№ 2712 Jul 2026
Autumn Decor That Outlasts the Season
A case for building the room around autumn's palette instead of its props, with rust and umber migration art that looks as right in May as it does in October.
Atlantic, Pacific, East Asian
Migration & Flyway
Twice a year the wetlands fill and empty as birds move along the great flyways. These dispatches follow the journeys: who leaves, who arrives, how far they fly in a day, and where they stop to rest along the way.
27 dispatches filed under this habitat
№ 2612 Jul 2026
Canada Goose Wall Art: The Migration Classic
Why the black-necked silhouette every American knows by heart makes the most dependable goose print you can hang, and how to choose between a calm pair and a flight scene.
№ 2512 Jul 2026
Geese in V Formation: The Science Behind Migration Art
The V is a machine for sharing work, each bird riding the upwash of the wing ahead, and that physics is why a flight print gives a room a motion that still art cannot.
№ 2412 Jul 2026
Snow Goose Prints: Winter Light on the Wall
How a rising flock of white geese brings true winter light into a room, and why the slate-bodied blue morph is the pick for people who know their geese.
№ 2311 Feb 2026
Can Geese See in the Dark? Better Than Humans
Geese have better low-light vision than humans but aren't truly nocturnal. They're crepuscular - active at dawn and dusk - and migrate at night using a combination of magnetic, celestial and visual cues. In genuine darkness they roost on water and rely on hearing for threat detection.
№ 226 Feb 2026
Where Do Ducks Go in the Winter?
North American ducks migrate along four major flyways - Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic. Most northern breeders winter in the southern US (Gulf coast, California Central Valley, Chesapeake) or Mexico. Here's the per-species pattern and the science behind it.
№ 2130 Jan 2026
Can Ducks Eat Cabbage? Yes, and It's Great Enrichment
Cabbage is safe and excellent for ducks - raw or cooked, chopped or whole (hung on a string as a tetherball game). Green, red, savoy, all fine. The single best winter enrichment for a confined flock.
№ 2018 Jan 2026
Why Do Geese Stand on One Leg? Heat Loss, Mainly
A naturalist's read on why geese (and ducks, flamingos, herons) stand on one leg - the thermoregulation, the muscle anatomy, and why you see it most in winter.
№ 1915 Jan 2026
When to Put Up an Owl Box: Timing for North American Owls
A naturalist's guide to the right time to install an owl nest box - late autumn for most species, before squirrels select winter dens, in time for owl scouting in late winter.
№ 1814 Jan 2026
What Colours Do Birds Not Like? The Honest Answer
A naturalist's read on what bird research actually shows about colour aversion - which colours genuinely deter birds, why, and how to use the information practically.
№ 1711 Jan 2026
How Far Can Geese Fly in a Day? The Numbers Behind the V
A naturalist's answer to a question with a deceptively boring textbook reply - how far can a Canada goose actually fly in 24 hours? The honest range, what the V-formation does, and why flights of 1,500 miles in a day are real.
№ 162 Jan 2026
Can Ducks Fly? Most Species Yes, At Surprising Speeds
Most wild duck species fly 40-60 mph for migration. Domestic breeds mostly can't. A naturalist's read on which ducks fly and how well.
№ 1514 Aug 2023
Digestion in Owls: From Swallowed Mouse to Bone Pellet
An owl swallows prey whole and ejects the indigestible parts as a pellet 6-10 hours later. A naturalist's read on the gizzard, proventriculus, and pellet formation.
№ 1412 Aug 2023
Migratory Birds In California
California, with its vast landscapes and diverse habitats, is more than just the Golden State; it’s a prime pit-stop for thousands of winged travelers on their annual journeys. From the intricate...
№ 1321 Jul 2023
Water Birds in Kansas: 27 Species of the Prairie Flyway
Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira anchor the Central Flyway. A naturalist's read on the 27 regular Kansas waterbirds and when to see them.
№ 1229 Jun 2023
Peanut Butter for Birds: A Field Guide to Doing It Properly
A naturalist's guide to feeding wild birds peanut butter - which species actually take it, which jars are safe, the homemade winter mix we use, and the three feeders that survive squirrels.
№ 1115 Jun 2023
Hawks in North America (19 Species + State Guides)
Welcome to a journey of discovery, as we delve into the diverse world of North America's hawks. Spread across the sprawling continent, from icy Alaskan terrains to the sun-kissed Southern coasts,...
№ 1011 May 2023
12 Duck Breeds That Handle Cold Weather
A small-flock keeper's guide to the 12 duck breeds that handle winter genuinely well, the three that don't, and the housing and feed setup that keeps any duck alive through January.
№ 910 May 2023
Where Do Ducks Sleep? How and Where They Rest
Ducks are some of the most adaptable creatures on Earth. They can be found in almost any environment. It's not uncommon for migratory ducks in North America to winter in the arid climes of Nevada and...
№ 811 Apr 2023
31 Types of Ducks in New York
New York is one of the most populous and diverse states in the country. It is often thought of as a melting pot, with its long history of immigration and bustling metropolis of New York City. But...
№ 73 Feb 2023
Do Canadian Geese Migrate?
Canada geese are a migratory species. This means they typically spend each year's spring and summer months in the northern parts of the United States and Canada. In the winter, many flocks of Canada...
№ 63 Feb 2023
Geese Behaviour: A Naturalist's Field Guide to the Honkers
Why geese hiss at you, what the V-formation actually does, and how to read a Canada goose's body language. A field naturalist's notes on what's really going on with the most misunderstood bird in the park.
№ 53 Feb 2023
Goose Mating Season: Courtship and Nesting
As winter draws near, many animals begin to prepare for the long cold months ahead. For geese, this means finding a mate. Goose breeding season typically extends from mid-winter to early spring....
№ 421 Sept 2022
Geese in Pennsylvania (8 Species + ID Chart)
When most people think of geese, they probably picture the large flocks that migrate through Pennsylvania during the fall and winter. But there are several different species of geese that can be...
№ 313 Jul 2022
How Do Geese Decide Who Leads?
Geese flying in formation during their annual migration is often used as leadership lessons in many leadership seminars, and rightfully so. As humans, we can definitely learn many leadership...
№ 226 Jun 2022
How Far Can Hawks See?
Hawks are known for their good eyesight and excellent depth perception that allows them to can spot movement from far away. Red-tailed hawks, in particular, have binocular vision, meaning they can...
№ 118 Jun 2022
North American Geese: A Field Guide to the Seven Species
A naturalist's identification guide to the seven goose species that breed or winter in North America - which is which, where they migrate, and the differences most field guides understate.