Tag: birdseeds
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Vortex Triumph HD: High-Quality Binoculars at an Affordable Price
Whether you are an avid birder or someone who enjoys watching the birds at a backyard feeder, binoculars are a great investment. The magnification binoculars offer allows us to identify birds more easily while better admiring their stunning plumage and intricate feather detail. Over the years, I have tried a multitude of binoculars and own three…
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The Party is Almost Over
The breeding season is essentially over for most species but one holdout, the American Goldfinch, is late to the game. Unlike virtually all other songbirds, they do not take advantage of Nature’s bounty and serve their chicks insects. Instead, they carefully pluck small seeds, notably from late-blooming plants like thistles, daisies and other composite flowers…
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THE MOULT IS ON
Have you noticed stray feathers in your bird baths or gardens? This is the time of year when many birds are in the process of moulting. Perhaps you’ve seen patchy looking birds including grackles and red-winged blackbirds, bald cardinals, or maybe blue jays with very few head or neck feathers. Our feathered friends need to…
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THE GREAT PRETENDERS
The song “The Great Pretender” originally released in 1955 by The Platters has been covered by a number of bands over the years. Some of our feathered friends have their own versions of this song. The avian band members would include none other than the Northern Mockingbird, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher and our year-round member,…
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Nesting Season is in Full Swing
With spring migration over, birds are active with all aspects of breeding. Songbirds that arrived in recent weeks began with males claiming territory and calling out for a new partner. Females show up a little later and if they find a suitable mate, one or both will quickly begin nest construction, depending on the species.…
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LET’S GO SHOPPING FOR BIRD BATHS!
Warm weather has returned, so now’s the time to think of ways we can ensure our feathered friends have the water they need during the summer months. So many options, styles and additions to choose from. You should start by having a good look at your outdoor space and see what you have room for. …
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The Rush is On
An unbelievable number of birds are pushing north this month as we reach the peak of spring migration. This is the time that our brightly-coloured birds show up, the songbirds. The number of individuals heading north across the continent at this time is staggering, in the hundreds of millions – and sometimes that is in…
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The Pace is Accelerating
March was a time for early arrivals. Blackbirds, Robins, Song Sparrows and waterfowl too numerous to count showed us that spring was indeed in the air. Now we have moved into the next act of the unfolding drama when insect-eating birds show up in ever increasing numbers. In April, all of the swallows appear, along…
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A Tried-and-True Feeder for Hummingbirds
Walk into any store that sells hummingbird feeders and the selection can be overwhelming. Choosing a feeder to attract these little beauties to your yard doesn’t have to be difficult and, in this post, I’m going to share my favourite. Whenever I’m asked what hummingbird feeder I recommend, the Perky-Pet Pinch Waist Glass Hummingbird Feeder…
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Squirrel Proof Feeders
Thank you for all the wonderful feedback and questions following my recent appearance on Charlie Dobbin’s Gardening Show, on Zoomer Radio. I received quite a few messages about my squirrel proof feeder comments, so I thought it would be helpful to expand on my comments with a few more details. Yes I have found that…