As early as the 1800's, it was discovered that Native Americans had been providing the birds with hollowed out gourds to attract them to their dwellings.

Martins were useful in driving off vultures, small hawks and crows from the vicinity, and it's possible that the Native Americans also appreciated the birds' voracious insect-eating appetites! (Purple Martin begins nest-building)

Over time, perhaps because of the safety of being near humans, and the success of the provided nesting gourds, Martins began to prefer nesting in close proximity to us and using man-made housing over the natural cavities they had used previously. Now Martins use man made housing exclusively and are very particular about wanting to nest near their human benefactors.

Because Purple Martins have become so dependent upon us for their survival, it's important to realize that... Read On

When the eagle takes flight and begins to swoop over the lake between Nos. 10 and 18, the rest of the wildlife know it's time to scatter--especially since course workers and players have seen the bird dining on seagulls and ducks.

"When he takes off, everything else goes into motion," head professional Boots Farley said. "The other birds and animals have figured out by now that when he starts flying, something's going to get caught and eaten."

It's the Circle of Life, links-style.

The variety of golf courses in terms of water, woods, terrain and other vegetation also lends itself to a variety of wildlife.

There are the usual alligators, snakes and birds, but on many courses, 18 holes of golf also can be like living in an episode of Wild Kingdom... Read On

The cranes that died all hatched in 2006. They perished when a powerful storm born in the Gulf of Mexico made landfall directly over Chassahowitzka NWR, their new winter home, early on Feb. 2.

Tornadoes then raced across the state, spreading the misery wider. By morning, 20 people were killed, dozens were injured, and 1,500 homes were destroyed or uninhabitable. Preliminary necropsy results show that the birds likely drowned.

The so-called First Family--the first adult pair of Whooping Cranes to hatch and raise a chick--was not in the path of the deadly storm. All three birds are... Read On

Next May, a new 13-episode public television series, will be launched-- Travels To The Edge With Art Wolfe. Viewers experience remote and awe-inspiring places through Wolfe’s lens, whether tracking Bengal tigers on elephant-back through the forests of India, marveling at the dreamscapes of the Bolivian Altiplano, navigating fjords in the icy oasis of South Georgia Island, or witnessing ancient tribal ceremonies that are disappearing in remote Ethiopia.

Wolfe will conduct a 2-day workshop at the National Conservation Training Center near Shepherdstown, WV February 24-25.

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The male will often sit at the far edge of her web, waiting for the right time to mate, but because she could easily eat him, he often will make his own ,smaller web, near hers. If you take the time to watch, you may see her “bouncing” her web back and forth, as a possible means of having it stick to an insect that is near, or entangling one that has just landed on it.

There is some speculation that the vibrating web makes the spider look more menacing and may be done when... Read On