My Bluebird History In my twenty years of feeding and caring for my back yard visitors, I've had a lukewarm relationship with bluebirds. It was years after I put up my first houses that I even had any of them look at them. Then, it became a yearly dance where sometime in late February/early March, a male would show a female one of the boxes she would ultimately reject. It … [Read more...] about My Early Bird Bluebirds
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The Easiest Way to Start Birding
I know one of the things that discourages first-time birders is the information overload. Everybody who wants to start birding can get overrun by all the things they think they need to know before they start. They may have friends and neighbors who swear by this or that. Most of the time they just get discouraged and quit because all they've attracted to their back yards is … [Read more...] about The Easiest Way to Start Birding
My First Ever Chickadee Nest Box Tragedy
It Started Like Any Other I know we bird lovers who provide nest box homes for our back yard birds get so used to the cycle. We know every spring (or even late winter here in Nashville) we're going to see bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, wrens and others checking out our nest boxes. Somebody's going to make a home there. Doing all we can to help them and make sure everything is … [Read more...] about My First Ever Chickadee Nest Box Tragedy
Birding With Kids
Birding With Kids If you’ve ever looked out your window in awe of the abundance of wildlife right in your own backyard, you might be ready for a new hobby. Birding, which is a pastime shared, according to the Audubon Society, by 47 million people in the US, is a relaxing activity you can do at home. And the best part: birding with kids is great because the kids are never too … [Read more...] about Birding With Kids
Preventing a Bunny Nest Tragedy in Your Yard
Paying Attention Pays Off I've written previously about the benefits of paying attention on this blog. I'm glad that I still practice what I preach. I believe it will help me prevent a bunny nest tragedy. Let me explain. A little more than a week ago I noticed an Eastern Cottontail bunny in my back yard. She (as it turns out) was doing the usual munching away at … [Read more...] about Preventing a Bunny Nest Tragedy in Your Yard
A Welcome Reader Submitted Birding Resource
Birding Resource From Jake and Jessica Last month, I was contacted by Jessica B. who was nice enough to tell me two things. One, her son, Jake, had just joined his school's Bird Watching Club and had found my site helpful. Secondly, that he found another great birding resource he wanted to share with me. Anybody who's been following me for any time at all knows I love … [Read more...] about A Welcome Reader Submitted Birding Resource
Best Birthday Gift I Could Have Had!
Best Birthday Gift This is a short post about something that happened to me that touched me deeply. It was probably the best birthday gift a human could have. I hope it resonates with you too! Flurry of Goldfinch Activity When I got downstairs yesterday morning (my 58th birthday) the goldfinches were already hard at work on the sunflower chip feeder just outside our sliding … [Read more...] about Best Birthday Gift I Could Have Had!
I Have a Red-breasted Nuthatch Pair! Do You?
Is That What I Think It Is? A couple of weeks ago I noticed a little bird zipping back and forth between my peanut feeder, sunflower seed feeder and my sunflower chip feeder. Because they move with lightning speed, I was not able to see clearly what it was. Later that day, I was out filling and cleaning up around my feeder station and I heard the familiar Red-breasted nuthatch … [Read more...] about I Have a Red-breasted Nuthatch Pair! Do You?