Tips and tricks for drawing a variety of birds into your backyard naturally and effectively.
You can no longer hand-feed birds at Cherry Hill Gate due to strict City of Burlington animal control bylaws that prohibit feeding wildlife on all public park lands and Royal Botanical Gardens trails. While chickadees and nuthatches along the Hendrie Valley boardwalks still approach visitors out of habit, anyone caught leaving seeds or ground-feeding face […]
Can You Hand-Feed Birds at Cherry Hill Gate? Read More »
Creating a garden where birds choose to raise their families requires more than simply installing nest boxes and hoping for the best. While preparing your garden for nesting birds establishes the foundation, encouraging birds to nest in your garden is fundamentally about earning their trust. Birds assess potential nesting sites through multiple sensory channels, evaluating
How to Encourage Birds to Nest in Your Garden Read More »
Ever wondered what fuels a bird’s day, from hatchling to adult? If you’ve ever wondered what birds eat in the wild, the answer depends on the season and the species. Most wild birds forage for insects, caterpillars, berries, fruits, seeds, and nuts, not just seeds in feeders. This guide focuses on what birds eat naturally
What Do Birds Eat in the Wild? Seeds, Berries & Insects Read More »
My urban backyard measures exactly 400 square feet, smaller than most living rooms. If you’re wondering how to attract birds to a small garden, the good news is that it doesn’t take acres of forest. I planted three native shrubs, hung a single bird feeder, and added a shallow dish of water, and within two
How to Attract Birds to a Small Garden: Space-Saving Tips Read More »
If you’re wondering how to attract nesting birds, imagine sipping your morning coffee as a blue jay lands on your serviceberry bush with nesting material. Over weeks, you watch them build a nest, incubate eggs, and feed chicks. Your backyard bird habitat becomes a thriving bird-friendly garden with nesting sites, attracting songbirds and migratory birds
How to Attract Nesting Birds and Keep Them Safe Read More »
Thinking about how to make a bird sanctuary in your backyard? Picture walking outside and hearing birds chirp and sing all around you, with wings flitting from branch to branch. Chickadees hang upside-down from feeders, cardinals call from oak branches, and hummingbirds zip past bright flowers. You don’t need acres of land to make it
How to Make a Bird Sanctuary in Your Backyard Read More »
Look, I’m just gonna say it: there’s nothing quite like watching tiny birds visit your flowers while a goldfinch munches on coneflower seeds nearby. It’s basically free entertainment, minus the plant costs and dirt under your fingernails. By planting flowers that attract birds and pollinators, your yard can turn into a little wildlife show every
Best Flowers to Attract Birds and Pollinators Read More »
If there’s one seed that birds just can’t ignore, it’s sunflower. I’ve watched dozens of birds flock to feeders filled with them, and over time it’s clear that sunflower seeds are unmatched when it comes to attracting birds. So, what birds are attracted to sunflower seeds? The list is longer than you might think, more
What Birds Are Attracted to Sunflower Seeds Read More »
Last winter, I started casually counting birds at my feeders. By March, I’d documented 31 species, spotted clear migration patterns, and contributed data that scientists actually use for conservation research. That transition from “guy who likes birds” to “guy contributing to actual science” happened because I learned how to conduct a proper backyard bird survey.
How to Set Up a Backyard Bird Survey Read More »
Here’s something most people don’t realize: birds are obsessed with water. More obsessed than they are with food. Seriously. I learned this the hard way when I installed a fancy bird bath and watched birds flock to it while ignoring my carefully stocked feeders nearby. Water is the ultimate bird magnet, and learning how to
How to Attract Birds to Bird Baths & Water Features Read More »
