Latest and greatest stuff here.
It’s unusual for us to get the winter freezes and snow here in the Portland/Vancouver area, but when we do, the resident Anna’s Hummingbirds count on our feeders more than ever. I have three hummingbird feeders that I keep going all winter long. When we have freezing weather, they are more popular than ever. When the weather drops into the 20’s, keeping the nectar from freezing is a big challenge. Here are some ideas, with illustrations, that may make it easier! Read more...
It’s time for the 110th Christmas Bird Count! Dates are Dec 14, 2009 06:00 AM to Jan 03, 2010 06:00 PM Read more...
As a new birder and new Backyard Bird Shop staff member, Angela writes about the challenges of bringing backyard birds to a new feeding area, and offers a few tips to make you more successful. Read more...
In the May 14th Oregonian Homes and Gardens section (and online) there's a great article by Kym Pokorny on how to make your yard a haven for hummingbirds! Read more...
I believe that one of our missions at Backyard Bird Shop is to help our customers encourage biodiversity in an effort to create a thriving wildlife habitat. One easy step is to discontinue the use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Read more...
We need all the pollinators we can get! Some people are surprised to discover bees taking up residence in a birdhouse. Since many species of bumblebees are in decline, you may want to consider the presence of Orange Rumped Bumblebees a positive! Before you decide to reclaim that house for the birds, consider these important facts. Read more...
James Davis, one of our local treasures, has a new book about where to go and what to see, month by month, in Oregon, Washington and B.C. Read more...
by Michele Dupraw Not only does NPR bring us the best news coverage in the country -- it also brings wonderful human- and bird-interest stories like this one. Click on the link below to enjoy Julie Zickefoose's article about birds watching us as we watch them! She includes a nice recipe for suet dough. I found that Yellow Rumped and Townsend's warblers really like it! Read more...
Watch Anne Jaeger of The Oregonian's Homes & Gardens Magazine interview Scott about how to thwart the squirrels at your feeders without driving yourself squirrelly. Read more...
Backyard Bird Shop is pleased to sponsor three airings of "On the Wing", a program telling the story of Portland's favorite flock of birds, the Chapman Swifts, on Oregon Public Broadcasting (Channel 10). Read more...
It’s unusual for us to get the winter freezes and snow here in the Portland/Vancouver area, but when we do, the resident Anna’s Hummingbirds count on our feeders more than ever. I have three hummingbird feeders that I keep going all winter long. When we have freezing weather, they are more popular than ever. When the weather drops into the 20’s, keeping the nectar from freezing is a big challenge. Here are some tips that may make it easier! Read more...
My backyard birds really love Mr. Bird’s nut and seed logs. I have offered both varieties, alternating between PecanFeast and WildBird Feast and getting lots of action on both! I’ve seen nuthatches, chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Song Sparrows, House Finches, and even a Black-headed Grosbeak feasting on them. Read more...
Check out some of our Wingscapes BirdCam photos here! The BirdCam is a new product, so some of us are trying it now in our own backyards! It's an outdoor camera that can capture up-close digital photos and videos of your birds, squirrels, raccoons, etc. The Evening Grosbeak photo was BirdCam'ed in Scappoose. The Western Tanager pair visited Michele’s birdbath while she was at work in our Beaverton shop. Check out the American Goldfinches on a black oil sunflower feeder, a Rufous Hummingbird on a Nature's Best hummingbird feeder, and a Black-headed Grosbeak eating black oil sunflower seeds from a tube feeder. Read more...
In the last 16 years Backyard Bird Shop has always make it a top priority to offer only regionally appropriate seed that has been cleaned to the highest standards possible. And we’ve found that by working with regional seed processors, we can provide that seed to our customers at very reasonable prices. Sometimes you really can get what you pay for! Read more...