Feathered friends emerge with arrival of spring

Birds fill the April skies

WVL
May 22, 2023

 

Notoriously aggressive, Canada Geese won’t back down when they feel threatened. If an adult Canada Goose thinks its goslings or nest are in danger, it will stretch out its neck, spread its wings out wide, and hiss as it pumps its head up and down. They will also charge and even fly at a perceived threat, including humans, according to the National Audubon Society. (WVL)

 

Out for a stroll: A sandhill crane casually makes its way down a Waupaca neighborhood street. (WVL)

The richness of  Wisconsin’s natural world is evident in the variety and density of the state’s many different species of birds and animals. Along with rising temperatures, colorful birds of all shapes and sizes can again be seen populating the fields, forests, and even the residential yards of Wisconsin’s homeowners.

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A big life span for a big bird: The oldest Sandhill Crane on record was at least 37 years, 3 months old. Originally banded in Florida in 1982, it was found in Wisconsin in 2019. (WVL)

 

A pair of chickadees survey a possible new home for their hatchlings. (Stephen Szymkowiak)

 

The Great Blue Heron forages mostly by standing still or walking very slowly in shallow water, waiting for fish to swim near, then striking with a rapid thrust of its bill. (WVL)
Birds of different feathers sometimes flock and frolic together. (WVL)
Did you know? The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America, according to the National Audubon Society. (WVL)
On frozen pond: Looking bewildered, these Canadian geese wonder why there’s still ice on local ponds well into April. (WVL)
This sandhill crane appears well-camouflaged as it wanders through the woods near a Waupaca pond. (WVL)
Not a raptor but a stork: Biologists once thought that the turkey vulture was a bird of prey like hawks, owls, and eagles. But, in 1994, scientists used DNA tests and found that they belonged in the stork family. This is where they are classified today, according to the website Environmental Education for Kids. (WVL)
The majestic eagle can fly at 30 miles per hour and dive at 100 miles per hour in pursuit of prey, according to the NatureMapping Foundation. (WVL)
Did you know? Pairs of Canadian geese typically stay together for life. (WVL)
Did you know?: Female bald eagles are a bit bigger than the males, according to National Geographic. (WVL)