Month: May 2024

What to Feed Our Winged Friends

Going to your local garden center and choosing food for wild birds can be surprisingly overwhelming. There are seemingly endless options, and they’re all marketed as the best. What is the best food for wild birds? This can depend on what birds you’d like to attract and on seasonal temperatures and conditions. 

Best Bird Food for Wild Birds

There are three top tier seed choices for wild birds: black-oil sunflower seeds, safflower, and nyger. But this is not where the feeding options end! Millet, suet cakes, cracked corn, and fruit are also great options. Let’s take a closer look at each. 

Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds

This is the most popular seed due to its health benefits. The subtype ‘black-oil’ is chosen due to its thin shell which is easy to crack open. The seed has a high meat—to-shell ratio, a high fat content, and is a good source of protein. This makes the seed a top-pick during winter. Black-oil sunflower seeds attract most birds, especially chickadees, finches, titmice, grosbeaks, nuthatches, cardinals, jays, mourning doves, and woodpeckers. 

Tip: You can offer shelled seeds if you don’t want a mess of cracked shells under your feeder. Beware, however, that this leaves your seeds more susceptible to spoiling. The feeder will need to be cleaned and seeds replaced daily. 

Safflower Seeds

Safflower seeds rank at the top of the list as far as quality goes, but it ranks high in price too. Similar to the sunflower seed, it is high in protein and fat. The benefit? The pests of the birding world such as starling and house sparrows as well as squirrels are not attracted to this seed. It is therefore recommended for dissuading undesirable species from communing at your feeder. Birds that are highly attracted to safflower seeds include grosbeaks, sparrows, doves, and particularly the northern cardinal. 

Njyger (Thistle)

Nyjer is a type of thistle seed that is specifically used to attract goldfinches. It however is also good for chickadees, mourning doves, sparrows and other small finches such as siskins and redpolls. This is another option that squirrels don’t prefer and can be placed out safely without worrying about them bothering your bird population or taking over the feeder. The seeds are rich in oil and protein which makes them a great source of energy. The feeding of most seeds can be cut back in the summertime, but continuing to provide nyjer for goldfinches is not only acceptable, but advised. 

Wild Bird Seed Filler: Milo and Oats

Have you ever noticed the birds at your feeder throwing seeds away? There are a few reasons they do this, but the most common reason is they are trying to get to the good stuff! Birds have their preferences and will push away the mediocre to get to the seeds or other foods they want. 

There are some seeds and food products that are included in many wild bird seed mixes that next to no birds actually prefer. These are cheap, low-quality ingredients and are considered fillers. Common fillers include milo oats, and red millet. Birds will eat these fillers only when no better option is available. Milo in particular may attract aggressive birds such as cowbirds, starlings, and grackles. 

Wild Bird Food: Seedless

We often put bird foods in our feeders that are not technically seeds but are still loved by our winged friends. Here are a few high-quality examples. 

Suet Cakes

Suet cakes are best served in the winter. This is a high energy food that is greatly valuable in cold temps yet potentially harmful in the warmer months. They are often made from animal fat which provides a great source of energy when it is needed in the winter, but can pack on too many pounds when wild food is plentiful as well as spoil quickly in the summer heat. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, creepers, kinglets, cardinals, and other insect-eating birds are all highly attracted to suet cakes. Note that starlings and other aggressive birds are highly attracted to this food too. 

Tip: Many commercial suet cakes are low-quality, made with mostly filler. The solution? Make your own! Not so crafty? You can buy straight suet at the butcher generally, but beware, it is pricy.

Peanuts

Peanuts are a great warm-weather alternative to suet cakes. You can even grind the peanuts and mix with cornmeal to make a moldable cake. Titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, cardinals, jays, and many sparrows are attracted to peanuts. You can offer them shelled or whole in a specially designed feeder. These are typically cylindrical and feature a wire mesh cage in which the birds must retrieve the treats from. 

White Millet

While red millet is considered a filler, white millet has valuable nutritional properties and is well-liked by many birds, especially ground feeding birds. Doves, juncos, and sparrows are the top fans, alongside non-native invasive species such as European starlings and house sparrows. White millet is rich in carbs and provides birds with energy. A subtype, proso millet, is also a fan favorite as it is easy to digest. 

Cracked Corn

Blackbirds love cracked corn. It is popular with many large bird varieties such as jays, pigeons, doves, turkeys, pheasants, and quail. Some smaller birds will join in, so long as it is cracked and not whole kernels, such as finches and sparrows. Beware, cracked corn will also attract mammals such as raccoons, opossums, and rodents. 

Fruit

There are many birds which prefer fruit to seed. Fruit attracts birds such as robins, thrushes, waxwings, and bluebirds as seeds are not a major part of their diet. In addition to fresh fruit, you can serve organic raisins or currants softened by soaking in water. 

Supplementing Wild Birds: Nutrition and More

You can do more for birds than just provide seeds and food items. For instance, adding clean water to your backyard refuge can be helpful to wild birds, as can planting seed-heavy plants which additionally attract desirable insects. Examples are winterberry, coneflowers, goldenrod, sunflowers, black eyed susan, and zinnias. 

You can also provide mealworms (a great source of protein, especially during breeding seasons) and baked eggshells (eggshells return calcium to birds lost during egg production but must be baked or boiled to remove salmonella and other bacteria). 

Lastly, a non-nutrition related way to assist the wild bird population in your backyard is to offer nesting materials in the springtime such as twigs and organic cotton. 

What Not to Feed Wild Birds

Below is a list of items not to feed wild birds. This is not comprehensive. Please always double check safety before feeding wild birds a new food. 

Harmful foods for wild birds include:

• Bread
• Chocolate
• Avocado
• Alliums (onion, garlic, etc)
• Dehydrated coconut
• Cooking fats
• Beans
• Salt
• Dairy
• Mushrooms
• Fruit seeds or pits
• Table scraps
• Moldy or spoiled food
• Food coloring

What You Need to Know About Feeding Wild Birds

Here are some tips and considerations regarding feeding foods for wild birds.

What to Do:

• Your food source must be consistent and reliable, especially during winter as the birds come to depend upon this feed and may have even adjusted their migration route and taught their young about your garden. 
• Feeding is most helpful in extreme conditions when birds need the most energy, especially in late winter and early spring when natural resources are depleted. Seeds can be fed in summertime but should be limited and aren’t necessarily needed. The exception to this is the nyger seed for goldfinches and nectar for hummingbirds.
• Keep seeds clean and dry. Humidity in the summer can be a great danger as moisture on seeds leads to mold and other harmful bacteria. Refresh seeds and clean the feeder often. Be sure to also sweep up feed from under the feeders. 
• Many bird seed varieties come mixed. This excludes certain birds who aren’t attracted to fillers such as millet. To attract a wide variety of wild birds, try sprinkling the mix on the ground or a platform and hanging bird feeders with sunflower and/or safflower seeds in the trees. 
• Making squash or pumpkin? Feed your seeds to the birds. Just make sure it’s organic. Let them fully dry first, then run them through a food processor if desired to make them more accessible to smaller birds.
• When buying seeds, ensure they are high quality, free of debris and dust, fresh, clean, and dry. Ensure there are no seed coatings! These contain neurotoxic neonics. One seed can be enough to kill a songbird. 
• Keep cats indoors.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t feed when it can cause harm, for example during avian flu or conjunctivitis outbreaks. If the birds at your feeder look sick, temporarily remove your feeder and clean well before putting back out.
• Don’t feed aggressive or endangered birds as it impacts their behavior. You can learn more about this from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS also asks that you consider the three major hardships of feeding wild birds: disease, predation, and collision. Keep your feeder clean to prevent disease, ensure there are no recurring predators, and prevent collision with windows by placing your feeder within three feet of the window or fifteen to thirty feet away. You may also choose to put up window decals or screening to prevent fatal collisions. 
• Don’t use any type of oil to deter insects around feeders as this can contaminate the bird feed, and in particular nectar, and ruin the birds’ insulative properties. Move the feeder if needed.

If you’re thinking “where is the best bird watching near me?”, well, read no further. This article is for you.

Rewind to the 1966 superman movie, and you may remember the iconic line:

“It’s a bird…It’s a plane…”

Do you remember what the people in the clip are doing? Looking up to the sky. 

Birds are associated with the sky, like peanut butter is associated with jelly. 

But, birds aren’t just found in the skies. That would be boring – and far too easy for us to spot. 

Across the globe, birds have evolved not just in the skies, but on the land and far out at sea. So, with such varied habitats, how do we know what areas are best for bird watching? 

Read on to discover the best bird watching areas near you. 

What Habitats Do Birds Like?

Birds are as adaptable as they are resilient. 

Afterall, they are descendants of the dinosaurs. 

However, like with most animals, many bird species have exploited one particular ecological niche – or, in simple terms, the role an organism plays in the community. 

Sure, many birds are found in the sky. 

However, throughout the USA, and of course all over the globe, birds have adapted to a range of environments. 

Some species, such as the prairie chicken, lead a terrestrial lifestyle, adapted to life on the open plains of Midwest USA. 

Other species, such as woodpeckers, are hard to spot while in flight. Instead, you’ll be better off looking around dense forests with plenty of dead trees. Here, woodpeckers have evolved to bore into trees to make nesting cavities. 

Others, such as the Atlantic puffin, have leaned into a little bit of everything. Not only can they fly, they have also adapted to swim to catch their prey, as well as dig underground burrows to escape predators.

The Best Places to Birdwatch in the US

The USA is big. 

Like, really big. 

At almost 10 million km², there is no possible way we could tell you every single bird watching area near you. 

Instead, we can categorize regions and tell you some of the best, in our opinion, areas for birdwatching. 

Northeast

Starting with the smallest, we have the Northeast. 

This region contains states including, but not limited to, Maine, Virginia, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. 

From the dramatic sea cliffs of the Gaspe Peninsula to the limestone valleys of West Virginia, Northeast USA has a rich bird biodiversity. 

Sprawling old-growth forest, acres of wetlands, towering mountains and endless shorelines provide bountiful habitats and environments for birds to thrive. 

So, where are some of the best birdwatching areas in the Northwest? 

1. Cape May – New Jersey 

On the southern tip of New Jersey, the Cape May peninsula stretches across the Delaware Bay. 

Throughout spring and fall, the area sees a high influx of bird migrants passing through. 

And when I say high, I mean high. Upwards of a million migrating birds pass by, making the Cape Bay migration one of the largest assembled populations of shorebirds in the Western Hemisphere. 

To catch a glimpse of  species such as warblers, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, orioles, and buntings, head to the Cape May Migratory Refuge Center. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a peregrine falcon – the world’s fast animal!

2. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge – Delaware 

Cross from New Jersey and into Delaware, the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge provides ample opportunities for avid bird watchers. 

In the last 20 years, over 300 bird species have been observed in the large wetland area, including wood ducks and snow geese. 

In May, large congregations of shorebirds, such as plovers and sandpipers, can be seen in their thousands. 

Throughout this reserve, boardwalks and observation decks allow for birders to be fully immersed in the natural spectacle. 

3. Mount Desert Island – Maine 

Travel North and into the frigid waters of the Gulf of Maine, you’ll find Mount Desert Island. 

The rugged island, just a short ferry ride from the mainland, is home to the Acadia National Park. 

With a variety of habitats – from rich coastline to pine forests – a range of species can be found here. Year-round residents include the bald eagle, gray jays and black guillemots – a type of seabird with striking black and white plumage. 

In the summer, between the of May – August, visitors may be able to spot the Atlantic puffin as they come ashore to breed. The oceanic islands off Maine, including Mount Desert Island, are the only nesting sites for this vibrant-beaked seabird in the USA.

Southwest 

The American Southwest has no shortage of birding opportunities. In fact, states such California, Arizona and Texas have some of the highest diversity of birdlife across the entire country. 

But, where to start?

4. Rio Grande Valley – Texas

Warm weather, fruit orchards and palm trees. Sounds bliss. Add nearly 400 species of birds, both common and exotic, and the Rio Grande Valley is a bird watching haven. 

On the Southern tip of Texas, the town of Harlingen hosts the annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival during the November migration, when hundreds of bird species depart their summer nesting grounds to spend the winter in Latin America.

Birds include owls, parrots, kiskadees, raptors, ducks and so much more. 

To the West, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge hosts up to 97,000 acres of wetlands, tidal flats, desert & prairie habitats – the perfect environment for bird watching. Here, 10 federally endangered or threatened species, including the brown pelican, cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl and Northern aplomado falcon, can all be found here.

5. Saguaro National Park – Arizona 

The giant saguaro is, well, a giant. It is the largest cacti species found in the USA and a true Wild West icon. As such, the land where these plants are found have rightfully a federally protected status. 

Within the Saguaro National Park boundary, a range of uncommon bird species can be found here, such as vermilion flycatchers and whiskered screech owls.

The surprising array of habitats – from lowland desert to pine forests – help support a large diversity of bird life. One of the most common, and easily recognizable species, is the roadrunner. 

A member of the cuckoo family, the roadrunner is predominantly a ground predator. Reaching speeds of up to 15 mph, the roadrunner can speed across the desert floor in search of prey such as snakes and lizards. 

In areas of higher elevation within the park, specialized species such as the yellow-eyed junco can be found. 

6. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – California   

Drive two hours East of San Diego’s beaches, and you’ll come across California’s largest state park – Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Protecting 600,000 acres, the land encompasses a range of desert terrains, including dramatic badlands, palm oases, slot canyons, and cactus-studded slopes.

In the Spring, the once-barron dessert comes alive with the flowering of native cacti and wildflowers. Within the mass of flowering life, many bird species reside. Be on the lookout for Costa’s Hummingbird, Verdins, California Quails and black-throated Sparrows.

West 

With diverse climates and landscapes, Western USA provides ample bird watching areas. 

From coastal forests to desert scrub, there are birding hotspots throughout California, Washington and Idaho.

“But the West is VAST! I want to know about the bird watching near me!”. 

Well, here are our favorites:

7. Point Reyes National Seashore – California 

Heading to the Central western peninsula of Point Reyes, about 30 miles North of San Francisco, a 71,000 acre protected wilderness of sandy beaches, cliff faces, rolling dues and cypress forests reveals itself. 

Year round, close to 500 species of birds have been observed in the many habitats that surround Point Reyes National Seashore.

One bird of interest is the endangered snowy plover. This small shorebird has a distinguishable white chest and dark ear patches. They nest between spring and fall, with adults laying their eggs on stretches of sandy, unvegetated beach. 

Within the park, there are many birding opportunities. Head over to Bear Valley to spot an array of land birds, such as warblers, sparrows, kinglets, thrushes, wrens, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and owls.

Bolinas Lagoon also attracts a range of aquatic species, such as cormorants, pelicans, kingfishers, and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.

8. Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge – Washington 

Located in Olympia, Washington, the Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is home to a mosaic of habitats, created from the ebb and flow of the Nisqually River. 

The fluctuating tidal behavior influences an array of bird species. As the tide retreats, greater yellowlegs are a common site. The returning tide sees an abundance of waterbirds, such as dunlin and sandpipers. The diversity of wading birds attract predatory raptors, such as bald eagles and marlin. 

The relative proximity to the city of Tacoma makes Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge a good area for semi-urban bird watching. The park is open year-round, and each season brings something slightly different. 

The mile-long Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk extends over the estuary, providing ample opportunities to watch the bustling movements of the many bird species that visit here. 

9. Heyburn State Park – Idaho

Just South of Lake Chatcolet, in Central eastern Idaho, the Heyburn State Park can be found. 

Designated a protected space in 1908, Heyburn State Park is the oldest park in Western USA and boasts near 6,000 acres of pine forests and wild flower meadows. Beyond the forests, over 2,000 acres of water provide the perfect habitat for a range of bird species. 

Throughout the park, miles of trails offer some of the best birdwatching areas. One of the biggest draws for birds is the opportunity to glimpse the great blue heron rookery, where up to 50 breeding pairs nest. 

In the summer months, look out for a range of waterfowl, such as wood ducks and Canada geese, grebes and soras, as well as the osprey; a spectacular fish-eating raptor. 

As winter draws in and the lakes freeze, thousands of bird species, such as the American wigeon and mallards, use this area to rest and escape predators. 

Southeast

The Southeastern USA is a very special place for birding. 

Why?

In some regions, especially Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, bird endemism is high. That is, birds that are found nowhere else in the world. 

10. Savannas Preserve State Park – Florida

Florida supports both migratory birds that stopover within the Atlantic Flyway as well as resident birds, some of which are endemic. The most famous, perhaps, is the Florida scrub jay. 

One of the best places to spot the Florida scrub jay is in the Savannas Preserve State Park, on the Northern fringes of Miami. This region is thought to house some of the last remaining continuous coastal scrubland, land occupied in low trees and bushes, in Southeast Florida.

Listed as threatened, the Florida scrub jay has been severely affected by habitat loss. 

This species can be easily recognized by their patchy blue and gray feathers, as well as their white forehead. 

11. The Everglades – Florida

Travel into the heart of the Everglades ecosystem, approximately 30 minutes Northeast of Naples, and you’ll find Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. 

A 2 mile boardwalk meanders its way through the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America, offering exceptional areas for bird watching. 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to a wide diversity of birds, from the iconic wood stork to the majestic bald eagle. Visitors are attracted to the array of wading birds, songbirds and raptors. 

However, one of the park’s highlights is the boat-tailed grackle. These iridescent songbirds are a predominantly coastal species endemic to Florida, as well as a few coastal pockets between Georgia and New England. 

Male boat-tailed grackles have long tail feathers, often making up at least half their body length. 

12. Apalachicola National Forest – Florida 

Head to the Northwest of Florida, close to the border of Alabama, and you’ll come across the Apalachicola National Forest.

Spanning over 630,000 acres, the region supports various habitat types. Perhaps the most unique of these habitats is the sandy soils, which are home to the Florida longleaf pine. 

Distinguishable from other pine trees, with their long, fountain-like needles, they serve an important purpose. The longleaf pine supports the region’s largest remaining population of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. 

However, don’t let the name fool you. These endemic woodpeckers have black and white barring across their backs, with a black cap and large white cheek patches. Barely visible, the species gets its name from a small red streak on the black cap. 

The region of Wilma, to the West of the Apalachicola River, supports the highest density of the red-cockaded woodpecker and offers the best bird watching opportunities.

Midwest

From the heart of the USA, to the states bordering Canada and the Great Lakes, the Midwest is full of diverse and accessible bird watching. 

Whether it’s the rolling prairies of Kansas and Nebraska, the sprawling forests of Minnesota and Wisconsin or the vast lakes of Michigan, the Midwest USA is a paradise for bird enthusiasts. 

13. Magee Marsh Wildlife Area – Ohio 

Before making the arduous flight across Lake Erie and into Canada, a plethora of migrating warblers take refuge at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Toledo. 

Every spring, between the months of April and May, large concentrations pass through Magee Marsh, before heading onto their Northern summer breeding grounds. 

Commonly sighted species include gnatcatchers, palm warblers, yellow warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, vireos and more. 

However, with such fantastic bird watching opportunities, the area can easily become saturated with human visitors! 

14. Platte River Valley – Nebraska 

You’ll find no snow-capped mountains or dense forests in Nebraska. Yet, bird watching flourishes here. 

That’s due to the presence of one particular, and very complex ecosystem, the prairie. 

Prairies are often defined as large areas of flat grassland with few trees. The last place you’d think to look for birds. However, certain species of birds thrive in these grasslands.  

One particular location, the Platte River Valley, is a hotspot for bird diversity. With wet meadows, sandbards, channels and banks, this system is an oasis in the endless grassland.

As such, every spring, upwards of 600,000 sandhill cranes – almost the entirety of their global population – arrive from southern reaches of North America. They use the fertile grounds of the Platte River Valley to feed, before continuing on with their migration. 

This valley also provides vital migration habitat for other bird species, including whooping cranes, waterfowl and shorebirds. Interior least terns and plovers nest on sandbars within and around the river system. 

In late spring, greater prairie chickens use the open expanse of grasslands to perform their mating rituals – a frenzied display of stomping, jumping and booming vocalizations. 

15. Wisconsin Point – Wisconsin 

We’re heading to the Northwestern tip of Wisconsin, to the shores of Lake Superior, for our final bird watching area in the USA.

Just 2.5 miles, Wisconsin Point is a narrow peninsula. However, what it lacks in size it makes up for in old-growth pine forests and beaches. In the spring and fall migration months of May and September, many species of bird take refuge here.

Amongst the trees and bushes, look out for an array of warbler and sparrow species. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a falcon or two!

However, look across the lake surface, and a whole new birding world reveals itself. During peak migration season, a huge diversity of seabirds can be seen floating effortlessly upon the water. 

Arctic terns, famed for having one of the longest migration routes ever recorded, can be spotted off the shores of Lake Superior. As can multiple species of gulls and jaeger. 

The parasitic jaeger, also known as the Arctic skua, is a kleptoparasite. They chase and harass other bird species, such as gulls and terns, to give up their meals. A brutal, albeit fascinating, behavior that draws in crowds from all around.  

Final Thoughts

Type in “bird watching near me” and a plethora of results show up.

Sure, we’ve mentioned a few of what we think are some of the best bird watching areas in the USA. 

However, this is merely scratching the surface. Across all states, there are thousands of places that offer great bird watching. 

The habitats in which birds occupy are near endless – offshore, cliff, desert, grasslands, mountains, forests. The list goes on. 

Just remember, be respectful if visiting any of these natural environments and, of course, don’t forget to pack your binoculars!