Recent content from Val Cunningham
Osprey are the medium-sized raptors with the 'W' wings
Elegant fishing hawks becoming a familiar sight again in the metro area.
Look for eagle eggs to hatch in March
Readers write: Do bird feeders really help birds? Is there such a thing as too many goldfinches?
Whoa! What that geese tuck and roll is all about
Canada geese "whiffle" as they come in for a landing so they can slow down more quickly.
Cardinals stick together at the end of nesting season
Plus: Where to see eagles on camera, and overwintering bluebirds.
Hurricane winds battered Florida's birds
Plus cardinals and pea vines, owl migration, loons in winter and more.
Do migrants or resident birds live longer?
It's tough on the migration trail, but winter is a challenge, too.
Curious young herons hang out on deck
Young birds are still learning about their world and might show up in odd places as they explore.
Bird migration is a hazardous business
We can help migrating birds by offering places to feed and rest in our own backyards.
Do birds feel grief?
The issue of birds having emotions has been controversial, but many say they do mourn the loss of a partner.
Can young birds bake inside nest boxes?
Midsummer heat can be lethal to young birds in "inside" nests.
In nectar wars, orioles can outmatch feisty hummingbirds
Orioles sometimes bully hummingbirds to drive them away from sugar water feeders.
Some orioles are being dyed a brilliant red by the food they eat
We're more familiar with the bright orange color of the typical male oriole.
When it's time to fly the nest, some birds may be reluctant to leave
Parent birds push their young to disperse to get ready for the next round.
Herons and egrets sometimes share a rookery
Herons and egrets — and other species, too — can often be found nesting in the same stand of trees.
Large, vocal red-bellied woodpeckers take residence in Minnesota
A recent addition to our region stakes out its claim in forests and backyards.
If hummingbirds were no-shows at feeder, it's worth trying again
Learn about birds battling windows, telling eagles apart and chickadees seeming to bathe in snow clumps.
A glimpse of what's going on in those huge eagle nests
Eagle nests are huge, but youngsters use only a small part of it.
Birds flood into Minnesota during spring migration
Billions of birds are on the move in our hemisphere.
Some of spring's migrant birds are here already
Larks, cranes and even turkey vultures are sure signs that spring is on its way.
Some bluebirds stick around Minnesota in the winter
If you think you see a bluebird in the dead of winter or a hummingbird in autumn, you can believe your eyes.
How to tell which owl is hooting — or hiding — in your neighborhood
A guide to the owls you can see Minnesota — if you look carefully.
Solving the mystery of the tiny holes in goldenrod plants
Woodpeckers are the culprits behind those holes in the round balls (called galls) on goldenrod plants.
Think fast: Birds do, and they're smarter than we've given them credit for
Birds not only can think, they even may think faster than mammals do.
Birding Q&A: Can birds taste their food?
Cardinals almost surely taste the food they eat, and in fact, are big fans of black-oil sunflower seeds.
Minnesota birders hope for a rare, good snowy owl winter
Could this be one of those years when versions of Harry Potter's Hedwig turn up everywhere?
Short days, cold nights make winter tough on birds. But you can help.
Imagine eating 35% of your body weight each day. That's what it takes to get a chickadee through winter.
Want more blue jays in your yard? Leave a treat for these peanut-crazy birds
If you want to make these big, handsome birds happy, set out some peanuts every day.
U's Raptor Center uses 'feather extensions' to help a hurt owl fly again
Raptor got replacement tail feathers in an age-old process called "imping" after being injured in a soccer net.
Bird antics abound in Minnesota: Readers share their favorite stories
Riding the rapids or ripping off hearing aids are just some of the bird shenanigans Minnesotans report.
Some birds hoard food in autumn
Blue jays and chickadees prepare for the coming winter by hiding food around their territories.
Young screech owls make themselves at home in urban backyards, but you might not notice
Pint-size owls, just 8 1/2 inches tall, might have nested right in your own backyard.
Birds and bees are not a good mix at feeders
Bees and wasps can drive hummingbirds away from feeders, but there's a work-around for that.
6 great places for fall bird-watching in Minnesota
So many parks and preserves featuring autumn's migrants are free and easy to get around in.
Minnesota's summer catbirds like Florida sunshine in winter
These handsome gray birds chatter and burble in the backyard all season long.
Once endangered bald eagles have landed in a better spot
Their population has largely recovered, but there's a cloud looming.
Once endangered bald eagles have landed in a better spot
Their population has largely recovered, but there's a cloud looming.
A young red-tailed hawk is sharing a nest with bald eagles in Door County, Wis.
Normally, the hawk would be prey, not a member of the family.
The bird we love to hate: Cowbirds make others do their parenting for them
These crafty birds spy on other songbird species, looking for chances to drop an egg into their nests.
The bird we love to hate: Cowbirds make others do their parenting for them
These crafty birds spy on other songbird species, looking for chances to drop an egg into their nests.
Minnesota's backyard songbirds go into overdrive in late spring
Once tiny birds tumble out of their eggs, the really hard work begins, as parent birds hustle to find enough food for their begging youngsters.
Late spring is crunch time for Minnesota's backyard songbirds
Once tiny birds tumble out of their eggs, the really hard work begins, as parent birds hustle to find enough food for their begging youngsters.
Spring migration is peaking now in Minnesota: Get outside and enjoy the show
You don't have to be a birder to enjoy the spectacle of spring migration. Head outside to get a glimpse of the many birds passing through.
Spring migration is a great time to catch a parade of birds passing through
Birds rushing to summer nesting spots provide a show just outside your window.
Warm winter brings Carolina wren, an unusual visitor to Minnesota
Backyard feeders are attracting red-bellied woodpeckers.
Robins eat more than worms. They also know how to fish
A number of these handsome thrushes have taught themselves how to fish.
What's your cardinal story? Readers share tales of the birds that brighten our winters
Did you hear the one about how a cardinal defeated a spider's web?
When eagles face ducks, the raptor wins
In late fall and winter, bald eagles are on the lookout for stranded ducks to make an easy meal.
A Minneapolis author's search for rare 'ice owls' is a page turner
A Minneapolis author's fascinating tale about studying the world's largest owls has flown off bookstore shelves.
Evening grosbeaks and other outliers visit northern Minnesota
Beautiful northern visitors may show up at feeders this winter.
Evening grosbeaks and other outliers visit northern Minnesota
Beautiful northern visitors may show up at feeders this winter.
Couple had a front row seat watching barred owlets grow up
Young barred owls filled one couple's summer with drama and heart-stopping adventures.
Couple had a front row seat watching barred owlets grow up
Young barred owls filled one couple's summer with drama and heart-stopping adventures.
How to keep hummingbirds in your Twin Cities backyard
It usually takes more than hanging out a nectar feeder to bring in these vibrant little birds.
