Birdy Valentines

In this season of love, we've made Valentines for your enjoyment based on real bird facts!

Bald Eagle nests, also known as eyries, are some of the largest in the world. Both male and females build the nest, which grows over time as they add twigs, branches, and grasses. While the average eyrie is 6 feet wide and 2-4 feet deep, the largest recorded was 9.5 feet wide and 20 feet deep, weighing almost 3,000 pounds!

While a Hummingbird's wings can beat up to 80 times per second, their heart can beat anywhere from 500-1,200 beats per minute!

Many migratory Birds travel thousands of miles a year between their wintering and breeding grounds. The American White Pelican is no exception, with some traveling 3,000 miles a year between Canada and Mexico and back again!

While ants are a Northern Flicker's favorite meal, they embrace these insects for more than just food. Flickers sometimes participate in a practice called anting- a behavior in which they spread their wings wide and allow the ants to crawl all over them. Although the exact reason for anting is unknown, some theories suggest it is to help them control feather parasites.

Greater Sage Grouse have an undeniably expressive courtship ritual. Taking place at the same breeding site each year, called leks, the males display a unique, dynamic dance for observing females that is sometimes known as "strutting." This demonstration entails a dramatic, rhythmic inflation of the yellow air sacs on their chest, creating a loud plopping sound,  all while pointing their feathers upward and bobbing repeatedly.

Cedar Waxwings are known for their sleek look, their sociable nature and something just a little more scandalous. While these stylish Birds often flock and feast together on berries, the winter season, especially the first frost, can cause these fruits to ferment. As a result, Cedar Waxwings have been repeatedly observed stumbling and swaying, seemingly drunk on alcohol.

The Burrowing Owl is the only North American Bird that nests solely underground. Using the burrows of animals such as prairie dogs, these unique Owls hunt during the day, unlike their more common nocturnal counterparts.

Brown Creepers are adorably elusive Birds whose name feels quite appropriate. In search of insects, these small creatures creep up trees, spiraling in circles around the trunk from the roots to the very top. Once they traverse the whole tree, they flutter down to the Earth and start their ascent of the next one.

Crows are incredibly intelligent Birds who have highly sophisticated social systems and communication. In recent studies, it was discovered that Crows have skilled facial recognition, able to differentiate a specific person based on whether they were respectful or disrespectful to the Crow. As the observation progressed, it showed that this information was not only remembered throughout the whole Crow's life, but it was passed to other members of the flock and future generations. Some of this relational knowledge persisted for up to 17 years!

The Red-winged Blackbird is known for being highly territorial! Especially during the breeding season, they have been known to dive bomb other birds, people, and even horses. This aggressive display is often paired with a loud, trilling scream, further alerting intruders of their territory.

Did you know Killdeer mothers are incredible actors? When her babies are threatened, she will often fake a broken leg, distracting predators and luring them towards her and away from her babies.