Roger J. Lederer, PhD

How to

Tell the Age of a Budgie

Figuring out the age of a budgie can be easy! You can tell whether a budgie is a baby, an adolescent, or an adult through several telltale signs. Start by looking for striped or clear cap feathers. Then look at the bird�...

Does My Bird Have Mites? Common Signs, & What to Do

Learn to spot mites on parrots, parakeets, cockatiels, and other birds Certain bird species, like parakeets, parrots, and finches, are more likely to contract mites. Bird mites feed on your bird’s blood, can live and t...

How to Buy Binoculars for Your Favorite Outdoor Hobby

Pick the best size, magnification, and features for your price range Binoculars are fantastic tools that make activities like bird-watching, star-gazing, concerts, and sports more enjoyable. However, not all binoculars a...

How to Tell the Sex of a Lovebird

Learn the difference between male and female lovebird sexes Whether you want to find the perfect name for your lovebird, or are trying to breed them (or keep them from breeding), you’re probably interested in finding ...

How to Identify a Male or Female Duck using Appearance and Behavior

Sorting the drakes from the hens in Mallard and other duck species Whether you’re spying them through binoculars or pairing them up to brood, sorting the males ducks (or “drakes”) from the females (often called “...

How to Tell the Difference Between Male and Female Robins

Identify male & female American, Australian, & European robins The robin is a beautiful migratory songbird that many believe brings tidings of the spring season. Robins are quite common throughout Europe and North Americ...

How to

Attract Crows

Crows are very bright creatures, one of the most intelligent animal species, and a group of crows, called a "flock" or a "murder," can be a useful addition to your yard. A small flock can keep plants free of insects and ...

How to

Care For a Bird That Has Hit a Window

According to the Bird Conservation Network more than 100 million North American birds die every year from window collisions. These accidents are most common during spring mating season. It is illegal to keep a wild bird ...

3 Ways to Tell If a Duckling Is Male or Female

Learn to identify a duckling's gender at various stages of development It can be difficult to tell the sex of a baby duck visually, as both male and female ducklings tend to look similar. Luckily, there are several easy ...

How to

Make a Bird Nest

A bird's nest makes a wonderful mantelpiece decoration, and can make use of almost anything you find along a nature hike, or in your front yard. Wild birds usually prefer to make their own nests, but you can lure many sp...

How to

Make Emergency Baby Bird Food

Seeing a hungry baby bird can certainly pull at your heartstrings. Ideally, a wild a baby bird should be left in its nest or taken to experts at a wildlife rehabilitation center. However, you may need to feed a baby bird...

How to

Calibrate Binoculars

Seeing detail from a far distance is almost impossible without a good set of binoculars. If you’re trying to birdwatch or see something from far away, you’ll need to make sure your binoculars are correctly calibrated...

How to

Spot Signs of Disease in Conures

You think your conure might be sick, but you’re not sure what to look for. Generally speaking, you can check for changes in their appearance, odd behavior, or digestive problems. These symptoms could indicate a number ...

How to

Tell if a Bird Egg Is Infertile

Whether you're looking to ensure your bird eggs are viable for breeding or you're just curious, checking to see if an egg is infertile can be quite easy. In most cases, it's possible to ensure your eggs do not grow into ...

How to

Care for a Bird

A complete guide to housing, feeding, & socialising your bird Birds are extremely social by nature, and thrive on company, nurturing, and frequent interaction. Many species of birds make fun, engaging pets. If you're con...

How to

Choose a Cage for a Budgie

With so many cages of different shapes and sizes advertised for small birds, it can be intimidating to know which cage is best for your feathery friend. While budgies may seem like small and low-maintenance pets, they st...

How to

Help a Baby Bird That Has Fallen Out of a Nest

When you see a baby bird survive after falling from the nest, your first instinct may be to help it. Most well-meaning people do more harm than good when they attempt to rescue baby birds. Before you act, it’s importan...

Nighttime Chirping: Why Do Birds Do It?

All the reasons why you're hearing birdsong after darkBirds are famous for chirping at sunrise, but they sleep during the night—right? Hearing midnight chirping can be a little unnerving since most of us don't expect i...

How to

Catch a Duck

Ducks can be caught to relocate or for study in a humane way. During certain points in a duck’s life cycle, such as after mating, ducks are flightless and much easier to catch. Use food and other attractants like decoy...

How to

Feed a Baby Sparrow

If you find a baby sparrow that appears abandoned, you can take it into your home and feed it. Many wildlife refuges and concerned people care for injured and orphaned sparrows until they are old enough to fly. Before at...