My Apologies After more than a year, I've finally published a short YouTube video that I think you'll enjoy. It's about my bluebirds coming back for the first time this morning to check out their old house. It started out as a male, female and at least one youngster and ended with one of the females deciding to do some serious house cleaning or something. It wasn't until I … [Read more...] about New BirdOculars YouTube Video
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Losing My Backyard Centerpiece
The Center Of My Birding Activity I recently decided to take down the 40+ foot sassafrass tree that was in the center of my backyard. I held out as long as I could for my birds. With feeders and nesting boxes on both sides of the yard, it quickly became the hub of activity. If a bird came into my backyard, there was a 75% chance it would perch in that tree while deciding … [Read more...] about Losing My Backyard Centerpiece
Vanguard Endeavor Binoculars Giveaway
I just received an email from the folks at Vanguard USA, the makers of the Vanguard Endeavor binoculars I reviewed earlier on my blog. They are running a contest where they will be giving away the exact same binoculars I reviewed here. The contest will run until the end of November so don't wait to click here and get entered. The Vanguard Endeavor ED binoculars are a fine … [Read more...] about Vanguard Endeavor Binoculars Giveaway
A Fun Backyard Bird Hand Feeding Experiment
Quick Bird Hand Feeding Test This is something you can do early in the morning one weekend to see if hand feeding birds will work in your backyard. You need to have either chickadees or titmice for the best chance of success. Some people also have success with downy woodpeckers. Here's the basic plot. Take Down Your Feeders For this to work, you have to make sure … [Read more...] about A Fun Backyard Bird Hand Feeding Experiment
Staring Out At Your Backyard
Take A Mini Break Every Day I'm a firm believer that we spend way too much time hurrying to our next destination without enjoying where we are now. This exercise will benefit you in ways you never expected because it's not just about staring out into your backyard. It's about being grateful for all that you see. … [Read more...] about Staring Out At Your Backyard
Use A Pole Feeder Station System
Pole Feeder Station Puts More In One Place Luckily, when I started out I did't just drive to my local Walmart, buy any platform feeder with any flimsy pole and stick it up in my yard with any old crap bird seed mix. What I did was go to Wild Birds Unlimited and spoke with one of their people. They recommended the pole feeder station system I now have. It's been in … [Read more...] about Use A Pole Feeder Station System
Making A Pact With Squirrels
Did You Say A Pact? Ok, before you go rolling your eyes thinking this is one of those posts claiming if you feed your squirrels they'll leave your feeders alone, don't worry. I'm not going to try to sell you that bill of goods. My seventeen seasons of backyard bird feeding have taught me different. You don't make a pact with squirrels. Allow me to … [Read more...] about Making A Pact With Squirrels
Birding Quick Tips Series Announced
Sometimes It's Just The Little Things As an avid backyard birder, I spend a lot of my time thinking of ways to increase my enjoyment of the birds I have, getting more birds into my yard and making sure all visitors find something they like while feeling safe. I go out of my way to actively discourage nuisance birds and to make the environment one that I would want to come to … [Read more...] about Birding Quick Tips Series Announced