The beautiful but critically endangered Whooping Crane has been rescued by captive breeding programs. Birds released from captivity are beginning to raise young in the wild.
West Nile appeared in North America in 1999. Birds spread it to mosquitoes and mosquitoes spread it to humans. American Robins are important in tranmission while American Crows are important sentinel birds.
This article is about the the red-winged blackbird including a description, song, call and habits. It is not your typical blackbird. It is the most populous of the blackbirds. It will protect the nestlings in its territory even from much larger birds, as well as fearsome birds. Its unusual flocking habits make it unwelcome to many, yet its unusual behavior during nesting season makes it interesting to watch.