Tag Archives: Bird

Environment

Consider Wildlife When Creating A Firewise Landscape

By Ed Pandofino

Living in fire-prone landscapes in California requires some modification of the areas around your home to protect it from fire. While there is no doubt that these modifications alter habitats used by wildlife, you can minimize the negative impacts on birds by paying attention to the timing of your activities.

In our area birds begin nesting in March and many still have dependent young as late as August. Since destruction of active bird nests is both against the law (Migratory Bird Treaty Act) and avoidable, the simplest approach is to conduct all clearing activities outside this period. This means doing the work in the cooler months, which is also easier on those doing this difficult work. Keep in mind that birds do NOT just nest in trees. Many birds nest on or near the ground in brushy areas (e.g., California Quail, Bewick’s Wren, California Towhees, etc.). Just because you are NOT removing trees doesn’t mean you are not disturbing nests. Also, keep in mind that disturbance is most damaging early in the season when birds are on eggs or have young still in the nest. In general, the most sensitive period is likely to be mid-March through July. It is best to avoid all disturbance during this period.

Ed Pandolfino
Sierra Foothills Audubon Society

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animals

This Is Einstein – The Parrot

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httpv://youtu.be/nbrTOcUnjNY

 

Its amazing how smart birds and animals can be.  We don’t give them enough credit for all of their abilities.

Studies with captive birds have given insight into which birds are the most intelligent. While parrots are able to mimic human speech, studies with the African Grey Parrot have shown that some are able to associate words with their meanings and form simple sentences. Along with crows, ravens, and jays, parrots are considered the most intelligent of birds. The brain-to body size ratio of psittacines and corvines is actually comparable to that of higher primates.One argument against the supposed intelligent capabilities of bird species is that birds have a relatively small cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain considered to be the main area of intelligence in other animals. However, birds use a different part of the brain, the medio-rostral neostriatum / hyper striatum ventrale, as the seat of their intelligence. Not surprisingly, research has shown that these species tend to have the largest hyperstriata, and Dr Harvey J. Karten, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego, who studied bird physiology, has discovered that the lower part of the avian brain is functionally similar to that in humans. Not only have parrots demonstrated intelligence through scientific testing of their language-using ability, but some species of parrot such as the Kea are also highly skilled at using tools and solving puzzles.[

Meet the Knoxville Zoo ‘s avian SUPERSTAR, Einstein.  Go  visit Einstein the African gray parrot at the Knoxville Zoo’s Bird Show, Knoxville, TN USA

 

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Email or call today:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
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(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

 

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