Skip the Fall Cleanup! (Follow-up: Not Just for the Birds)
By Mary Leigh
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
Something like 25 years ago, my husband and I didn’t get around to trimming back our flowers in the fall, which was generally considered the thing to do at the time. This occurrence led to 3 surprises.
Gardening for Birds
By Kari Zelinskas
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
The long winter months are quickly approaching. Take advantage of this time to plan for how you can make your yard more attractive to a variety of birds. Choosing native plants will best support your local birds by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites appropriate to your area.
Feeding Bread to Birds (Or Not)
By Kevin Koch
[from fall 2025 newsletter]
The next time you’re tempted to feed the birds from that bag of bread, think again! You might just be depriving your feathered friends of a broader range of nutrition they’ll need throughout the year.
While bread does contain carbohydrates, bird specialist Dr. David Shealer, Professor of Biology at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, points out that birds also need proteins and fats in their diet…
Q&A: Feeding Bread
[from summer 2025 newsletter]
Question:
Is it OK to feed bread to birds?
Answer: No!
Please help us spread the word that birds should not be fed bread, popcorn, crackers, chips, cereal, and most processed foods.
Birding Ethics
By Bob Walton
[from fall 2024 newsletter]
All sports have rules to follow, and birding should be no different. It is important that the welfare of all our birds be respected, resulting in little or no disturbance to the birds. The American Birding Association (ABA) has developed a Code of Birding Ethics that promotes respectful, enjoyable, and thoughtful birding.