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birds

The Golden-crowned Kinglet: A Royally Charming Winter Resident

The Golden-crowned Kinglet: A Royally Charming Winter Resident

If you spend any time walking in coniferous forests, you've no doubt wandered right under these busy little birds without knowing it. They feed high in the treetops and are so small and active that they are easily missed - unless you’re a seasoned birder and can recognize the noisy high-pitched calls of foraging flocks.

Wise Oaks, Clever Jays

Wise Oaks, Clever Jays

It's another big acorn year, and many oak trees have dropped their acorns relatively early - presumably because they are stressed from the drought, and can’t afford the resources needed to grow their seeds to maturity. Meanwhile, small flocks of blue jays (often family groups) are moving through hardwood forests - busily collecting and caching these synchronized seeds.

Water for Wildlife - Birdbath Basics & More

Water for Wildlife - Birdbath Basics & More

Providing water can be something as simple as re-purposing a garbage can lid to building an elaborate wildlife pond. Assess your landscape needs, budget and resources (time and money) and take the next step providing water for wildlife today – at any scale.

Hungry Little Hummingbirds

Hungry Little Hummingbirds

This time of year your backyard hummingbird has hungry young ones to feed. Just a few short weeks ago she laid 1-3 eggs in a tiny little cup nest woven together with spider webs….

What does Mama Hummingbird need to succeed?

Attracting Bluebirds without Boxes

Attracting Bluebirds without Boxes

I’m delighted to report that we might finally have bluebirds nesting in our home habitat. We’ve lived here in Poland Spring for over a decade, and have never put up a nest box…

Where Have All the Whip-poor-wills Gone?

Where Have All the Whip-poor-wills Gone?

Last summer about this time of year my family and I were camped in a far corner of a local campground, up against a recently harvested woodlot. One evening, we were sitting around the campfire when we heard the distinctive song of a Whip-poor-will coming from the logged area. We were thrilled!  You see, it's become rare to hear a Whip-poor-will, and that's why we were so excited to hear one around the campfire.

Eastern Whip-poor-will populations have declined 60% over the past 45 years. Why Have Their Numbers Dwindled So Much?