The Latest Comments

• Re: Welcome to Watching Backyard Birds.com!
  #18 in the Gallery is misidentified as a Tree Sparrow, instead of Tree Swallow.
  by Ron, Mon, 23 Apr 2018
• Re: Backyard Tip: Crushed Eggshells Are for the Birds
  yep i do the microwave too....they don't break down in our compost so the birds get them!
  by ecumam2, Wed, 18 Apr 2018
• Re: Dear Birdsquatch: Spring Cleaning Below the Bird Feeder
  As you probably know, sunflower seed hulls have a bio-chemical in them, (allelopathic), which keeps any other seeds from sprouting, in the same area. I have used this fact, to a purpose. With a large build up, each year (& yes, it is a bare spot!), I rake up the "bounty" & spread them on areas of bulbs & perennials to keep the annual weeds down. It's also helpful near blue squill bulbs, which drop seeds through the fence that divides a perennial garden, from the lawn , where they are welcome to naturalize. The garden can be over run with them, so sunflower hulls can keep the sprouting down.
  by Plntlady, Tue, 17 Apr 2018
• Re: Dear Birdsquatch: Spring Cleaning Below the Bird Feeder
  I do this in a small garden, near our road, where winter road sand can build up & bury the small, low-growing plants that live there. In spring I just pick up the burlap & shake it back onto the road, before the road crew comes by with the street sweeper, in spring.
  by Plntlady, Tue, 17 Apr 2018
• Re: Ask Birdsquatch: What do Insect-eating Species Eat in the Winter?
  Thanks, now I can not worry so much. It's April 17, here in NE Vt. & is snowing big snowflakes. Yesterday we have scary, high winds & it's refusing to be spring. A phoebe, which was so puffed up I didn't recognize it, except for it's insectivore beak, showed up near the feeders, on my porch. It flew to a low branch, in a sugar maple & has been huddled there for quite a while. I was sure it was a phoebe when I observed it's tail bobbing, when first landing. I assume it is now being still, trying to reserve body heat. I have a frozen, cut pomegranate, hanging from the porch & we have an ample supply of sumac berries & other native fruiting plants, so hopefully it will find what it needs.... Also spotted a brown creeper, on the trunk of one of our big, old sugar maples, this morning.
  by Plntlady, Tue, 17 Apr 2018