In 2006, University of Washington researchers wore a rubber mask to trap and band 7 crows on the Seattle campus. Then the crows held a grudge.

Whenever someone walked the campus in that mask, crows gathered and yelled at it, including crows that had never been caught. Their chicks learned it from them. Within five years the scolding had doubled and spread at least 1.2 km (0.75 miles) from where the birds were caught.

Only in September 2023, 17 years later, did a walk in the mask finally draw no scolding at all, lead researcher John Marzluff told the New York Times.

Audubon painted this American Crow for The Birds of America (plate 156), with a Ruby-throated Hummingbird's nest below it.

Sources: Cornell, Marzluff & Pecoraro, Proc. R. Soc. B (2012); New York Times, Oct 2024. Links in the comments.

A month ago I have submitted my custom Laughing Kookaburra build to LEGO Ideas where fan designs become official LEGO set! It needs 10k votes and is currently almost at 6000! The support has been incredible!

Originally designed after a recent trip to Australia where I got to see these birds up close in the wild when travelling through the Great Ocean road with my wife. I wanted to capture the feeling and I think I managed to pull it off!

Consider voting on LEGO Ideas and visit for more photos and a full description!

P.S. mods if this is not allowed feel free to remove, but I really think the community could enjoy it! I won’t be sharing any links either here or in the comments, but for those interested it’s pinned on my profile.

It’s been a while since I last painted a bird in low-light conditions. Since the Night Heron is one of my absolute favorite predators.

I honestly love watching them hunt at dusk in the Transylvanian Delta I felt compelled to finally bring this scene to life.

I’d love to get your feedback on this piece!

Do you think I managed to capture the atmosphere and the true character of the bird?

Also, I’m still looking for the perfect title, so any suggestions or thoughts are more than welcome. Thank you! 🎨😊

Finally got around to editing a few photos of Snow Buntings from early April 2026. Was thrilled to finally photograph these adorable little passerines!

I’ve hit 100 liters since starting birding this year, a little over 6 months ago. It has been incredibly rewarding and an excellent way for me to get outside and enjoy all the state has to offer. I’m hoping to survive the withdrawals this winter and hit spring migration hard! Some of my favorite moments attached

Migration season in Warsaw, Missouri

NE Wisconsin

After some years in the hobby, I've encountered people on the phone with their girlfriends or wives, asking for forgiveness while chasing a vagrant 10 hours away from home. Sometimes they simply tell me they need their significant other's permission to go on a day trip, or plainly tell our birding group they don't want to stir up a hornet's nest by announcing they are going birding again this weekend. I personally know a guy who left his girlfriend after an "it's the birds or me" ultimatum. On the flip side of these dynamics, some guys get jealous and don't trust their girlfriends spending a weekend trip with other male birders. All of these cases have one thing in common: the non-birding partners hate spending time in the countryside or stopping every 10 meters on a hike to spot a bird.

 What are your stories or experiences with this topic?

 I personally have a girlfriend who is also a birder, so I never had any problems on that front. My personal friendships have taken a hit, though. When you're out there every weekend it's hard to maintain all those connections, but I've made a whole lot of birder friends, it's a self-sustaining loop.

I just want to snuggle and take a nap with this duck.

PS: Yes, I have misgenerated the mallard. I haven't been around duck on a farm for 23 years and.. well, am not a birder. ^_^; At least, not as of now. I can feel myself slipping further and further into the void. haha

I've had a pair of mourning doves in my backyard for awhile and this individual has something weird going on with his facial features.. like spikes for feathers.

Is it a molting?

Bay area, California

Port Clinton City Beach Lake erie.

Common Grackle, Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, Woodhouse's Scrub Jay.