Mama, I’d Like to Learn About Birds

I have a special guest for you today, a guest who is keen to learn about birds. Enjoy!

Dear Mama,
I really want to spend some time with you this weekend learning about birds! I heard about the Great Backyard Bird Count and I am really excited to identify new birds. We only have to spend 15 [...]

How to Make a Winter Bird List

Here I’m going to tell you how to make a winter bird list for your area. I made a winter bird list for Kansas, you can make one for wherever you live using the same steps. It can be a list for your nature garden, or it can go beyond this.
Why Make a Winter Bird [...]

How Long Does It Take Birds to Find a Feeder?

Thinking of adding some birdfeeders to your nature garden. You might be asking the question, “How long does it take birds to find a feeder?” The answer seems to be a great big “it depends”.
For my feeders it took about 8 days – long enough that I lost track. For the first day I avidly [...]

The Amazing Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are truly amazing. As a testament to the hummingbird, winner of the Favorite Backyard Critters Contest, here are a couple of amazing videos. Enjoy!

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eating From My Hand (Part One) from Russ Thompson on Vimeo.

My thanks to everyone who tweeted, voted, and got involved in letting me know their favorite backyard critter [...]

Purple Martin Mosquito Myth Busted!

Purple martins. I’ve always understood that they’re the saviors of humans, selfless aerial warriors who scoop thousands of mosquitoes from the sky each day thus saving us from bites and even diseases.
Sadly I have to report – purple martin mosquito myth busted.
Here I was yesterday reading about the golf course where purple martins are not [...]