Holly Shimizu
Holly H. Shimizu is an American horticulturalist and writer. She is best known for her television appearances on The Victory Garden on PBS, and as the former executive director of the United States Botanic Garden.
- Home
- Birds
- Birding
- Bird IdentificationLearning to identify the birds you see and hear is a wonderful skill to have. Improving your bird identification skills will lead to greater enjoyment of the birds around you. Once you can identify most of the birds you see and hear, you can support various citizen science programs or even become a researcher or professional ornithologist. There are two topics in this section of the site… 1. Identifying Birds – Which Bird Did You See? The first choice on your left is called Which bird did you see? In this bird identifier section you will find assistance in identifying what birds you have seen. We have selected 200 of the most commonly observed birds across the United States. They are presented in different ways and with multiple images.  Bird identifcation filters inclide color, size and habitat. State-specific bird identification informaiton is also provided. If you can identify 200 bird species, you are well on your way to becoming a bird expert. If you have a photograph of your unknown bird, you might want to jump over to our Name That Bird web site. We offer a free bird ID service. Upload your image and our experts will try to…
- BackyardWatching and feeding birds in your own backyard is an enjoyable and inexpensive hobby. Content in this section covers an array of topics, from the basics of bird feeding to habitat development. You will learn about the best bird feeders, the best bird seed to attract more birds and a greater variety of birds and other tips on how to attract birds. Content for three very popular groups of birds is also included – Purple Martins, Hummingbirds and Bluebirds. Information for each species describes housing and nest boxes, gardening tips for the hummingbirds and the favorite food of the bluebirds.  The male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is often reported at feeders, especially during spring migration. It is primarily found in the eastern half of the United States. Female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are much different in appearance than the males. The more subdued coloration helps the female remain hidden while on the nest. It is very similar in appearance to the female Black-headed Grosbeak of the western United States. Both photographs by Alan Wilson.
- ABCsThere are two, distinctive segments of the hobby of bird watching. There are those that feed and watch birds in their backyard. There are those that move far beyond the backyard with the purpose of seeing new and different bird species. There is no element of feeding birds in this segment. In combination, over 50 million Americans watch and feed birds, expending over $20 billion each year in the process. Download the latest report for detailed information. Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006. Bird feeding Bird feeding represents the larger of the two groups. It can be enjoyed by anyone, and can be as simple as spreading seed on the ground. As interest in the hobby grows, a variety of feeders and feed can be added to attract more species. Birdbaths are easy additions that attract a larger diversity of species than just feeding birds. As bird identification becomes more important, binoculars and a field guide become a valuable aid. Birding The second segment is now known as birding. Those that participate in the hobby are birders. On one end of the spectrum, birding can be a casual hobby. On the other end it…
- GardeningWe are excited to have Howard Garrett, aka the Dirt Doctor, participating in Birdzilla.com. Howard is a leading proponent of organic gardening and eliminating the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers in our yards. His radio show is heard on over 200 stations across the United States. From time to time, we will post tips from Howard that can help keep your yard and flowers healthy and happy, while protecting the birds. In the meantime, you can visit his website for an incredible amount of information. If you are just starting out you might find his Organic Guides a great place to start. Special Offer on the first-of-its-kind Natural Organic Certification Course Howard Garrett has developed on online course leading to certification for those who successfully complete the 15 chapter course. Birdzilla.com readers can receive a 10% discount using the code BIRDZILLA10. Backyard Birds – Success the Organic Way Our friend Carla Davis has been gardening pesticide free for years. You’ll enjoy her comments and the photographs of her beautiful yard. Many people think of backyard birds and gardens in relation to insects, the filet mignon of the bird world, which the birds readily eat and feed to their young.…
- AdventuresWelcome to Birdzilla Adventures – BEYOND THE BIRD! Follow Birdzilla staff and friends as they travel across the country, Canada and around the World! The focus will not always be about birds, but they will never be far away. Mark and Becci in the Congo with Dr. Jane Goodall Dr. Jane Goodall, the Republic of Congo, a place called Tchimpounga and orphan chimpanzees… Mark and Becci Crowe just experienced it all. Observing wildlife in the wild and bearing witness to their challenges not only inspires their art & photography but enables them to tell the story of endangered animals… and just weeks ago they were with Dr. Jane Goodall in Tchimpounga to bear witness to the plight of chimpanzees and efforts to save them. Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo was established by Dr. Jane Goodall in 1992 and is currently the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa. It was created to provide care for orphans of the bushmeat trade. In addition to habitat loss, the illegal commercial bushmeat trade is now one of the most serious threats to chimpanzees. It is the large-scale killing of chimpanzees for meat. Poachers kill the adults for meat and then take…
- PhotographyBird photography is increasingly an important part of enjoying wild birds. Digital cameras, with a high degree of automation, can help almost anyone take excellent bird photographs. Digiscoping, the use of a digital camera connected to a spotting scope, has also become very popular with many birders. In this section of the site, we’ll share information from Glenn Bartley, our staff photographer, and from other bird photographers.  Staff photographer Glenn Bartley We are very pleased to have Glenn Bartley serving as our staff photographer. Glenn really gets around, and we are never quite sure where he will contact us next. We’ll post updates of his trips from time to time. You can also check out his website for more of his great photographs and products. He also leads photo workshops in places like Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Ecuador: A Nature Photography Odyssey Glenn previously spent several months of intense photographic work in Ecuador. Ecuador is one of the world’s richest locations for birds and other wildlife. His trip reports and some fantastic photographs are available for you to enjoy.  Blast from the past The photograph below is one example of his excellent work. Follow the links on…
- ArtistsFeaturing the art work of some of the best bird artists in the United States. Welcome to Birdzilla.com’s Bird Artist Colony. We really enjoy art focused on birds. In this section, we’ll be featuring some of the top bird artisits in the country. Bird paintings can be both inspired and inspiring. Both bird paintings and bird illustrations are used in bird guides. The bird paintings and bird illustrations by John James Audubon are perhaps the most famous. John Gould is sometimes referred to as the British Audubon. His paintings of birds are outstanding. Perhaps his best known bird illustrations are of hummingbirds. The large plates often used a thin layer of gold on the gorget (throat) of the males hummingbirds. The gold was then overlaid with various colors of enamel to produce the brilliant colors flashed by hummingbirds. Click on the name of a more current bird artist on the left to enjoy their work. Violet-crowned Woodnymph The beautiful Crowned Woodnymph (featured below) is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It has a wide distribution and is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. It is found in subtropical or…
- Videography
- EducatorsWe are pleased to provide the following information and resources free to anyone involved in education about nature and birds. 10 Birds Guide An introductory guide for childern, images of 10 birds and an online quiz. Woodpecker Mini-guide Check out our new mini-guide to Woodpeckers. The free download includes calls of 5 woodpecker species. Bird Flash Cards Flash cards are a great tool for learning about birds, and can be utilized in numerous ways. Flash cards for 44 bird species are available. Each card is a PDF document. The cards print on standard 8.5 x11″ paper. Fold in the middle to place the image on one side and the description and range map on the other. Print as needed, looks best on glossy paper. Download here.  Bird Bingo Everyone enjoys a rousing game of bingo, especially when birds are used instead of numbers. To play, simply call out the name of a bird instead of a number. Instructions, a call sheet and 12 bingo cards are provided. Print the cards on a standard sheet of copy paper and cut in half to create 24 unique cards. Download Bird Bingo here. Each bird in the game is included in the…
- AppsThe new bird guide is specially designed for beginner to intermediate-level birders and uses habitat as the initial filter for finding a bird you have seen.  The new Birdzilla.com guide contains 2,000 high-quality photographs of over 650 species. Available on Amazon.com or at Barnes&Noble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQeMN1xUxcY