Kestrels in My Backyard American Kestrel, Cuba Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Nothing beats having a colorful Kestrel nesting in your yard. The smallest of the North American falcons, they are found throughout North America in open areas and grasslands, and adapt well to suburban areas. Kestrels eat insects as well as small birds and […]
Northern Saw Whet Owl/Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila The smallest owl in North America is the tiny Northern Saw Whet Owl. A ferocious predator of mice and other small rodents, they are great birds to have around to help keep the mouse population under control. If you live in a forested area, you might consider putting up a nest box now […]
One of the best ways to get kids interested in birds is to get them working on a fun bird project. Photo Credit: Melpo Apostolidou, BirdLife Cyprus Our friends at BirdLife International have some great ideas that kids can do themselves. And they can reap the reward of learning about and doing something to help birds. From making […]
Purple Martins Coming Your Way Want to have Purple Martins in your backyard this year? If you are willing to commit to some early spring planning, you can find find the right house and install it after the Purple Martin “scouts” arrive in your area. The first ones to arrive at the nesting site are older birds hoping to […]
Barn Owls are fairly common residents in most of North America, but they are a species in decline and could use some help. They frequently nest or roost in abandoned barns or buildings. They also have a long history of rodent control on farms and ranches, and many farmers know the benefits of attracting a […]
If you live in or near a city, in the summertime at dusk, listen for a high pitched twittering sound overhead. This sound is Chimney swifts chasing down insects which they gobble up in midair. These “cigars with wings” have a distinct, torpedo-like body with long, thin, curved wings and are […]
Time to get ready for returning migrants! One of the earlier returning birds is also one of the friendliest and most social — the pretty and chatty Purple martin. Over one million North Americans put up houses each year for Martins, so if you haven’t tried attracting them to your yard, now is a perfect […]