Val Cunningham
Latest from Val Cunningham
Orioles are returning to Minnesota, and here’s what to feed them
Missing the eagle cam action? Try the peregrine falcon cam instead. And it turns out the Merlin app can detect a merlin.
May 1, 2025
Birds are migrating back to Minnesota and waterfowl are out in front
Loons and the striking wood ducks are among the early birds to watch for.
April 17, 2025
Why do cardinals ‘wha-cheer’ so early in the year?
Plus, readers ask about goldfinches nesting and eating, starlings making holes in lawns and swans appearing in local waters.
April 3, 2025
Handsome and lethal, bird-eating hawks live among us
Cooper’s hawks make themselves at home in the cities and suburbs.
March 6, 2025
Tips for spotting elusive screech owls: Listen at night and look for holes
Plus: What do cardinals eat when they’re not at feeders? Why do people bird-watch in winter?
February 27, 2025
When a hawk and owl face off, who wins? Sometimes neither.
Plus: How do birds keep their feet from freezing? How do bird beaks change color?
February 13, 2025
Chickadees find a creative way to keep feathers in top condition — a snow bath
What’s that not-so-gold finch? Where do hawks sleep? These and more reader birding questions answered.
January 30, 2025
Avoid birdcicles: Heated birdbaths may tempt birds to bathe when it’s too cold.
Plus: What kind of nests do great horned owls build? What’s a good recipe for suet?
January 9, 2025
Robins are doing just fine in our winters
Often associated with spring, these migratory birds are a not uncommon sight year-round.
January 2, 2025
What’s a woodpecker doing on a prairie?
Look for round knobs on tall plant stems for signs that birds have been visiting.
December 12, 2024
Do cardinals speak ‘robin’? Do chickadees talk to finches?
Readers’ questions answered about Minnesota birds.
December 5, 2024
Do hummingbirds have a gratitude gene?
Reader wonders if they were witnessing a farewell lap.
November 14, 2024
