What birds can you expect to see in a Maryland backyard? While every property is different with its own mix of birds, many are pretty typical. These are the Maryland backyard birds commonly seen in our central Maryland yard.
Estimated reading time: 26 minutes
Continue reading Maryland Backyard Birds
When I was a kid, we called Dark-Eyed Juncos “snow birds.” Until I started bird watching later in life, I thought that was their actual name. To us, seeing a snow bird was a sign. It meant that it was going to snow, leading to snowmen, snow forts, saucering down the side hill and a day off of school. I suspect this childhood joy may still be a bit of the reason that I still love these little birds today. Even today, when I know that birds don’t cause the weather, I still feel joy when I see the first of the juncos and their winter pals, the White-Throated Sparrows arrive in mid-fall. Here is what I do in my yard to make sparrows welcome during the winter.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Continue reading Attracting White-Throats, Juncos & Other Sparrows
Spring backyard birds are always interesting. You never know when a new bird will arrive in the yard.
Here in central Maryland, it has been feeling like summer lately. We have to remind ourselves that it is actually still spring. The yard has been lively, with quite a few interesting spring bird visitors over the past week. Most will not settle in to become yard regulars. They will continue on their way within a day or two, but it sure is fun to watch them while they are here.
Continue reading Spring Backyard Birds