Squirrels Will Be Squirrels Submitted by a reader I know what it’s like having to constantly fill your bird feeder. In today’s economy doing such a thing can cost you an arm and a leg. It isn’t cheap to have bird feeders any more. I am a leisurely photographer, so this is a great time to be … Read more
Ah, the joy of bird watching. If you’re like me, you receive special satisfaction from attracting birds to your backyard or garden. No doubt you have worked hard to transform your yard or garden into a space that attracts many different types of birds, and you enjoy just sitting and watching your new feathered friends for long … Read more
When considering a bird feeder for your yard, one of the more important considerations is how it fits in with the look of your home. There are certainly a lot of different looks out there; sleek and modern metal feeders, beautiful and complex glass feeders, even the stark efficiency of plastic – but for many … Read more
If you’re like me and enjoy watching the birds in your own backyard, you’ll find that the easiest way to bring a variety of birds into your yard is to place and fill one or more bird feeders. However, if you’re new to this hobby, you may wonder which of the many different types of … Read more
Bird watching is a wonderful hobby that can last a lifetime. While many of us receive great enjoyment just from watching the birds that visit our back yards, other people are interested in learning much more about these fascinating creatures by observing them more closely. One of the best ways to accomplish this is with … Read more
What a delightful way to spend an afternoon — watching colorful feathered creatures flit about the yard. Hummingbirds that hover, jays that scrap over scraps, robins tugging earthworms! Just as you don’t visit places that aren’t welcoming, birds don’t visit every back yard. To watch them play, you need to make them welcome. Food, water, … Read more
When selecting a bird feeder, a vast array of options are available for the discerning consumer. There are rustic wooden feeders, rugged plastic ones, and wire or metal options available in any number of sizes and shapes… but for sheer versatility, it’s hard to beat the glass bird feeder. Easily worked, easily shaped, and easily … Read more
When you’re interested in watching the beautiful crimson plumage of the cardinal, bird feeder options may seem confusing. There are any number of feeders available, but when you’ve got a specific type of bird in mind, it’s important to know that the bird you want to attract – the cardinal, in this case – will … Read more
Expanding the eyes of a birder, binoculars are quite helpful, as they possess the power to greatly enhance the overall results of a bird outing. Decent binoculars make for decent birding, while poor binoculars can create missed opportunities with birds, as well as intense headaches that come from double vision, blurry images, and straining of … Read more
Bird feeding is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. Many people fail to properly maintain and clean their bird feeders, though, which can lead to illness or even death of birds. Properly cleaning feeders on a regular basis is important to kill bacteria and maintain seed quality. Birds will also flock … Read more
Unlike many birds who will feed under a wide variety of circumstances, the bluebird is shy – so your blue bird feeder needs to be carefully selected for best results. Because the bluebird is shy, it does not normally visit feeders. If you’d like to attract bluebirds to your feeder, it is best to begin … Read more
Imagine yourself first waking up in the morning. The rays of the sun are just beginning to come through your window. Along with the sun, you start to hear the first melodious chirps of birds greeting the beginning of a new day. Have you ever wondered why they sing like that? What they look like? Or … Read more
The soothing sounds of a bird’s song are sometimes a shrieking irritation to some people. However, the truth is that you can use specific tunes to recognize the kind of feathered friend emitting the sounds you hear, which allows you to look up the species in a field book. This is accomplished by “tuning” into … Read more
In my last article, An Introduction to Bird Feeders, I talked about some of the more popular types of bird feeders. In this article, I’d like to discuss one of the more popular bird feeder manufacturers. It’s a company with a rather unusual name — Droll Yankees. The Droll Yankee company has been around for … Read more
Many backyard bird feeding enthusiasts are concerned about Avian flu. Is it dangerous to feed the birds? Is it safe to attract birds into my yard? According to several reputable sources including the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, backyard bird feeding and bird watching is safe. So go ahead – feed … Read more
When you first encounter the Yankee Flipper bird feeder, you may be somewhat shocked at the idea of hurling squirrels forcibly off of the feeder. Many onlookers fear that the innocent creatures may be hurt; that the three or four foot drop from the feeder is potentially harmful. After some observation, however, you’ll notice that … Read more
If you’ve tried to feed birds in your back yard, you may have encountered that strangest of creatures, the squirrel bird. Feeder hanging nicely in your yard, you’ve probably seen these wingless and featherless creatures perching on your feeder, happily eating from it while scaring all the other birds away. While researching the feeding habits … Read more
I like squirrels, I really do. I think they are cute and fun to watch. I love their playfulness, and I can even admire their intelligence and tenacity. What I tend to find annoying is the critters’ apparent belief that they are entitled to a large portion of the somewhat costly bird food that I … Read more
Bird watching is one of the most popular pastimes in the United States and one that continues to grow in popularity. Like so many others, I have long been intrigued by birds. They are flying feathered gems that come in a variety of colors and sizes, each with its own song or call. I discovered … Read more