ARTICLES
Stories, guides, and seasonal observations to help you notice more birds, enjoy their visits, and remember the moments that make backyard birding rewarding.
Guide
Picture this: You’re standing in your backyard, binoculars raised, trying to get a closer look at that bird perched on the feeder. You were convinced it was a rare species, only to realize you’re looking at a particularly rotund sparrow. Sad day.
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Observation
I saw my first hummingbird (Ruby-throated Hummingbird, of course, since we’re east of the Mississippi) of the season yesterday (May 15)!
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Guide
“I think it’s a House Finch, but it could be a Chipping Sparrow.” “From this distance, I can’t tell if it’s a Bald Eagle or maybe a Turkey Vulture.” As birdwatchers, we’ve all been there. There’s a bird that looks kinda familiar, in fact, maybe too familiar sometimes, and you just can’t decide.
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Seasonal Note
Have you ever asked yourself anything like this: “Why haven’t I seen a robin for weeks now? It’s only August.” Or this: “The juncos haven’t visited for months. Where did they go?” If so, you’re not alone.
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Observation
Okay, you’re right. I didn’t actually try to give a robin a bath. But if I did….
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Guide
So, you’ve decided to take up birdwatching. Congratulations! You’ve entered a world where people get genuinely excited about spotting a warbler and will debate the merits of different binocular brands with the intensity of sports fans arguing over the greatest quarterback of all time.
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Guide
Recently I was gifted a very nice feeder camera from a relative who had had it gifted to her but wasn’t allowed by her HOA to use it.
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Observation
I have a little notebook I keep in my camera bag. It’s just a cheap little spiral with a green cover. Green because my favorite color is green. It’s there so I can take notes on the birds, etc. that I’ve seen and taken pictures of when my wife and I go on one of our hikes.
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Guide
So, you finally got yourself a pair of binoculars. Maybe you’re birdwatching, spying on squirrels (completely normal), or trying to get a better view at a football game because your cousin got the cheap seats. Whatever your reason, knowing how to use binoculars properly will make the whole experience a lot better.
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Observation
Our next door neighbor had quite a few plants growing in his backyard - several varieties of flowers, a couple of small trees…and a tall purple thistle.
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Observation
Living in Wisconsin, we are privileged to be close to the International Crane Foundation. It’s a little over an hour from home.
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Observation
Did you ever think about what birds do when it rains?
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Observation
In my backyard, Northern Cardinals feel like a dime a dozen. I love to see them, but since I can see at least one almost every day (and hear more in the trees, if I’m outside or have a window open), I almost take them for granted.
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Observation
I bought a suet feeder last year. Early on, a woodpecker and a Flicker visited it, understood how to hang on, and apparently liked what they found inside.
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Observation
You probably have a good idea what “nuthatch” means already. That is, how it got its name.
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Observation
You know that bird bath I mentioned here? It helped me make a new friend, so to speak.
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Observation
It’s lunch time. I’m going to find a bite to eat as soon as I’m done writing this. And I wonder…Do birds ever truly get hungry, or do they just eat as a matter of course?
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Guide
Are you old enough to know who may have said what’s in the title above? You don’t have to answer that.
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Guide
So, you’ve decided to dip your toes (or binoculars) into the wonderful world of birdwatching. Good for you!
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Guide
I recently added a bird bath to my backyard.
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Guide
Ever wonder why the neighbor’s yard is bustling with our chirping feathered friends while yours remains almost eerily silent?
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Observation
It was warm enough just the other day that I could keep the back door open from early morning on.
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Guide
Bird photography is an exercise in patience, skill, and occasionally, sheer luck. You’re trying to capture a tiny, unpredictable subject that’s just looking for his next meal and doesn’t give a tweet about your perfect shot.
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Guide
So, you’ve caught the birdwatching bug. Maybe it started when you spotted a bright red cardinal against the winter snow.
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