Warning: Experiences Like This Are Likely To Change Your Life! It is amazing how we humans can get caught in tunnel vision. Things happen in our lives and we just use it as evidence that everything is about us. You have a challenge. Whether it's health or finances or family or everything at once; we're so quick to listen to our egoic minds and only see how it affects us. … [Read more...] about The Downy Woodpecker That Changed My Life
What Kind of Birder Are You?
In my never ending quest to learn more about you, my readers, I like to ask questions. I'm trying to figure out what kind of content you value most or if your interests are all over the map. It would help me be more helpful to you if I knew what level of a birder you are. For the purposes of this article, I am going to break them down into three categories and then explain … [Read more...] about What Kind of Birder Are You?
Using The First In, Last Out Method To Foil Sparrows
First In, Last Out Is NOT Just For Accounting With tax season well under way, I had to sneak in a quick post about my approach to keeping sparrows and other nuisance birds at bay. It has to do with how smart birds are and how you can use that to your advantage. It IS possible to train the birds you want while discouraging those you don't. Sometimes, all you have to do is … [Read more...] about Using The First In, Last Out Method To Foil Sparrows
What’s Your Back Yard Feeding Style?
One of the biggest complaints I hear from people who feed birds is their feeders are being overrun by this bird or another. Usually, it's the grackles, starlings, sparrows or even crows. While I completely identify with their plight, I do believe this happens because the birder has not decided on what feeding style to use? Feeding Style Explained I take great pride that for … [Read more...] about What’s Your Back Yard Feeding Style?
One Of A Bird Feeder’s Best Friends
As winter moves across the country, we all see more challenges feeding our birds. One of the main challenges is providing water. If you're able to provide water where you can plug in a bird bath heater, that's great! Especially, if you're able to have your bath far enough away from the house to reduce the chance of window strikes when the occasional predators come by. For me, … [Read more...] about One Of A Bird Feeder’s Best Friends
Happy Holidays from BirdOculars!
I hope the holidays this year find you well and eager to help your back yard friends enjoy the season just as much! I've got some changes in store for you for 2019 so stay tuned! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Maggie hopes you get a lot of new toys this year! Best always, Jeff … [Read more...] about Happy Holidays from BirdOculars!
My Squirrel Adventures
Long Time Feeder. First Time Complainer As many of you may already know, I've been feeding squirrels in my back yard pretty much ever since I've been feeding birds. They've presented challenges at various times because they're so unbelievably intelligent. In fact, most of the stories I've read of peoples' problems with squirrels have stemmed from them underestimating them in … [Read more...] about My Squirrel Adventures
Where Have All My Goldfinches Gone?
My Experience With Goldfinches Before 2015 Nearly every year since 2003, the first year I started feeding birds, I've had goldfinches in my back yard. Sure, there have been some years where they were heavier than others. I made a recording in May of 2011 where they were massing in the woods behind our property and the din was almost deafening. Have a listen. (The recording … [Read more...] about Where Have All My Goldfinches Gone?