What You Need to Know about Lead Toxicosis, The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015 S.405 and Our American Bald Eagle

Lead is a heavy metal that has no physiologic benefit in any living system. When ingested, it is absorbed from the stomach and is distributed by red blood cells to the soft tissues, causing damage to the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and kidneys.  Lead causes anemia (lack of red blood cells) by increasing the fragility and premature destruction of red blood cells.  It also suppresses bone marrow.

 Dr. Laura L Wade DVM Dipl ABVP working on a bald eagle that had lead toxicosis and was subsequently hit by a car because of the resulting neurological effects. This eagle was saved with chelation therapy and currently resides at the Buffalo Zoo (photo: Dawn Trainor Griffard)

Signs of lead toxicosis can include lethargy (lack of energy), loss of appetite, regurgitation, green and/or bloody diarrhea, seizures and sudden death.  In order to treat lead toxicosis, it must be diagnosed early and treated aggressively.  Treatment consists of removing or chelating the lead from the system with injectable CaEDTA, oral Dpenicillamine, oral DMSA or oral dimercaprol. 

The body attempts to store lesser amounts of lead in the bone, where it is most often inactive.  However it can become active again in laying hens, as they use more calcium to create their eggs and therefore may pull more calcium from the bones – disturbing the stored lead in the process.

Treatment of lead toxicosis is costly and time-consuming and is most often performed by veterinarians and rehabilitators on wild animals such as waterfowl and bald eagles, which do not have families to pay their bills like pet birds do.  Therefore, it falls to the responsibility of conservation groups, participating veterinarians and sanctuaries to save the lives of these poor animals.  These animals must stay in treatment until it is clear that they once again have a fighting chance back in the wild.  This can often take several weeks to months of care.

Over the past 25 years, an average of 21-25 percent of sick or injured eagles treated at wildlife hospitals were found to have toxic levels of lead in their blood.  Bald Eagles frequently scavenge the carcasses of deer, pheasants and other wildlife that may harbor lead or lead fragments.  They also hunt live prey such as waterfowl that have been impaired by lead ingestion.  Lead is present in these prey items because they have been shot by hunters who use lead ammunition, or they have swallowed fishing equipment such as lead sinkers.

Lead ammunition also poses health risks to human beings.  Lead bullets explode into minute fragments when they hit their target.  These fragments can spread throughout the meat that humans eventually eat.  Studies using radiographs have shown that dust sized particles can infect meat up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound.  A recent study has found that up to 87 percent of cooked game killed by lead ammunition can contain unsafe levels of lead.

In October 2012, a position statement issued by the Association of Avian Veterinarians stated that AAV “recognizes that lead is a potent toxin to wild birds that can have individual-and-population-level effects.  Therefore, the AAV advocates the replacement of lead-based sporting ammunition and fishing tackle with non-lead-based alternatives.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Policy Statement on Conservation of Wild Animals states that the organization is concerned about the possible extinction of many animal species.  The AVMA should collaborate with naturalists, conservation groups, appropriate governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international bodies to establish and maintain effective actions for the conservation of wild animals in their native habitats.  These AVMA policies provide support for the elimination of lead ammunition use.  For these reasons, we join with our veterinary colleagues in supporting a commonsense primary prevention policy requiring that lead ammunition be replaced with non-lead ammunition.  This policy helps protect all wildlife species, and also domestic and companion animals.

Researchers examined 58 dead bald eagles and identified lead exposure as a significant mortality factor/USFWS.  (from April 2014 US Fish & Wildlife of the Midwest “Inside Region 3”)

In 1991, the federal government banned the use of lead in waterfowl hunting.  Non-toxic bullets cost only 10-20 percent more for most guns.  Despite the ban, Duck Stamp purchases increased by 30% between 1991 and 2009, even with a 20% increase in the cost of each stamp.   As the production of lead-free ammunition ramps up, costs could drop significantly.

Anthony Prieto, a hunter and co-founder of “Project Gutpile” (a hunter’s group that provides educational resources for lead-free hunters and anglers) says, "As a hunter in California, compliance with the recent state non-lead ammunition regulation has been simple.  I still get to hunt, there is no toxic impact on wildlife or my health, and copper bullets shoot better."

“The Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Bill of 2015” is the re-introduction of a bill that was originally introduced and dismissed in 2012.  This bill will try to stop the no-lead ammunition laws being passed and introduced.  Those who authored the bill hope that the average “rank and file” hunters in the United States will believe that their rights as hunters are being challenged.  Those reintroducing this bill believe these “rank and file hunters” will fight for this bill to be passed.  However, none of their current hunting freedoms are being challenged, and they will gain nothing from this legislation.

What this legislation will do (if passed) is legalize the import of threatened species which are shot abroad and stop the regulation of toxic ammunition.  The bill could also create the presumption that federal lands specifically designated as wilderness areas must be opened to trophy hunting and commercial trapping, regardless of the impacts on the environment, wildlife or other land users (hikers, families, campers, photographers etc.)

The ammunition section of the bill states, “Firearms, ammunition and sport fishing equipment and its components (such as lead sinkers) are exempted from regulations of chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act.”  This section of the legislation – if passed - will make any previous protective laws against lead ammunition exempt and allow the use of all lead ammunitions completely legal for any use in any state.

Please help protect our wildlife. Call your Senators today and urge them to oppose the Bi-Partisan Sportsmens Act of 2015-S.405.   Congress needs to know that the majority of Americans want to keep critical protections for wildlife and wild lands – including our bald eagles - in place.

Submitted by Dawn Griffard, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

The Best Neighbor You Will Ever Have

I have been working at the World Bird Sanctuary now for only one month as an office coordinator, and I cannot even start to count the number of calls I have answered in regards to people finding Barred Owls (Strix varia) hanging out in their yards.  The statement I keep hearing is, “I don’t know what to do about it.  I’m afraid he might try to eat my small dog.”

I always tell the callers to not worry about their dogs and enjoy the sight!  Even though we cannot predict what a wild animal is going to do, chances are, it’s not in your backyard to make your dog his lunch.

Our neighbor, a Barred Owl (photo: Erica O'Donnell)

I have a wooded area in my backyard and I keep two bird feeders there.  About two years ago I noticed a new bird that was attracted to my bird feeder.  It was a big Barred Owl.  I was mesmerized!  He was big and beautiful!

Since I did not have much knowledge about owls at that moment in time, I did some investigating to educate myself.  I wasn’t worried about the safety of my own animals since my cat is indoors and my dog is a 70 pound golden retriever.  But, my next door neighbors have a tiny dog that hangs out on their deck regularly.  I had the same questions other people have. “Are small pets safe around this animal?  Will it try to attack me or a child in the neighborhood?”

The truth is you are lucky if you have an owl living around your house.  Since my new “neighbor” moved in, the rodent population has lowered significantly in my neighborhood.  Rodents are a delicatessen to owls.  It turns out the owl isn’t hanging around my bird feeder to eat the other birds (although they do stay away when he makes his presence).  He has his eyes on the mice and other small rodents running around the bird feeder.

Over the years, our resident owl has become a part of our family.  He sits high above in a tree while we are sitting on the back porch with the dog.  We observe and appreciate his beauty and grace.  Even when he is not in our sight, he still lets it be known that he is around by the loud, musical hoot that he makes deep in the woods, late at night, and into the morning.  He truly is remarkable.

Submitted by Erica O’Donnell, World Bird Sanctuary Education Coordinator

           

The Ultimate Father's Day Gift

Are you stumped over what to get Dad for Father’s Day?

Tired of giving him the same old thing for his special day? 

Then why not give Dad a WBS inscribed brick telling him just how much you appreciate him?  Bricks can even be personalized by including one of our stock symbols representing his favorite hobby--such as a fish for your favorite fisherman, golf clubs, a duck for the duck hunter, etc.--the list is long.

Even though Father’s Day is almost upon us it’s not too late to order a brick along with a certificate that can be mailed directly to Dad—or sent to you so that you can give it to him on his special day.  The deadline for ordering bricks for our summer installation is 6/15. 

Photo of the donor certificate to be presented to the recipient

Each time dad visits WBS his brick will be there in the World Bird Sanctuary amphitheater to remind him just how much he is loved and appreciated.

Of course, we are accepting orders for other purposes also—anniversaries, birthdays, “just because”, etc.  Order by 6/15 to be included in our next installation.  You’ll be able to view your brick by the end of July.

To order your brick Click Here and follow the instructions—or call 636-225-3490, Xt. 0, and tell the person who answers that you want to buy a brick.  

What's That Bird Doing?.......Being Comfortable!

While working at the World Bird Sanctuary, one of the more common questions we field from visitors is some version of “What's that bird doing?”  The bird in question could be doing a number of different things, such as flapping, stretching, coughing up a pellet, or just simply turning around.  As a naturalist, some of these behaviors are more heart-warming than others, and this type of behavior is what I'll be talking about today.

Duncan, a Wedge-tailed Eagle, rousing while on the glove of Alyssa, a summer intern (photo: ML) 

When comfortable, our birds will show it in a number of ways.  The most heart-warming of these being a display of natural comfort-showing behaviors while we're handling them--be it on-site or when we're away on programs.  These behaviors include rousing (shaking out and rearranging their feathers), feaking (cleaning their beaks off on a branch, stone or a trainer’s glove), as well as preening.  (Preening is when a bird tends to the condition of its feathers by gathering oil on its beak from a gland at the base of its tail, and distributing it on its feathers while cleaning and rearranging the feathers.  This oil reconditions and waterproofs the feathers.  Preening is a very important behavior for all birds.)

While our birds exhibit all of these behaviors on a daily basis, most of these behaviors occur when the birds are sitting on their perches, just watching the day unfold.  The times it's rewarding is when the birds are on our gloves in the middle of a program, and they're comfortable enough with us handling them to exhibit natural behaviors. 

Jet, an American Kestrel, showing that he's comfortable with the situation by sitting with his body feathers puffed out. (photo: Gay Schroer) 

The most noticeable of the behaviors I mentioned above is rousing, which is when a bird will puff out, shake out, and then slick back down their feathers.  For me personally, whenever one of our birds does this when I'm handling them, it always makes me grin, regardless of what mood I'm in.  About half the time, immediately following a rouse, the birds will waggle their tail feathers, as an extended sign of comfort or contentment.  This behavior lets me know I’m doing everything correctly with the bird.

This wild juvenile Red-tailed Hawk cleaned the feathers and blood off his beak on the large branch after finishing his Starling meal—a good example of feaking. (photo: GS) 

I generally see feaking happen at one of two times:  either we've just finished flying a bird, or right after we put them back on their perch.  Feaking is when a bird closes its eyes and rubs its beak on something to clean it, be it the glove we're handling them on or the perch we've just put them back on.  This behavior happening immediately after flying is understandable, since they could have bits of their meat reward stuck on their beak.  Why they do it so often after they get put back on their perch could be a sign that they're back in even more comfortable surroundings. 

One of the Turkey Vultures on the display line preening (ML)

Another time I've seen birds feak is right after they're done preening (cleaning or adjusting their feathers). While not quite as likely to get a grin out of me, it's still pretty cool to be handling a bird, say while talking to a group of people, and have the bird feel relaxed enough with the surroundings to make sure their feathers and beak are in order and looking nice and clean.

As I said earlier, our birds have the opportunities to display these behaviors at any point during the day, as they almost always do.  The times when it means more is when they decide they feel comfortable enough with whoever happens to be handling them that they decide to display these signs of comfort.

Most of us at the World Bird Sanctuary consider this to be the ultimate birdy complement.

Keep an eye out next time you're at the World Bird Sanctuary, and see if you can spot any of these behaviors for yourselves!

Submitted by Matt Levin, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Pack it on up. Move it on out.

As show supervisor for World Bird Sanctuary’s zoo shows I enjoy a transient lifestyle.  I’ve mentioned before how the ever-changing scenery and people keep me on my toes and free of boredom.  This is true but there is one thing I don’t enjoy about constantly being on the move—Packing!

Time to pack the car (photo: Neal Cowan)

 I hate packing.  I loathe packing.  It doesn’t help that I’m not particularly good at it.  I’m great at gathering things, checking and double checking a list, and sorting.  I’m not so good at the actual packing…or moving. Putting things in boxes, carrying them around, making them fit in a car.  All of it is not fun. 

Not only do I have to pack all of my own things, but I also have to pack for the birds and the show.  Both zoos we frequent allow us to leave items in storage, but we still cart the majority of our supplies back and forth.  It is important to make sure we have everything we need, as there are very few opportunities to bring the missing items to us from St. Louis.  That is a lot of pressure when packing, which makes it even less fun.

So much “stuff” and I’ve only just begun (photo: Leah Tyndall)

 I will admit there have been occasions, when I am very tired, that I’ve pondered the possibility of training birds to pack for themselves--not that they have a whole lot of experience when it comes to packing.  Well Sherlock the African Pied Crow will pile his toys in his crate, but that’s about it.

Hmmm…do you think?  Uh….no, I guess not! (photo: Mike Cerutti) 

In the wild, birds don’t have to pack up and move their things from one nest to another.  In most cases they build their nest from scratch.  In some cases they don’t even build the nest.  Owls for instance build a scrape.  This is a depression either in the ground or in a tree cavity.  They usually line these with feathers before laying their eggs.  Abandoned nests will often be used by different birds, even different species.  It is not uncommon for Great Horned Owls to take over abandoned Red-tailed Hawk nests.  On occasion they don’t even wait for the nests to be abandoned.

Brood parasites are a group of birds including European cuckoos and cowbirds.  These birds will lay their eggs in another bird’s nest.  Not only do they not have to raise their own young, but they also do not have to expend the energy to build a nest in the first place.  Bald Eagles are the closest to being movers, although they don’t move between nests as much as they build onto their existing nest.  Bald Eagles will return to the same nest year after year, adding more and more sticks.  The largest Bald Eagle nest ever recorded was nine and a half feet wide, twenty feet deep, and weighed over three tons before it broke the tree in which it was built. That weighs more than my car--my car being a RAV 4, so I can pack all of my stuff or fit an eagle size crate in it!

Zoo show life is fantastic, except for moving myself, and 15-20 birds and all of their items, across the country.  In the wild birds do not need to move anything but themselves from one place to another.  In some cases they do not even need to build a nest in the first place. If only moving zoo shows were that simple…and don’t even get me started on unpacking!

And just about the time I have reached the point of exhaustion and am throwing myself a real pity party, I am reminded why we at zoo shows do all this packing, unpacking and moving of personal items, equipment and birds.  The first time a bird swoops over the heads of audience members and we hear the gasps of amazement from a theater full of adults and children we know that “OH YEAH…that’s why we do it!”

So, if you happen to be in the Milwaukee area this summer, be sure to make the Milwaukee County Zoo one of your stops.  Our amazing birds will demonstrate for you why all that furious packing and transporting was well worth the effort.

Submitted by Leah Tyndall, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer and Zoo Show Supervisor.

The True Harpy

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a true beast of the sky 

that only a handful of people will ever see in the wild. 

South American explorers named these great birds after 

harpies, the predatory “frightful, flying creatures with 

hooked beak and claws,” of Greek mythology.

Head shot of an adult Harpy Eagle (photo: wikipedia)

This mostly dark gray bird of prey has an extremely distinctive look, 

having feathers atop its head that fan into a bold crest when the bird 

feels threatened.  Smaller gray feathers create a facial disk that may 

focus sound waves to improve the bird’s hearing, similar to owls. 

Like most eagle species, the female Harpy Eagle can be almost twice 

as large as the male.  Female’s can average in weight from 13-20 lbs., 

whereas the average weight for a female Bald Eagle is approximately 

12 lbs.   The Harpy Eagle's leg could be as thick as a man's wrist, and 

its back talons are larger than bear claws at 5 inches long.  The Harpy 

Eagle is one of the world’s 2 or 3 largest raptors, and is a true apex 

predator.

Harpy Eagle in flight (photo: wikipedia)

Harpy Eagles range from Mexico to Argentina and live in forests. 

Not having a massive wingspan (but it still can reach 6 feet across), 

Harpies fly through their forest home with great agility.

For nesting, Harpies favor silk-cotton trees and usually build nests 

90 to 140 feet above the ground.  They like to use trees that have 

widely spaced branches for a clear flight path to and from the nest. 

Harpies use large sticks to create the nest’s huge frame and line it 

with softer greens, seedpods, and animal fur to make it warm and 

comfortable.  A Harpy nest measures about 4 feet thick and 5 feet 

across--big enough for a person to lie across.  Once built, an eagle 

pair may reuse and remodel the same nest for many years.

Harpies are great at saving needed energy.  You will rarely see a 

Harpy Eagle flying over the top of rain forests.  Instead, the powerful 

Harpy flies below the forest canopy and uses its great talons to snatch 

up monkeys and sloths that can weigh up to about 17 pounds.  A 

Harpy is capable, in a serious chase, of reaching speeds around 50 

miles per hour.  It dives down at its prey and snatches it with 

outstretched feet.  Its short, broad wings help the Harpy fly almost 

straight up, so it can attack prey from below and above.

Harpies are ambush predators—perching in a tree waiting for prey like this 

male Harpy (photo: wikipedia)

The Harpy Eagle can turn its head to get a better look at its prey. 

The bird perches silently up to 23 hours in a tree, waiting to catch 

unsuspecting prey.  It has amazing vision and can see something 

smaller than 1 inch in size from almost 220 yards away.

A Harpy's feet are massive. This photo does not do them justice.... 

(photo: wikipedia….

….the back talons are longer than this bear’s claws 

(photo: Gay Schroer)

The deadly talons of a Harpy Eagle can exert several hundred 

pounds of pressure, crushing the bones of its prey and instantly 

ending its victim.  A Harpy also feeds on opossums, porcupines, 

small deer, snakes, and lizards.  Larger prey is taken to a stump or 

low branch and partially eaten, because many times prey is too 

heavy to carry whole to the nest.  A lot of the Harpy’s food is found 

in the rain forest canopy and understory instead of on the forest 

floor.  The bigger females tend to take sloths and monkeys; the 

smaller, more agile and faster males tend to take more quantities 

of smaller food.  This increases the pair’s odds of eating on a regular 

basis.

All in all, the Harpy Eagle has to be one of the most powerful and 

impressive creatures in the sky.

Submitted by Ian Wright, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist

Love is in the air

We have all heard of the birds and the bees.  This blog is going to focus on the birds, not the bees.  Without a doubt, spring is the busiest time of year for everyone at the World Bird Sanctuary—especially the birds!

Breeding takes place everywhere at the World Bird Sanctuary; hawks and owls in the woods call out to their mates.  Birds everywhere are working overtime on nest building. 

A Bald Eagles’ nest located near WBS_note the two babies in the nest (photo: Jim Kent)

 Bald Eagles near the river by the sanctuary have built a nest, which is currently about 4 feet deep, that they add to every year.  We have seen this eagle pair flying through the trees in courtship rituals; spinning, flipping and grasping each other’s talons, then releasing at the last second as they fall.  Later in the year we see the juvenile eagles flying around the WBS Nature Center, as they explore the world near their nest. 

When baby birds hatch mom and dad will hunt at every opportunity.  Owls will even hunt during the day. 

Our resident birds sometimes call in wild birds, seeming to flirt with them. 

In the wildlife hospital we admit many baby birds, which have fallen from the nests during spring storms.  Adult birds sometimes are egg-bound at this time of year. This  is a problem where a bird cannot lay the egg that has developed inside its body.  This prevents them from performing other biological functions. 

Since the parent birds are busy hunting they sometimes are so focused on the prey that they collide with cars. 

Baby Barn owl – 33 days old (photo: Gay Schroer)

Our propagation department is busy overseeing our breeding birds. We make sure they have the right food, vitamins and nesting materials that they need.  Even the birds on exhibit get in the mood.  The birdcalls and courtship dances heard and seen on the property are a symphony of love.

Thickbill Parrot Baby being watched by the parents – note the light colored beak on the baby (photo: Gay Schroer)

The Thick billed parrots on the exhibit line have hatched several babies over the years.  A few of those babies were released in the mountains of New Mexico. 

Some eagles and hawks on the exhibit line have even laid eggs.  However these birds are not currently in bonded pairs so the eggs will never develop.  We tend to empty the eggs and use them for education. 

We have released to the wild many Barn Owls and Peregrine Falcons that we have hatched here.  Both of these species were recently taken off the endangered species list.

Dorothy the Andean Condor baby hatched here at WBS (photo: Gay Schroer)

We have hatched Andean Condors that were later released in South America.  We have released many bald eagles, even babies.

Breeding will continue all around us no matter what.  Like they say in Jurassic Park, “Life will find a way.”

When visiting the World Bird Sanctuary in the spring, keep an eye out for some of these breeding activities and behaviors. 

Submitted by Joe Hoffmann, World Bird Sanctuary Rehabilitation Hospital Manager

Birdlore: Northern Mockingbird: The Best Singer of Them All

On a warm spring afternoon, you may find yourself relaxing on the porch or listening to the chitter- chatter of songbirds bobbing and weaving through the yard.  Listening, you hear the song of what seems like a dozen different bird species singing.  You decide to glance about to locate the gathering chorus, but all those songbirds are nowhere to be seen.

Except for a single, slender-bodied, grey songbird perched boldly high up in a bush, bursting proudly with song.

A Northern Mockingbird. in its typically subdued colors (photo: wikipedia)

 The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is renowned for its ability to mimic the songs of other songbirds, cats, dogs, frogs, and even human-made objects.  Their songs are made of a long series of phrases, usually repeated several times, and lasting upwards of half a minute.  The mockingbird, male and female, sings continuously throughout the day and even into the night.  Unmated males will sing longer and louder than mated males in the daytime.  A mockingbird will continue to add new songs and sounds to its repertoire throughout its lifespan.

The Mayans tell a story of how a young mockingbird named, X-chol-col-chek, was poor and could only dress in shabby feathers.  However, X-chol-col-chek had been blessed with a beautiful voice since the day she hatched, but couldn’t afford singing lessons. 

X-chol-col-chek found work with a rich cardinal family, when a famous singing professor, a blackbird, arrived to the Maya land one season.  The father cardinal asked the blackbird to teach his lazy daughter, Col-pol-che, to become a skilled singer.

Col-pol-che and the blackbird would head off into a quiet part of the forest for many weeks for lessons and X-col would follow in secret to watch.  However, over time, the blackbird came to realize that Col-pol-che had neither the skill nor the motivation to become a singer.  Afraid to tell the cardinal father of his daughter’s progress after much time and accepting a great deal of money, the blackbird simply flew away to forget the matter.

All the while, X-col-col-chek practiced the lessons she had watched, until one day Col-pol-che stumbled upon her practice in surprise.  At the same time, the proud father cardinal arranged for his daughter to perform before all their friends and family.  Lazy Col-pol-che was terrified and too afraid to tell her father she couldn’t sing. Instead, she turned to X-chol-col-chek for help.

The two birds recruited a woodpecker to drill a hole in the tree just below where Col-pol-che would perch for her concert.  Col-pol-che would pretend to sing, while X-chol-col-chek hid in the hole and provided the real voice. 

The time of the concert had finally arrived.  All the nobles, artists, singers, and musicians had gathered while Col-pol-che rose to her perch.  Col-pol-che opened her beak and the most enchanting voice to ever be heard in the Maya land spread throughout the whole forest.    The audience flapped and praised the beautiful voice, however, the father cardinal was not applauding.

He had seen X-chol-col-chek climb into the hole shortly before the concert.  When the audience finally settled down, the father cardinal joined his daughter on the perch and demanded silence.  Leaning towards the hole, he called the little mockingbird out.

Shaking with fright, the small, gray mockingbird came out, only to have the father cardinal gently guide her to the perch with him and his daughter.  Explaining to the audience that his daughter had tricked them and himself, he explained that it was really, “this shy little ‘nightingale’ singing the whole time.”

In a great roar of excitement, the audience cried for X-chol-col-chek to sing again.  Feeling more confident, the mockingbird sang with a full spirit and won the heart of every bird.  From then on, her children and her children’s children would inherit her lovely voice, but the cardinals never learned how to sing as well.

The Mayan legend teaches that we should use the abilities we are born with, to be confident and bold in ourselves, and to never stop pursuing our dreams.

You may see one of these amazing singers at one of the WBS feeders (photo: Gay Schroer)

The next time you visit the World Bird Sanctuary keep your ears tuned for the exuberant song of the Mockingbird.  You may see one at one of our feeders--or--you may have one of these joyful little singers in your own yard.  Just take the time to listen.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer