All the great features that normally are available only to registered users of BirdersWorld.com or Birder's World magazine subscribers became available to everyone today at noon Central. For free.
What a great opportunity to find out what you've been missing!
I wrote earlier about five of my favorite columns by Founding Editor Eldon Greij. Now I want to share five of my favorites from Julie Craves.
Julie is the supervisor of avian research at the Rouge River Bird Observatory at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a research associate at the university's Environmental Interpretive Center, and a tireless researcher and advocate for birds. She writes about the connection between coffee and the environment -- and especially bird habitat -- in her blog Coffee & Conservation. She describes the day-to-day goings-on of the Rouge River Bird Observatory in the blog Net Results. And you can follow her on Twitter here: @RRBO.
As you might imagine, working with Julie is one of the best parts of editing the magazine. Just look at all the topics she's written about (and plenty more are on our website):
Blue-footed Boobies, flocks, Tree Swallows
Julie Craves answers readers' questions about why Blue-footed Boobies have blue feet, how flocks manage to fly in unison, and why normally high-flying swallows eat off the ground.
This column appeared in the June 2008 issue of Birder's World.
Bald Eagle, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, dog food
Julie Craves answers questions about the gripping power of a Bald Eagle's talons, why a Rose-breasted Grosbeak's plumage might appear coffee-brown, not black, and whether it's OK to mix dry dog food into suet.
This column appeared in the April 2008 issue of Birder's World.
Feeders, House Sparrows, nesting birds
Julie Craves tells about feeders that keep out non-native and other undesirable birds, how to safeguard a birdhouse from House Sparrows, and what to do about dive-bombing birds.
This column appeared in the October 2007 issue of Birder's World.
Hawks and dogs, soft water, V formation, Purple Finches, Cooper's Hawks
Julie Craves says whether hawks have been known to attack small dogs, whether it's OK to use soft water in a birdbath, how birds flying in V formation decide which is the leader, why Purple Finches might have growths on their heads, and whether Cooper's Hawks will nest in nest boxes.
This column appeared in the June 2006 issue of Birder's World.
Mallards, cardinals, seedeaters, and fruit eaters
Julie Craves answers questions about why male Mallards try to mate with each other, whether cardinals will replace a lost mate, and how to determine if a bird eats seeds or fruit.
This column appeared in the June 2004 issue of Birder's World.
If you like what you see, come back on Monday, November 16,* and register on BirdersWorld.com for free, or subscribe to Birder's World magazine right now.
Enjoy! --C.H.
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