ausable River in the town of Jay.

The case has sparked anger and indignation. But wildlife experts say they often see animals wounded or killed by humans. As Brian Mann reports, some are calling for tougher penalties for this type of crime.

Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jul 14, 2011 — This week, Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager continue their discussion about eggs, exploring the color and shape of birds' eggshells, from green, white and brown to pointy and ovoid.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jun 30, 2011 — Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager talk about why birds' eggs look the way they do.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jun 16, 2011 — Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager study the evolution of birds and discover that some unlikely species are very closely related.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jun 03, 2011 — Ornithology, the study of birds, is entering a new "golden age" with tens of millions of participants, according to award-winning nature writer and bird expert Scott Weidensaul.

He's the featured speaker at the 9th Annual Great Adirondack Birding Celebration at the Paul Smiths College VIC on Saturday night. Weidensaul lives in Pennsylvania and has written more than two dozen books on natural history.

Todd Moe spoke with him about about how bird watching grew out of a "gentlemen's hobby" in the 18th century to become a professional and popular pastime.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, May 12, 2011 — Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss the manners and morals of avian mating.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Apr 25, 2011 — A co-founder of the New York State Bluebird Society will lead a free program on attracting bluebirds to backyards Tuesday night in Watertown. John Rogers has maintained an extensive trail of bluebird nest boxes in the Tug Hill region for more than 35 years and is a recognized authority on bluebird conservation. His lecture is sponsored by the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust. Rogers told Todd Moe that he'll talk about the life history of the Eastern Bluebird and nest box management tomorrow night.

John Rogers' program is at 6:30 Tuesday night at the Flower Memorial Library in Watertown. To RSVP call: 315-779-2239.  Go to full article

Hartford, CT, Apr 14, 2011 — After a farmer found an injured Golden eagle in New York this winter, wildlife veterinarians in Massachusetts treated the bird. And a biologist outfitted it with a GPS tracking device before releasing it in Connecticut. The goal is to map its migration north to Canada. The data is designed to help site wind turbines in places that are safe for these birds. WNPR's Nancy Cohen reports from a windswept hilltop where Golden eagle was released into the wild.  Go to full article

Westport, NY, Apr 07, 2011 — There were flurries of snow in parts of the North Country yesterday, but there were also some unambiguous signs of spring.

Highs today in some parts of the region are expected to top 50 degrees under sunny skies. Brian Mann set off on a ramble to check out the changing season and sent this audio postcard.  Go to full article