Sep 20, 2017
Migration, which appears to be a simple concept on the surface, is actually an immensely complicated process. Migration is widely understood to be the movement of birds from one place to another. We see migration every year in our yards: Sparrows and finches arrive from the North in the fall and leave in the spring. The big picture, however, obscures the complexity.
Sep 17, 2017
Looking to attract more birds to your yard this fall? One of the birdiest places in your yard might be last summer's garden, provided you leave a tangle of dead plants in place. See more tips: bit.ly/2xbs1gb
Sep 13, 2017
Here's a handy fall tip: While the weather is still fairly mild (and before our first heavy frost), fill a few bags of grapes and pokeweed and save them in the freezer for the birds. Put them out of the freezer in late January or February when you see that the natural food supply is depleted.
Sep 13, 2017
Think you know a lot about cardinals? Grab a cup of coffee and see how many questions you can answer about these colorful birds: bit.ly/2wPYiay
Sep 10, 2017
It's a myth that hummingbirds will be deterred from heading south in the fall because of human-provided food. Instinct and hormonal urges are what drive birds to migrate, and hummingbirds are no different. It's actually a good thing to leave your nectar feeder up in the fall. Here's why: bit.ly/2xRm31j
Sep 8, 2017
It's more than sunny dispositions that set American goldfinches apart from the rest of the avian world. Here's everything that makes these birds unique: bit.ly/2eSkYCD
Sep 6, 2017
Dear Birdsquatch: While examining my yard, I recently found a bare patch of earth strewn with wild turkey feathers. I've seen the occasional turkey in my yard, but they are very shy. Do these feathers offer clues that perhaps a predator killed a turkey here?
Aug 30, 2017
Are the chickadees at your feeder Carolina or black-capped? Carolina and black-capped chickadees are nearly identical.
Aug 27, 2017
“See life and feel its pulses with the eyes of a compassionate mother.” ? Amit Ray, Walking the Path of Compassion
Aug 23, 2017
Dear Birdsquatch: Last spring a pair of house wrens took over a bluebird house in my backyard. I suspect them in the untimely demise of a clutch of Carolina chickadee eggs, which I found pierced and dropped below the nest box the chickadees were using. I've heard that house wrens are not good neighbors to other cavity nesting birds. Is this true? And if so, what can I do to discourage the house wrens?
Aug 16, 2017
Ants are a common problem at nectar feeders, but a problem with an easy solution: An ant moat! Ants can't swim, so by hanging an ant moat above your nectar feeder, you block their travel route. While the ant problem is easily resolved, bees at the nectar feeder present a more difficult challenge.
