Feb 19, 2020
Across much of the United States, a cohort of birds always seems to rush the season; they can be heard singing even as February snow flies. For those of us who fall asleep with seed catalogs draped across our flannel-clad chests, these songsters are immensely cheering. Yet many of us are unaware of why certain birds seem to start singing—and nesting—so early in the season.
Feb 14, 2020
Do birds "love" their mates? The answer is impossible to know, and certainly requires anthropomorphizing. We know that birds and humans share some emotions, with fear being perhaps the most obvious. But what about love? Many birds (male hummingbirds are an exception) are devoted parents, who seem to care for their nestlings and fledglings lovingly. But is that really love? What about birds who mate for life? Could their pair bond be called love?
Feb 12, 2020
By the time you read this, spring may have a firm grip on your local area, but February is usually still winter in Ohio. It’s going to happen, though, spring is. Here are 10 long-awaited signs that a change in seasons is just around the corner.
Jan 30, 2020
With several types of bird food available on the market today, it's nice to have an option that offers something for everyone eating in your backyard. We've rounded up the most common ingredients of seed blends, their benefits to birds, and how to make sure you're buying the right mix for your backyard birding needs.
Jan 29, 2020
Would you frequent a restaurant that served your sandwich on the floor and dog food on the table? That's the human equivalent of offering birds inexpensive mixed seed in a hanging feeder. Cheap birdseed mixes usually contain a high proportion of milo, wheat, millet, and cracked corn. Such ingredients are fine for many ground-feeding birds, such as doves, blackbirds, quail, and sparrows, but not the favorite foods of birds that naturally eat above the ground, such as chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, and grosbeaks.
Jan 15, 2020
Winter: 'Tis the season for feeding birds all across North America, especially in those regions where it gets mighty cold and snowy. If you are just getting started in bird feeding, or if you are frustrated by a lack of success in attracting winter birds to your feeders, the first thing you need to determine is whether you are feeding the right foods. If you are not giving the birds what they want, you might not have many birds.
Dec 6, 2019
Birds have a number of ways to beat the cold, but none so important as their feathers. You may have noticed how on a very cold day the birds at your feeder seem rounder and more puffed-up than usual. This is a way of keeping warm by raising the feathers to create pockets of warm air and enhance insulation. In addition, many species change their plumage, molting into a fresh thick set of feathers prior to the colder months.
Dec 4, 2019
Help!!!! I read in Bird Watcher's Digest that a cage could be put around feeders to keep grackles from hogging all of the birdseed. I tried using 1x2 mesh, but cardinals wouldn't go through it. I tried painting the edges of the windows to make them easier to find. Still no luck. Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Nov 27, 2019
Did You Know? Most woodpeckers have an X-shaped footprint. Also, they have nostril feathers to prevent inhalation of wood particles as they chisel.
Nov 20, 2019
Of all of the drummers in the woods, none is more interesting or has more impact on its neighbors in the web of life than the sapsucker. Check out some interesting facts about these fascinating birds!
Nov 13, 2019
As the weather turns chilly and migration is underway, now is the time to start offering suet once again. If you have any young backyard bird watchers in your house, this DIY recipe for suet balls makes a great craft for a rainy weekend!
Nov 6, 2019
With fall comes the end of the breeding season and the return of flock feeding among backyard avifauna. Birds that spent their spring and summer in solitude or paired with a mate while tending their clutches are banding together into groups. You might be noticing larger numbers of crows, starlings, finches, or robins in and around your backyard. Did you know that there are three unique flock feeding strategies?
Oct 30, 2019
We tend to think a lot about holiday meals and seasonal treats as the year winds down and the weather turns chilly. Have you ever considered if and how the changing seasons impact what birds eat? Get ready to learn about birds' four main diet types!
Oct 23, 2019
You're likely already well-versed in the art of providing food and water for backyard birds. But do you know how to effectively provide cover to attract and protect birds? There are several important factors to take into consideration when installing shrubs or positioning feeder stations in your yard.
