Jan 17, 2019
Someone's nest is going to be nice and soft!
Jan 16, 2019
They are dapper-looking but not striking. They favor thistle, but they have a more flexible palate when it comes to wild food. Above all, they are tolerant of other birds. WBB contributor Eirik A.T. Blom finds pine siskins to be the perfect feeder visitor.
Jan 14, 2019
Do we have any desert birders in our audience? Tell us about your backyard birds to distract the rest of us from our wintry weather!(Gambel's quail photo by Katja Schulz)
Jan 13, 2019
Prepare easy treats your backyard birds will love!Recipes Your Backyard Birds Will Love! » Bird Watcher's Digest Everybody loves to feed the birds. But most people who participate in this mega-popular backyard activity rely on the foods that are sold at stores. For the most part, there’s nothing wrong with that—commercial bird food, seed types, and seed mixes have gotten a lot better in the past two decade...
Jan 9, 2019
Many birds prepare for the rigors of winter by adding weight in the form of fat layers. They do this by increasing their feeding rates and by seeking out fat-rich food sources. House finches—which can be a joy or a plague, depending on how many are frequenting your feeder—apparently do not use this strategy. A study of house finches at a feeder in Indiana indicates that the birds do not gain weight with the onset of cold weather.
Jan 2, 2019
Dear Birdsquatch: My wife and I will be spending two weeks in Ecuador this February. What if there's superfrigid weather while we're gone, or an ice storm? I'm concerned that our feeder birds will starve. Should we hire a pet sitter to come fill our bird feeders while we're away, even though we don't have pets?
Jan 1, 2019
Happy New Year! Do you have any backyard birding resolutions for 2019?(Evening grosbeak photo by Caleb Putnam)
Dec 29, 2018
If you haven't subscribed to Bird Watcher's Digest yet, this is a great opportunity to do so AND get a free booklet on backyard winter birding!LAST CHANCE: Helping Backyard Birds in Winter Booklet! * New subscriptions only, please. Offer valid only in the USA and Canada. Canadian postage rates apply. Ohio orders are subject to sales tax. Your first issue will arrive in 4-6 weeks.
Dec 26, 2018
You don't have to be an avid birder to keep a bird list. If you're serious about feeding the birds, why not keep track of the bird species that you have seen at your feeders, in your trees and shrubbery, or otherwise in or over your yard or property?
Dec 26, 2018
It's almost like a backyard birding fantasy league!American Birding Expo "When comparing where a bird fell on the dominance hierarchy to where it fell on a weight scale, a general rule emerged: the bigger the bird, the badder."
Dec 25, 2018
Wishing you warmth and merriment this holiday season!
Dec 19, 2018
Just because the days are shorter and the warblers and hummingbirds are gone from our midst (for most of us, that is) doesn't mean we should put our binoculars, field guides, and bird-watching plans in storage for the winter. There are many winter activities we can enjoy as backyard bird watchers. Here are a few suggestions.
Dec 17, 2018
Do you have any leucistic birds in your yard?
Dec 12, 2018
Are there pine siskins at your thistle feeder? They're easy to overlook, since they are streaky brown, like female house and purple finches, but have wing bars like an American goldfinch. They often turn up in flocks with their finch cousins, and blend in, unnoticed. Keep an eye out for a small, finely streaked finch with yellow at the base of a notched tail.
