Many of the birds that visit backyard feeders and bird baths may stay and nest in nearby trees. And many of them, including cardinals, doves and orioles, won’t ever raise their young in a nesting box. However, you can still help these bird favorites to raise their young in your area by offering their favorite food choices and providing shelter requirements in your garden or yard.

Nesting materials can also be hung in a wire cage. These cages are especially popular in the spring when birds will come and choose those that are suitable for them. Try thin strips of clothing or rags, small twigs, wool, and even feathers.

There are more than two dozen birds in the USA and Canada that are happy to nest Continue Reading »

A reader wrote in today:

“HELP PLEASE I have this yellow finch throwing himself at my window trying to gain access I think. This has been happening for two days, he regains strength overnite and is back this morning. What can I do to stop him. I do not want him to get hurt. Thanks Tina”

After a few emails back and forth with Tina, and a photo she sent me, the bumping bird is definately a male yellow finch.

“Tina:

Put up a curtain. What a nutty bird! Depending on your location it may be Continue Reading »

Last week those gorgeous little purple finches moved through our territory and stopped in for repeated visits to the sunflower bird feeders in our yard.

If you’ve never seen these darlings, they look like small brown birds whose heads have been dipped into and stained by a wine, fuschia clothing dye. They are striking, either alone or in small flocks as they light into a tree and have a quick bite to eat on their way to find suitable nesting sites and raise this year’s young. Continue Reading »

Winter is near an end friends, and with that has come the assessment of life at the bird feeder these past few, hard months.

Now I don’t keep a birding log or journal for my backyard bird visitors – and I’m sad about that this year – because for the first time in years, I feel that something is not right with our wild bird count.

All things the same – the feeders, the frequency of feeding, the type of wild bird feed I put out – and yet the wild birds who frequent is not the same.

Plus, living here in rural Ontario, there is no more competition for the birds in our area (the human population here doesn’t grow). So what is amiss? Could it be the avian flu?

I’ll tell you whom I’ve missed this winter…

Blue Jays

Where I’d been used to their squawks and reminders that the feeder was empty daily, this year we only had one blue jay. One. Usually we have 5-10 regular visits per day.

Chickadees

The numbers were down, but at least they came and brightened each day.

Juncos

The juncos were late and in short supply. This time of year there are usually 20-30 feeding daily for over a month. They finally arrived, and there are only 6 of them.

Gray Jays

We affectionately call these friendly and silly birds Whiskey Jacks. Like the blue jays they’re usually here in good numbers. This winter I’ve seen a total of none. Zero, nilch, nada.

Other Changes

I have noticed other wild birds at the feeder this winter that are not regulars in our area. I’ll tell you more about them, and hopefully have a photo for you, tomorrow.

Cheers!

Veronica

p.s. If you’ve also noticed changes at your feeder this winter, leave a comment below. I’d be interested to hear what region you’re in and what changes you noticed. I think the birding world has been thrown for a whirl this year – what’s happening at your wild bird feeder?