Birds

January 29, 2021

Beautiful Snowy Owl Has Returned to Central Park After 130 Years

What has fluffy feet, amber eyes, and elegant plumage? The new queen of Central Park—a magnificent snowy owl who alighted in the North Meadow ball fields of Manhattan on the morning of January 27, 2021. Word spread quickly over the Twitter account Manhattan Bird Alert, which tracks avian sightings across the borough. Spectators flocked to the park to catch a glimpse. The adoration was not exclusive to avid birders, though.

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January 5, 2021

Study Finds That 4-Month-Old Ravens Are as Intelligent as Adult Apes

Ravens are fascinating birds. The sleek black creatures with sharp beaks are mentioned in the Old Testament, Native American historical traditions, and Edgar Allen Poe's famously haunting poem The Raven. One reason ravens have long fascinated is their obvious intelligence. They are known to hoard and use objects as tools, and to work in pairs to find food. However, until recently, avian intelligence received much less scholarly attention than that of the great apes.

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November 25, 2020

Adorable Little Owl Is Found in Rockefeller Christmas Tree After Traveling 170 Miles

Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Well, we may have experienced a modern-day miracle just recently. When the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was delivered to New York City earlier this month, a tiny owl was discovered nestled in its branches. The little, 20-centimeter-long (7.8-inch-long) bird had traveled 170 miles inside the tree, from her home in Oneonta where the tree was cut down.

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November 15, 2020

Artist Strategically Guides Birds With Food to “Draw” Giant Illustrations

From string art to food sculptures, we’ve seen creatives use all sorts of unconventional materials to make art. However, never before have we come across art made from living birds. Rather than use chalk or paint for their large-scale, outdoor drawing, this person uses hundreds of chickens. A viral video shows the artist strategically laying out bird seed to entice the flock into position.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.