Guest Posts Index
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Habitat in the City
Ron Cammel describes how replacing lawn and ornamental plantings with native species on a small city lot in Grand Rapids created habitat for pollinators and birds, demonstrating that meaningful wildlife conservation can happen even in an urban backyard.
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What is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
Kenn Kaufman describes the extraordinary abundance of bird life on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain and challenges the claim that it is “worthless tundra,” arguing that decisions about oil drilling should be made with a clear understanding of what would be lost.
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Why Not Save Every Wild Creature?
Robert D. Hinkle explains why nature cannot sustain every individual organism, describing how habitat limits, natural selection, and ecological balance shape wildlife populations and challenge human assumptions about saving every creature.
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Felines Fatales
Ted Williams examines the ecological impact of feral cats and the limits of Trap-Neuter-Return programs, highlighting the heavy toll that free-ranging cats take on birds and other wildlife, particularly in vulnerable island ecosystems such as Hawaii.
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Hosting Hordes of Nesting Cliff Swallows
Malcolm Morrison shares practical experience hosting a large colony of Cliff Swallows in New Mexico, describing their nesting behavior, the challenges of fledging young birds, and simple ways homeowners can help these energetic aerial insect hunters succeed.
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Nest Predators
Greg Butcher explores the many predators that threaten bird nests—from other birds and snakes to mammals and domestic cats—and explains how habitat management and responsible human behavior can help maintain a healthier balance for nesting birds.
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Chance Favors the Prepared
Dave Dister recounts how preparation, knowledge, and a bit of luck led to the discovery and documentation of a rare Red Phalarope along the Lake Michigan shoreline during a routine migration count.
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The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp
Paul Baicich reflects on the legacy of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, highlighting its historic role in protecting millions of acres of wildlife habitat and the importance of broad public participation to sustain conservation success.
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Saving Birds Thru Habitat: North and South
Greg Butcher describes international efforts to protect migratory species such as the Bobolink, highlighting the importance of conserving habitat not only in Michigan but also on wintering grounds in South America.
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Costa Rica Birding
David Dister recounts a 12-day birding trip to Costa Rica, where remarkable biodiversity and the sighting of more than 170 new species highlight both the richness of tropical birdlife and the importance of protecting habitats across continents.
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Birds and FDR
A review of Douglas Brinkley’s Rightful Heritage, exploring how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s lifelong fascination with birds and natural history influenced his conservation leadership as President.
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Bohemian Rhapsody
The Bohemians showed up November 29th on a cold, gray wintery day. I was looking east from the dining room window at a sweeping view of the creek to look for a Bald Eagle or a duck. Above the horizon I saw a shape-shifting swarm of birds — a murmuration — lifting and falling into the junipers, cottonwoods, and pines along the creek. “BOHEMIANS!” I yelled to my husband. “HUNDREDS OF THEM!”