Want more birds in your yard year-round? There are a handful of things you can do to increase the attractiveness of your yard to birds in winter. With more than half the species of birds in decline, having the right food source and good habitat at every location birds visit is fundamental to maintaining their […]
Watching birds and reporting what you see during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count is a great reason to get outside in winter! Each February, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society ask people to spend at least 15 minutes over a 4-day period to watch birds and report every bird they see. […]
All species of Mergansers are beautiful diving ducks. But… Common and Red-breasted Mergansers can be found in the same areas, and both males and females can be confusing to decipher. No need for panic – here are some ways to solve the riddle. 1 -PROFILE: Both species are large, slim, diving ducks. Red-breasted tend […]
The fall migration of sea ducks along the Atlantic coast is one of the great migration events in North America. In autumn, millions of seabirds take full advantage of the often 30-40 MPH tailwind, driving their ground speed to dizzying numbers. Flocks of hundreds of all species of Scoters, Gannets, with Red-throated loons and teal mixed […]
In winter, Snowy Owls often travel far south of their Arctic tundra homes and can be found in the oddest places. This year, there were a few very public appearances of Snowy Owls – including in NYC’s Central Park and at Union Station in Washington DC. Both appearances made national headlines as residents and visitors alike […]
No matter where you are February 18-21, you can help birds by joining tens of thousands of birders from around the globe who are counting, and reporting birds during that time period to eBird for the Great Backyard Bird Count. The info reported helps scientists keep track of bird population numbers and locations. Just by doing […]
It’s winter and your feeder is stocked – with few takers. What’s going on? Arent all those birds out there freezing and need calories? If birds aren’t at your feeders in winter there could be a lot of reasons why that is happening, but one you can easily test and control is what food you are putting […]
There’s been a lot of excitement about a Steller’s Sea Eagle that’s been roving around the US. This enormous eagle – which is larger than our Bald Eagle – is a native of the Russia Far East, Japan, and Korea. First seen in North America last year in Alaska and Saskatchewan, then Texas, now the bird is […]
Don’t miss being part of the 122nd Christmas Bird Count starting December 14! One hundred twenty-two years ago, Frank Chapman and 26 other conservationists decided that instead of an annual Christmas bird hunt, it was time to start counting birds. Now the conservation tradition has grown into a bird count across North America and in […]
Owls are unusual and secretive birds. Most are active at night, so finding an owl is always an exciting event – and often requires some patience and skill. The best ways to find an owl are to go outside and wait to hear their calls at night then follow the calls; or during the day […]
It’s fall – what should you be doing with your garden? If you want your native plants and shrubs to thrive next spring and your garden to be a wildlife haven all winter, here are a few things to do now: 1 – Don’t clean up your yard! Clipping back the underbrush removes valuable hiding habitat […]
Give it your all February 12-15 in the Great Backyard Bird Count! Run by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this annual bird count is a really fun way to help birds as birdwatchers around the world record all the birds they have seen on these 4 days into their eBird accounts so Cornell has a snapshot of bird […]
There are four species of Nuthatches in North America, but the two most widespread species are Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches. These compact little steel-blue birds, often found hanging in some acrobatic fashion around feeders, other times, lifting up bark to insert a seed and then hammering it open to “hatch” the seed, are great to […]
For most birds in the US, going south for the winter typically means at least crossing the Mason-Dixon Snowy Owl Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila Line. But for Snowy Owls, as long as there is enough food, a winterly southern migration often sees them staying mostly north of the US/Canadian border with forays into the northern US and New England. […]
Barred Owl Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Get those binos out, invite your friends,and block 15 minutes of time during at least one day from February 14-17 – its time to participate in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count! Join over 160,000 other people around the world taking the time to look for birds and report their findings to […]
Make the ID: American Wigeon vs Green Winged Teal Winter waterfowl makes for great birding, but some of the more common ducks can be difficult to tell apart. American Wigeons and Green-winged Teals can be a bit confusing – especially in dull light. But there are a few specific markings that can make the ID […]
Nature Books To Give and Receive Gift yourself, family or friends some books about birds and nature. Below are several titles we really enjoyed and think you might like to include on your gift list: Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival – Award-winning author and biologist, Bernd Heinrich offers detailed insights into how birds and other wildlife […]
Hairy Woodpecker Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila It’s cold and windy outside, a heated birdbath offers relief to dehydrated birds, and the ever-growing brush pile I started a few years ago is getting a lot of use by birds darting inside to huddle and find respite. I am delighted that the little native plant meadow I planted four years […]
Tiny Anna’s hummingbirds are living farther and farther north during winter. How do they manage this? First, available food from hummingbird feeders gives them the energy they need to help stave off the cold. And…there is a tried and true behavior that hummingbirds through the Americas resort to when it gets chilly – torpor. Find out more from our friends at BirdNote. Anna’s […]
These two red finches both share a similar attraction to seeds. White-winged Crossbill Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila They also overlap in range, preferring the far north and into Canada, and sometimes telling the difference between them can be challenging. Here are a few tips to make the right ID between these winter favorites — White-winged Crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks: Pine Grosbeak Photo […]
Waterfowl are busy pairing off and mating, which means ducks are at their most beautiful this time of year. If you haven’t had the chance to see ducks courting, it is definitely worth your while as some of them look stunning and have some pretty interesting behaviors. Look out for small intimate interactions like allopreening – where one bird preens his/her mate and […]
Waterfowl are mating in winter and they can be found in huge flocks — sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands! Seeing great rafts of ducks and geese can be a good antidote for the often extreme temperatures and conditions you need to endure to do it. But seeing hundreds or thousands of birds at one time is possible to […]
Snowy Owls – those spectacularly beautiful all white owls – are being seen again this winter in the US. Project Snowstorm is once Snowy Owl/ Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila more tracking dozens of owlsthis year across the US to obtain more data and information on the behavior, movements and lifestyles of these mysterious and beautiful birds. The Project Snowstorm site has lots of info […]
Gray Catbird/Photo Credit: Deborah Rivel Up your birding ID game this spring by starting now to learn to ID birds by their songs. Often birds are only heard, and by recognizing their calls you can easily add more birds to your list. Not all birds have calls that are instantly recognizable – like the unmistakable call […]
Black-capped Chickadees/ Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila As temperatures drop, it’s time to winterize your backyard to make it a popular and safe place for birds. Birds need to stay warm and have adequate food and shelter during cold or stormy weather. What does your backyard provide? Here are some of the things you can provide for birds to […]
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 […]
Have a blast birdwatching and make a contribution to science by joining a Christmas Bird Count in your area. Photo Credit: Camilla Cerea/Audubon This marks the 119th year since Audubon co-opted the annual bird shoot and make it into a much bird-friendlier bird count! This year you can join over 70,000 people in the US, Canada, Latin America, […]
Where to Find Ducks Now Harlequin Duck Photo Credit: Deborah Winter is the best time to see waterfowl in their breeding plumage. Look nearby for open areas of water in ponds, reservoirs and even near the beach, and you are likely to see some unusually beautiful winter visitors hanging out. Visiting a […]
Complete Your Winter Backyard With a Roost Box Chickadee checking out a roost box Nest boxes and roost boxes are important components of a well-maintained bird-friendly backyard. In winter, birds really need shelter from cold, winds and predators. Leaving nest boxes up may help, but during really cold times, birds can best maintain their body […]
Project Snowstorm – Snowy Owls in Motion Snowy Owl Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila Snowy Owls are true denizens of the far north, and are only occasionally found south of the Canadian border — even in winter. These beautiful pure white owls are widely admired for their beauty, but not well understood. Project Snowstorm is changing […]
Vegetarian Suet Recipe Photo Credit: Stan Tekeila Everybody likes a little variety! Whether or not you are a vegetarian yourself, you may want to try this recipe for suet which doesn’t use animal fat. It has the nutrition birds need and birds seems to prefer this one to regular suet. And it lends itself […]
This is a good time to start thinking about what to do in your backyard for birds in the spring. Instead of cleaning it all up, how about thinking differently about that dead wood? About 85 North American birds use dead trees (snags) to nest in – and they aren’t all woodpeckers! Owls, Chickadees, Bluebirds, […]
Welcome winter — the perfect time to watch ducks! For kids or adults who haven’t done much birding, ducks are a great place to start as they have three very important things going for them: 1 – they are big 2 – they are out on the open water and easy to see 3 […]
It’s winter, and if you keep your feeders stocked and make sure you have a heated open water source for birds to drink and bathe,what else can you do to attract different birds? Winter finches are a good choice as they are both beautiful and extremely hardy. But they are also picky about what they […]
Cold weather is a reminder to make your backyard inviting for birds overwintering in your area.With some simple preparations you can have birds visiting throughout the winter and create a safe spot for them to eat, get water, and even bathe when its needed. In the summer there is plenty of natural food available for […]
The cold days of winter have moved in with a vengeance this year. Winter can be a brutal time to spend outside looking for birds, but if you know where to go and what to look for, it can be an enjoyable adventure! Waterfowl are in abundance across much of North America in winter. They are […]
January brings a new year, and a new year birding list. Keeping a list of the all the birds you see in a year is an excellent way to review what birds you have seen and track your birding accomplishments throughout the year. Although January marks a new beginning, most songbirds, shorebirds and raptors have […]
Your backyard birds are counting on you to keep them going through the winter. Keeping their body temperatures high enough to survive the cold is a battle for birds, and they face a constant struggle for food, water and warmth throughout the season. You can do a few simple things to help your favorite backyard […]
Great gray owl Most owls don’t migrate like songbirds. But during some winters, owls are forced south of their range, looking for food. When they go en masse to more southerly places, this is called an “irruption”. It’s not really migration as it isn’t an annual event. But for owls, who tend to not move […]
Want your backyard to be a haven for birds this winter? Fall is a great time to start planning and planting native plants to help birds and wildlife during the tough winter months. When there is little else to eat in the late winter, Berries just when this Cardinal needs them birds rely heavily […]