When you start out in birding, you get yourself a good pair of binoculars, a guide to birds, and some sturdy footwear. But something else you want to have is a mentor.
Birds come north in the spring to feed on the explosion of insects and plant life that takes place during North American summers. But a warming planet is changing what we see at our bird feeders and in our forests.
People who study birds are now using radar to make maps that can forecast migration at night. They say these maps could help by reducing the number of birds that collide with buildings and wind turbines.
The Erie Bird Observatory will continue the long-running bird banding program at Presque Isle. One of the founders, Mary Birdsong, says studying birds is the first step to learn and appreciate the natural world.
Western Pennsylvania has rich biodiversity and large chunks of forests, but looming threats. A new effort will prioritize funding to save wildlife like brook trout and golden-winged warblers in key regions to restore forests and waterways.
The new rule is a reversal of the 100-year-old conservation law that was sometimes used to prosecute industries for accidentally killing or failing to safeguard migratory birds.
