Fledging Time

Everyone enjoys seeing new fledglings, such as an Eastern Bluebird, and observing interactions with an adult (Wild Birds Unlimited photo).
During the post-fledging period, fledgling birds like these robins are fed and protected by the adults while they learn to fly and find food on their own (photo by Paul Konrad).

It’s an exciting time as the nesting season becomes more obvious with each passing day, and you may already be seeing some new fledglings that are leaving their nests. As fledglings appear, witnessing the successes of the nesting season is a wonderful experience and a fulfilling part of of providing nesting habitat in our yard, along with foods and fresh water for adults and fledglings. It’s a time we can all learn more about the behavior of birds when they venture beyond their nest, which is a time that’s not often described.

This week we’ve been watching the progress of a particular fledgling American Robin, that on first encounter looked like it was so young that it had fallen out of the nest. But it could fly short spurts to collect food from an attending adult. By the next day, it left its ground-based hangouts for low branches in nearby trees – obviously moving around and flying better. By day 3, it was beginning to stand in a more upright posture, which made it look larger and more adult-like in stature; and by day 4 the fledgling was flying especially strong and reacting immediately to human movements in the area.

And that’s what’s really fun about this time of the year: Everyone enjoys seeing new fledglings such as bluebirds, robins, cardinals, chickadees, screech owls, and others. Part of the learning process for birders is that by observing young birds when they leave the nest, we find out that fledglings are not on their own. The next step is really just a continuation of birds’ development known as the “post-fledging period,” which takes place after new fledglings leave the nest and continue to be protected and fed by adults.

The Post-fledging Period

During this interesting period, Read more

Wildlife

Growing network of radio stations provide important data on small animal migration

Iowa joined other Midwestern states, and researchers in Canada and Central and South America to create a network of radio receiver stations to learn more about the long-distance migration patterns of birds, bats and insects.

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System, motus being the Latin word for movement, began in 2013 by Birds Canada near Toronto. Motus is a system of coordinated automated radio telemetry station used to track long-distance movements of small animals.

Automated antenna array connected to radio receivers are being installed throughout the Western hemisphere and birds, bats and insects are netted and trapped then outfitted with small tags that emit a radio signal every few seconds. When the tagged animal passes near a receiver station, it records the tag and identifies the animal to which it was attached. So multiple detections over time can build a map of migration for a tagged individual. Read more

Wildlife

Brownells Giving Away Rifle with “Summer Grass Stains” & Grill for Father’s Day

GRINNELL, Iowa – Dads across the country have their chance at a one-of-a-kind custom rifle and a pellet grill – a prize package valued over $2,000 – in the Brownells Father’s Day Giveaway starting June 14 and lasting through Father’s Day, June 19.

The S&W M&P Sport rifle is custom Cerakoted by Blown Deadline and inspired by the iconic well-worn white sneakers bearing noticeable grass stains as seen on the feet of hardworking American dads on lawns across the US.

The rifle comes with a 36” Woodwind Pellet Grill from Camp Chef, for the ultimate dad-approved backyard grilling experience. Read more

Firearms

Escort’s Semi-Auto 20 Ga Youth Shotgun, the PS Youth

Rogers, AR – If you’re looking to get started or help someone get started with shooting sports, Hatsan’s Escort® PS Youth is the perfect beginner’s shotgun. But that doesn’t mean it lacks features! This semi-auto shotgun is just the right size for youth and smaller framed shooters. It’s easy to carry, easy to load, and easy to shoot.

The PS Youth is chambered for 3-inch magnum 20 Gauge shells and features Escort’s Fast-Loading and Smart-Valve Piston Systems. An aircraft-grade aluminum alloy receiver is fully anodized and sports a well-designed 11 mm groove for optics mounts. The chrome-plated 22-inch barrel pulls everything together utilizing a 7 mm, checkered, ventilated, anti-glare rib ending with a classic brass bead.

No matter what game is being taken, the Escort PS Youth can handle a variety of shots, including steel (with specific chokes). The multi-choke system includes five chokes (F, IM, M, IC, CYL). A migratory plug can be installed for 2+1 capacity and removed for a complete 4+1 capacity. Read more

Firearms

BoatUS Foundation Tests Your Emergency Beacon Knowledge

Take this 4-question true-false quiz; rental beacons available

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The proliferation of personal locator beacons (PLBs), whose diminutive size belie their enormous on-water safety advantage, are no longer thought of exotic rescue electronics. “PLBs are user-friendly and easy to maintain, and we are seeing more boaters using them as a mainstream rescue device,” said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner.

However, do recreational boaters fully understand the difference between a PLB and its larger cousin, the Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacon (EPIRB)? Read more

General

Christensen Arms Partners with Bakcou e-Bikes for Ultimate Giveaway

Gunnison, Utah – Christensen Arms, manufacturer of state-of-the-art precision firearms and custom carbon fiber barrels, is proud to announce they have partnered with Bakcou e-Bikes for the Ultimate Giveaway Promotion. Consumers who purchase any new Christensen Arms center-fire rifle between June 15th and August 15th qualify for an entry to win one of twenty Bakcou Storm Jäger e-bikes valued at $8,298 each. Twenty e-bikes will be awarded in total with drawings for five (5) e-bikes to occur on four different days – July 1st, July 15th, August 1st and August 15th.

“With the popularity of e-bikes at an all-time high, this is the perfect time to offer a promotion featuring one,” said Stephen Graham, Sr. Vice President, Christensen Arms. “Whether it’s used for getting deep in to the back country quietly for a hunt or scouting excursion, a Christensen Arms rifle and a Bakcou e-bike make a highly innovative and successful combination.”

Bakcou combines the incredible performance of an Ultra motor with a full suspension frame and the top-of-the-line internal gear Rohloff hub to create the best-in-class Storm Jäger. Its 14-speed hub is undeniably a feat of engineering; the huge gear ratio allows for high speeds and the ability to climb like a beast. Internal gear hubs require less maintenance than traditional derailer systems. Consequently, with a majority of the mechanisms housed internally, the Rohloff Speed Hub gives you peace of mind out in the backcountry. This bike will chew up those rocky climbs and steep descents with ease, while still allowing you to pull that trailer full of gear to and from your tree stand, blind, or favorite hunting spot. Read more

Firearms

Online Learning Platform ‘OutdoorClass’ Unveiled for Experienced, Novice Hunters Alike

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, GOHUNT, Randy Newberg and Corey Jacobsen, as partners, are proud to unveil OutdoorClass, an online learning hub unlike any other for hunters of all experience and skill levels.

“We are excited to be a partner on and announce this cutting-edge educational endeavor designed for hunters,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “This platform is centered on instruction and mentorship for those new to hunting as well as nuanced insights and techniques for those who have hunted for decades.”

OutdoorClass will launch with four multi-chapter courses on any device taught by Jacobsen, Newberg, Remi Warren and Jaime Teigen who break down early and late season elk hunting, mule deer hunting and wild game cooking. With many hours of content, this subscription-based offering provides unlimited viewing of all courses.

“Our production value is second to none,” says GOHUNT President and Co-founder Chris Porter. “Besides the skill and knowledge of our experts, our courses use detailed graphics and video to show subscribers exactly what to do, which is so much more valuable than just telling them. This attention to detail is what separates OutdoorClass from anything else that is out there today.” Read more

Hunting

Dan Wesson Offering Two Compact 1911 Pistols

Kansas City, KS (June 13, 2022) – Specific characteristics are essential when it comes to a concealed carry handgun. The Dan Wesson Enhanced Compact Pistol (ECP) and Tactical Compact Pistol (TCP) check all the boxes for reliability, accuracy, ergonomics, and weight. Both compact 1911 pistols deliver serious firepower in 9 mm and .45 ACP configurations.

The Enhanced Compact Pistol is a traditional 1911 design with modern styling and enhancements. The ECP sports a stainless-steel slide and a forged aluminum frame, keeping the weight to a mere 29 oz. Tapered G10 grips and a bobbed mainspring housing enhance the pistol’s ergonomics, affording shooters with smaller hands an easier reach to the trigger. A tri-topped slide wears aggressive side serrations for superior grip. Its top rib knocks down glare, while the new U-notch rear sight mates perfectly with the brass bead front sight for rapid target acquisition.

The Tactical Compact Pistol includes the same performance elements of the ECP while adding tactical features like a 1913 Picatinny rail for a light or laser and a one-piece flared magwell for tactical reloads. TCP has a compact stainless tri-topped slide and aggressive slide serrations – modern, practical, and stylish additions. Its top rib helps reduce glare, and it features a new U-notch rear sight with a whopping .156” wide notch paired with a brass bead front sight. Read more

Firearms

Masterpiece Arms Adds Black and Gold DS9 Hybrid to their DS Series Pistols

MPA adds a brand new color combination to their series of Double Stack 1911 Pistols.

Comer, Ga. – MasterPiece Arms (MPA), manufacturer of precision Pistol, BA Rifles and Chassis Systems, is proud to announce its new addition to the DS Pistol Series. This Black and Gold DS9 Hybrid is now available through Masterpiece Arms. The new pistol features a black slide and frame with gold accessories including the barrel, safety, trigger, magwell, hammer, and more. This is just one of the recent additions to Masterpiece Arms ever-changing product line.

For more information on MasterPiece Arms and their product line of rifles, chassis systems, pistols, and accessories, visit www.masterpiecearms.com.To find out the latest delivery and lead times for all MPA bolt action rifles and chassis, please click here. Read more

Firearms

SIONYX is launching their Uncharted Aurora Kit

The SIONYX Aurora Black and PRO, handheld digital color night vision cameras, will now be available in all-new Uncharted kits, which come in two bundle options. Paired with either the RAM Camera Mount System or the RAM Camera Mount System plus a Tablet Mount System, consumers can choose between the Uncharted Aurora Black and the Uncharted Aurora PRO kits.

The Aurora series of cameras provide users with unprecedented digital night vision capabilities. The highly sensitive and wide spectrum response allows the Aurora models to capture details in <1 MLX moonless starlight, so you can see well beyond what human eyes can see and detect in the dark. The Auroras’ power comes from the proprietary black silicon sensor offering users advanced low-light night vision at an affordable price. With Aurora, users can capture photo and video with as little ambient light as the stars. Read more

Optics
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