February 2025 Wild Bird Update: Surviving Winter and Start Nesting

While the month of February can be brutal for wild birds, they are also reacting to the lengthening of daylight hours. Some birds begin their early Spring migration and many are starting their first nesting cycle. Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 40 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at www.backyardbirdcenter.com. #marksbackyardbirds, #winterbirds , #backyardbirds FOLLOW Facebook:   / backyardbird.  . Instagram:   / marksbackya.  . Do you want to be an Insider? https://shopbackyardbirdcenter.com/pa... Join our FREE Facebook Community Group:   / 1055480298992527   Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission. Mark's Amazon store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/marksback... SUPPORT Visit our website: http://backyardbirdcenter.com Shop our online store: http://shopbackyardbirdcenter.com MORE INFORMATION Contact: [email protected] Cover photo by Karole Erickson 0:00 Introductions and Welcomes 11:11 Dealing with Cold - Eastern Bluebird in snow by Bruce Weekes 15:02 Start of Singing - Eastern Meadowlark by Kurt Hoeper 17:24 Spring Molt - American Goldfinch molting Mary Nemecek 21.25 Early Spring Arrivals - Eastern Phoebe and Killdeer by Paul Ruehle, Turkey Vulture by Charles Cummins, Belted Kingfisher by Ed Durbin 23:08 Purple Martin Scout Arrival - Male Purple Martin by Mary Nemecek, female by Pat White 32:46 Identifying Bluebird vs House Sparrow nests - House Sparrow nest from Sialis.org Eastern Bluebird nest by Kurt Hoeper 33:36 Bluebird box possible residents - Male House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and Carolina Wren pictures by Mary Nemecek, Female House Sparrow by Brian Voorhees 41:25 Hot Birding Spot in Winter - Great Gray Owl, Boreal Owl and Bohemian Waxwings by Mary Nemecek, Snow Buntings from Adobe Stock 44:12 General Question and Answers