Pileateds! The Grandest of Them All!
There’s no doubt about it, the Pileated Woodpecker is among the largest of all the forest birds in the U.S. and is definitely the largest of the North American woodpeckers.
Bird feeders
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Backyard Beauty
The flashy black and white Rose-breasted Grosbeak with his proud and showy rosy-red breast, however, remains a very favored backyard beauty.
The Red-Headed Woodpecker Needs Help!
The Red-Headed Woodpecker is one of the most notable birds in North America. There’s no other bird, or woodpecker, like him. His flashy black and white is immediately identifiable
Hummingbird Nests are Architectural Wonders!
Hummingbirds are the JEWELS of the bird world! Everyone loves them! Not only are they beautiful and fascinating to watch, but they are incredible nest builders … hummingbird nests are Architectural Wonders!
A Great Time to Start Backyard Bird Watching
I got a call asking how to get birds to a feeder and asking what birds would they see. Oh boy! Now I have two family friends asking me how to start up a little bird watching in their backyard.
EARTH DAY 2020 – the 50th Anniversary!
April 22, 2020, the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! It is a time to reflect on our beautiful Blue Earth, on the environment we live in. Have we succeeded in the past 50 years in making our air clean, our water pure and our climate stable?
Do Hawks Come to Backyard Feeders?
Do hawks come to our backyard feeders? Well, yes, but not for the seed or berries. The most common hawks watching your feeder would be the Coopers Hawk or the Sharp-shinned Hawk. These two hawks are very similar woodland hawks and can come crashing through thick branches and bramble at lightning speed and then disappear with an unsuspecting backyard bird clutched firmly in his talons.
These Squirrels are Makin’ Me Nuts!
Sometimes I feel like Bill Murray in “Caddyshack” where he is obsessed with getting rid of that aggravating gopher. Well, I’ve got squirrels! They’re smart and determined. They can leap ten feet in a single bound. They can climb straight up a steel shepherd’s hook to violate any feeder within reach.
Keep Your Feeders Clean!
Yes, it’s true. Birds, like most living creatures, need a clean environment to stay healthy. Sick birds will easily and quickly spread pathogens and disease. As backyard birders we need to be responsible to the birds we’re trying to attract, and you’ll find more birds at your clean feeders than otherwise.
Bring Bluebirds to Your Backyard Feeder
Do we have bluebirds around here? I thought I saw one the other day. And, how would we get them to come to our yard and feeders? I’m asked this all the time. Although it takes some patience, yes, we can welcome the handsome and well-cherished bluebird to our backyard.