As a life-long bird watcher and owner of two backyard wild bird stores, I have come to the conclusion that there are two kinds of birders: casual, backyard birders and serious, “get-out-into-the-field” birders. For most people, their interest in birds starts gradually and develops over a long period of time. Maybe their interest in birds was initially influenced by either their parents, or perhaps their grandparents, who had birdfeeders in their yard. Interestingly, those who fit into this … [Read more...] about Becoming a Bird Watcher
Jay's Bird Barn
Spring Migration is Right Around the Corner
The annual phenomenon of bird migration is right around the corner. Each spring, millions and millions of birds move north from their winter range in the tropics to exploit the long summer days we enjoy here in North America. Arizona is uniquely positioned to witness a lot of this migration activity because of the geographical location of our state. Most of the migratory bird species that summer in western North America spend their winters down in the tropics. Their migration route brings … [Read more...] about Spring Migration is Right Around the Corner
Should I Clean Out My Bird House?
If you have a bird house in your yard, you may be wondering whether you should clean it out each year. After all, cavity-nesting birds typically come back to the same nesting locations year after year. Chances are, the nest is in a state of disrepair after raising a brood or two the previous year. Some varieties of birds are much more fastidious than others. For example, both hummingbirds and house finches tend to have very dirty nests. When the babies in the nest need to defecate, they … [Read more...] about Should I Clean Out My Bird House?
Helping Wintering Birds Stay Fed, Clean and Warm
Have you ever found yourself on a cold winter’s day looking out the window at the wild birds in your yard and wondering how they stay alive? Maybe you’ve asked yourself questions such as, “How do they survive sub-freezing temperatures?” Or, “How do they find enough food each day to maintain their metabolism?” While many bird species migrate to warmer climates in the fall, there are perhaps just as many that stick around. As you sit in your warm, thermostatically controlled house, you might … [Read more...] about Helping Wintering Birds Stay Fed, Clean and Warm
