birds

As winter nears, our feathered friends can have trouble finding as much food as they do in summer.  Fall is the perfect time to make sure your garden is an inviting space for birds throughout the colder months.

Have a garden but hate dealing with pests? Birds can help out! Not only are these adorable creatures fun to watch and look at, they're also great for getting rid of insects and vermin that can damage your plants.

Would you like to turn your yard or garden into a haven for hummingbirds?  Learn how to create the perfect welcoming environment for these enchanting little birds with this booklet!

Learn:

• what flowers to plant
• how to be a reliable source of food for them
• how to help them find your yard
• other things that hummingbirds need!

When my husband and I moved into our new home last month, the first thing we did was hang bird feeders from our deck. Birding is one of my favorite pastimes (bonus: it’s good for you,) and while getting out into nature and seeing birds on the trail is fun, there’s nothing like watching birds flock to your feeders as you nurse a mug of tea or sit down for dinner with the family.

I have a confession: I like bird watching. Actually, I love bird watching. You might be picturing images from the popular movie with actors Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson titled The Big Day, but in fact birding is enjoyed by people of all ages and genders. I was eleven years old when I first became interested in birding, and started by placing a suet feeder, meant for woodpeckers, on a tree that I could see from my family’s kitchen window. The first few days brought nothing more than an inquisitive squirrel.

Want to welcome Blue Jays, Cardinals, and other stunning birds to your backyard? The better question is, who doesn't? Birds can bring such wonderful joy to a backyard, especially in the dead of winter, or late fall. The best part is, all the food you need to attract them can be found right in your local supermarket (and won't break the bank). Plus, feeding birds in the colder months helps them store and conserve energy for when they really need it (staying warm and avoiding predators). Here are the foods that will keep them coming back for more.

Just because the leaves have fallen and the grass is no longer visible under inches of snow doesn't mean that the wildlife is gone–especially the best kind of wildlife. In this case, birds. While winter might not be the most colorful time of the year, many birds are still in their resplendent glory: bright red cardinals and soft pink juncos, black-capped chickadees and brilliant blue stellar jays. Attract the avian species to your winter backyard with just a few simple changes, and reap the benefits all year long.

1) Plant native species