Connect with Nature!
Connect with Nature!
One of the things I love about being a naturalist is that there’s always more to learn. Whether it’s your first sighting of a particular species or the one hundredth, there’s always a new detail or behavior to see. This is true not only for birds but for other wildlife you host in your yard. Read more...
If you’ve ever walked through a park on a May morning, you may have dismissed birding as more of a test than a hobby. The newly leafed-out trees hinder sighting the birds; together with a cacophony of bird calls, species identification becomes a challenging feat indeed. Read more...
Fall bird feeding is an interesting, transitional time. Migrating species leave and join us, causing both backyard scenes and food consumption patterns to change. Read more...
Winter can be a challenging season for our birds! Days are shorter, so there is less daylight for foraging. Insects die or hibernate, and the growing season ends. There's simply less food for birds and other wildlife in the winter. That's why well-stocked bird feeders are so popular in cold months: theyp provide the nutrition and energy that birds need to survive a northwest winter. Read more...
During warm weather, songbirds eat lots of insects and spiders. They’re nutritious and abundant, and for the most part, easy to catch. During fall and winter, non-migratory songbirds must shift their diets to fruits and seeds to survive. Read more...
This blog entry by Andrew Revkin from the New York Times online is a great read! He's reflecting on research recently reported in Science magazine, that Anna's Hummingbird males "vocalize" with their tails as well as their vocal chords! Read more...
It’s time to get your bird feeding stations in high gear, both for your avian friends and for yourself. You’ll derive endless hours of entertainment from watching the birds (and squirrels). No matter how many times I see a chickadee or nuthatch at my feeder, I wouldn’t dream of living through a northwest winter without their companionship! Read more...
Fall migration is upon us. Watch for swallows gathering on telephone lines, preparing for the long journey south that they will soon undertake. Rufous Hummingbirds will soon go missing at backyard feeders, leaving Anna's Hummers full access to the feeders through the colder months. And, at Chapman Elementary School, Vaux Swift watchers see these fascinating birds amass in the decommissioned chimney to roost at night, until one night late this month or early next, they'll all be gone until next year. Read more...
The other morning was fairly busy with birds around the yard, but something was different about my usual “customers.” After watching the activity, I realized I was seeing adult birds teaching their young how to search for food in my yard. Read more...
Bats’ phenomenal bug-catching prowess makes them a great form of natural pest control. A single Big Brown Bat or Little Brown Myotis can consume 500-1000 insects per hour, every night. To encourage bats in your yard keep these tips in mind . . . . Read more...
Often well-meaning backyard bird enthusiasts mistakenly believe they’re helping a baby bird in trouble, when less interference would be the best course of action. Read more...
Here are a few things to consider when selecting a hummingbird feeder . . . Read more...
If you're enjoying your garden these days, and considering what to plant for wildlife, this list of hummingbird-attracting plants might help! Read more...
I have a "wild" population of European honey bees in a log cavity that fell from a tree right in front of the 1920 Finley house in a 2009 wind-storm. Matt Reed, a beekeeper, collected two swarms of honeybees for us. View a video of Matt discussing beekeeping without chemicals and "medications" while he takes my second, smaller swarm off a fir tree limb. Read more...
You love your beautiful backyard, and you work hard to keep it that way. The bad news is that soil- and leaf-dwelling pests love it, too! If you see brown patches in your lawn, or notice sickly plants, you may need to re-establish your beneficial insect populations, and then limit your use of insecticides to preserve them. Read more...
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