Paying Attention Is Good For All Concerned I can't tell you how many times I've heard birders talking about something that's happened to them that's caught them by surprise. I've had people tell me how they turned around and their feeders were getting mobbed by birds they didn't intend to feed. Or people like myself who found they had inadvertently made some birds sick. What … [Read more...] about Top 5 Benefits of Paying Attention
Birdwatching
Do Your Neighbors Think You Are Insane?
Not About Taking Out The Trash In Your Underwear Over the years, my closest neighbors have had a lot of reasons to call the paddy wagon on me. No, I've not taken my trash out in my underwear either. I'm talking about my fanatical obsession with feeding, watching and interacting with my backyard "crew". From running out my back door to shoo starlings off a feeder to taking … [Read more...] about Do Your Neighbors Think You Are Insane?
The Crossley Guide Preview
Thanks To The Princeton University Press I just received my review copy of the eastern bird edition of The Crossley Guide. I've been anxiously awaiting this for some time because the pre-press on this book touts it as a revolutionary step in bird identification. I'll be doing a full review of it very soon but I just wanted to let you know I've got my hands on one and I'm … [Read more...] about The Crossley Guide Preview
Tell Me Where You’ve Been Birding
This is an update to a previous post . I had some server issues that are now corrected. I've been birding for almost seven years. Most of it has been spent at or around my home outside of Nashville, TN. I have been blessed enough to have a fairly wide variety of both permanent and migrating species to keep me busy. I have not graduated to the birding trip to other parts … [Read more...] about Tell Me Where You’ve Been Birding
Are Your Birds Warming Up For Spring?
I've been listening to my backyard since I've started feeding birds years ago. No matter what season it is I always try to pay attention to what's going on back there. Last weekend we almost hit 70 degrees on Sunday and I've been hearing a whole lot more of the calling you hear in the spring when males are looking for mates. I guess I technically mean more songs than calls … [Read more...] about Are Your Birds Warming Up For Spring?
Yellow Rumped Warbler Feeder Sentry
Every winter, I get an interesting mixture of wintering and migrating species to my backyard. Every year, Yellow Rumped Warblers are among these. I'll see them but not think much about it because they have been generally non-aggressive and somewhat passive feeder customers. They pick around the ground for tidbits here and there and don't really make much a fuss about … [Read more...] about Yellow Rumped Warbler Feeder Sentry
My Covert Downy Woodpecker Spy
Ever Get The Feeling You're Being Watched? Since the weather has turned colder at night I've had this sneaky suspicion I'm being watched every morning. As usual, my chihuahua/yorkie mix, Maggie and I go out before 6 AM. The last few mornings, however, I've felt there were eyes on us. I looked around and saw nothing. Then, I looked at my closest bluebird box and I spotted … [Read more...] about My Covert Downy Woodpecker Spy
My Nightly Robin Birdbath Assault
It never ceases to amaze me how smart birds can be. Most humans see them as things lucky enough to fly wherever they need to go that spend the majority of their time looking for food. While this may be true to a large extent, they are also capable of some very intelligent flock behavior. My nightly birdbath entertainment is a perfect example. … [Read more...] about My Nightly Robin Birdbath Assault