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| Red-breasted Nuthatch |
A few years ago,
north Texas was treated to an influx of Red-breasted Nuthatches. It happens every few years. These were
from the vast evergreen forests of Canada and the northern U.S. known as the Boreal Forest, a huge forest that's home
to over 300 species of birds, including Nuthatches. You can usually identify them climbing headfirst down tree trunks, probing the bark for bugs.
Nobody knows precisely why some species fly to
more southern areas for the winter; and why Nuthatches sometimes winter here, versus (for instance) Arkansas. But be prepared for more visits from
several “boreal” species this coming fall.
Can you
breathe and sing at the same time?
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| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
Birds can. Birds sing
through a branched organ called a “syrinx”. Each branch can be controlled
independently. So birds can produce two different sounds at the same time. Birds also have a specialized breathing system. They can inhale and exhale (perhaps
through the syrinx) since they can manipulate air sacs and lungs independently.
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