OUTDOORS: Watching Birds in New York State

Outdoors: Why do birds have different types of wings?

“Awkward” would probably be the most benevolent word I could use to describe the explosive launch into flight of the California quail. Certainly, the words graceful or athletic do not come to mind. A quail taking flight is somewhat like a rock with a bad set of wings as these pudgy birds madly flap, exerting great effort to get off the ground. On a backcountry hike I enjoyed a much different, “wow” moment watching a massive bald eagle spread 6-f…

OUTDOORS: Watching Birds in New York State

To celebrate National Go Birding Day (April 26), Lawn Love ranked 2025’s Best States for Birdwatching. They compared all 50 states across five feather-focused categories. They examined the number of Audubon centers and sanctuaries, bird species, endemic bird species, and…