From Fiddler’s: MAPS June 21
The Most Remarkable Bird Wasn't the One in Yellow Three plain birds in gray told a much larger story by Samantha Bean Amid sixty-one gray catbirds in one morning last…
From the Forest: MAPS June 14
A New Site, an Old Forest, and a Stream-side Beauty by Samantha Bean Wild Bird Research Group carried our banding gear into new territory, and it did not disappoint. When…
From Fiddler’s: The Field Is Shifting. So Are the Birds.
Our MAPS Station Storytelling, June 07, 2026 by Samantha Bean The previous night's sudden rainstorm left the whole preserve smelling of sweet honeysuckle. Barely an inch of rain pushed Fiddler's…
First Friday at Fiddler’s
By Samantha Bean A rain-soaked weekend forecast led to something unusual for Wild Bird Research Group at the first MAPS session for 2026 at Fiddler’s Creek. There’s Warbler Wednesday and…
The Scavenger Hunt
Bird Bands, Site Fidelity, and the Data Hidden in Plain Sight By Samantha Bean Not long ago, my family stumbled across an owl pellet with a tiny leg band tucked…
The Quiet Math of Conservation
Hope for a Threatened Species is Starting to Add Up By Samantha Bean (Flutter by Meadows) It was a late-winter day leaning toward spring—the sun brighter than it had been…
Join the Wings Over Mercer Bird-a-thon: A Beginner’s Guide to Fall Migration Fun
Do you enjoy birding but never participated in a birdathon? Don't be intimidated! The Wings Over Mercer birding event is open to everyone who is interested in celebrating fall migration…
Why Molt Matters
In bird research, molt patterns reveal age like pages in a book. From dramatic juvenile-adult differences in Eastern Bluebirds to subtle feather wear in White-eyed Vireos, to microscopic details in Yellow Warbler alulas—each stage requires deeper observation skills. Every replaced feather chronicles a bird's survival story.
O Canada! A Spring Surprise at Fiddler’s Creek
Canada Warblers are starting to stopover at Fiddler's Creek. This is an encouraging milestone for the future of the habitat restoration there. And their stopover allowed us to share some helpful ID tips.