Marc Devokaitis News Today

For bird enthusiasts, nothing beats the thrill of spotting a bird species in the wild and identifying it.

Most of us get to see plenty of baby animals throughout the course of our lives, with puppies and kittens being the baby animals we're most likely to encounter. We also see baby horses, cows, goats, and ducks...but why do we never, ever see baby pigeons here in Illinois?

Most of us get to see plenty of baby animals throughout the course of our lives, with puppies and kittens being the baby animals we're most likely to encounter. We also see baby horses, cows, goats, and ducks...but why do we never, ever see baby pigeons here in Illinois?

Most of us get to see plenty of baby animals throughout the course of our lives, with puppies and kittens being the baby animals we're most likely to encounter. We also see baby horses, cows, goats, and ducks...but why do we never, ever see baby pigeons here in Illinois?

Most of us get to see plenty of baby animals throughout the course of our lives, with puppies and kittens being the baby animals we're most likely to encounter. We also see baby horses, cows, goats, and ducks...but why do we never, ever see baby pigeons here in Illinois?

Most of us get to see plenty of baby animals throughout the course of our lives, with puppies and kittens being the baby animals we're most likely to encounter. We also see baby horses, cows, goats, and ducks...but why do we never, ever see baby pigeons here in Illinois?

There are lots of theories about why we don't see baby pigeons here in Illinois, or anywhere else for that matter. The answer is something that applies to nearly every songbird you can think of, including Illinois' official state bird, the cardinal.

There are lots of theories about why we don't see baby pigeons here in Illinois, or anywhere else for that matter. The answer is something that applies to nearly every songbird you can think of, including Illinois' official state bird, the cardinal.

There are lots of theories about why we don't see baby pigeons here in Illinois, or anywhere else for that matter. The answer is something that applies to nearly every songbird you can think of, including Illinois' official state bird, the cardinal.

Recently Matt Smith and Marc Devokaitis posted online "A Modest Proposal: Can EBird Help Choose Better State Birds?"