It’s Feb. 20 and the first spring migrant is flying low over the waters of a mountain lake in Transylvania County. The first tree swallow has arrived, but winter has not yet retreated and it’s a ...

Mating by birds — the passage of sperm from the male to fertilize eggs produced by the female — is quite unlike that of mammals. It begins with the male Tree Swallow, in this case, finding an ...

A male tree swallow gives a good yawn in the early morning light. This photo shows how wide a swallow can open its mouth when trying to capture flying insects. Credit: PHOTO BY BILL DANIELSON One of ...

The eastern bluebird has been the featured subject at least two dozen times over the 26-plus years Focus On Nature has been running on these pages. It’s a subject guaranteed to brings notes and calls.

Cliff swallows are said by ornithologists to show the highest degree of colonization of any of the 89 swallow species in the world. Colonies can number from 200 to more than 2,000 nests. They could be ...