WINGSCAPES

Noisy Miner Video from Tasmania

As they say in the sports world, "Let's go to the video!"

The video we'll go to today is one of a Noisy Miner recorded and submitted to the Wingscapes BirdCam Video Gallery by Elli in Tasmania, Australia. Elli writes that visits of this bird to her bird bath are a daily afternoon occurrence.

For those who might not be familiar with this species of bird, the Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala, is a member of the honeyeater family and endemic to Australia. The "chirps" heard in the video are much softer than the loud alarm calls it is capable of making and from which its name comes.

1 in 5 Americans are Birdwatchers According to USFWS

I know a lot of birdwatchers, but I was still surprised to learn that 20% of Americans participate in birdwatching! According to a report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are about 48 million birders in the U.S.. 88% are backyard birders, and the average birdwatcher is 50 years old with an above-average income and education level. Slightly more women than men participate in birding.

Top 5 States for Birders
1. Montana (40%)
2. Maine (39%)
3. Vermont (38%)
4. Minnesota (33%)
5. Iowa (33%)

Any surprises?