Birds and Blooms

As winter fades and late spring sets in, most songbirds are just beginning to build their nests and lay their eggs. But owls have a major head start. They usually start nesting in January, though some owl species, like gre...

Tragedy struck the Big Bear Valley in August 2026, when the globally beloved bald eagle Jackie — half of the iconic “Jackie and Shadow” duo, famous for their nest cam —

Hawk identification is tricky—there’s no going around it. After years of staring at pictures of raptors as an editor for Birds & Blooms, it’s still hard for me to identify the birds of prey I see while driving out in the country or even in my own neighbo...

Collectively, owls are often referred to as the raptors of the night. You don’t go on an owl prowl during the day, after all. Owls aren’t always the nocturnal hunters that we imagine, though. There are a few

Sharp-shinned hawks are among the smaller raptors—not much bigger than a blue jay at around 10 to 13 inches long. T...