Birds - Birds & Blooms: Everyday Birdwatching Stories

Birds & Blooms Everyday Birdwatching Stories

Encounters with feathered friends in every season

A Birds & Blooms Book

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All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

Birds & Blooms is a registered trademark of RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.

ISBN:

978-1-62145-747-3

(Hardcover)

978-1-62145-748-0

(Paperback)

978-1-62145-595-0

(Epub)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021938564

Component Number: 118500106H

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For more Birds & Blooms products, visit us at our website: www.birdsandblooms.com.

Text, photography and illustrations for Everyday Birdwatching Stories are based on articles previously published in Birds & Blooms magazine (www.birdsandblooms.com).

Image Credits

Getty: front cover Saddako

Shutterstock: windu

iStockPhoto: ferrantraite

Other: back cover l Glenn Traver; back cover r Karol Habersetzer; Perky Pet

Nashville warbler

Welcome!

Spotting a favorite bird or finding a completely new visitor in your yard are truly cherished moments. Everyday Birdwatching Stories features Birds & Blooms readers telling the tales of winged friends theyve foundfrom finches to owls and everything in betweenin every season. Plus, special sections at the end of each chapter help you attract birds to your yard. So relax, take a seat by a window, and savor these heartwarming bird tales and lovely photos.

THE EDITORS OF BIRDS & BLOOMS MAGAZINE

SPRING Returning Friends

Spring brings brilliant blooms, cheery songs, adorable fledglings and even a few exciting, unusual backyard visitors.

My deck is my photography studio. One spring day, I set peanuts all around me and caught a photo of this blue jay.

Anthony Quinn SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND

BRING IN BLUE JAYS

Draw blue jays into your backyard with peanuts or sunflower seeds in a tray feeder. All birds need water, too, so consider adding a birdbath to your yard.

Last year I saw quite a few beautiful western tanagers. I even captured photographs of some of them.

Sylvia Hooper CANON CITY, COLORADO

I captured this picture of a black-headed grosbeak during a soft rain. I love photographing birds on cloudy days when there are fewer shadows to detract from the bird. A migrant species, this grosbeak is one of my favorites. Its arrival confirms winter is over, spring has begun and summer is on its way.

Mark Schmitt WOFFORD HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA

Apparently American robins can have a case of the Mondays, too! I caught this one foraging on the ground early in the morning, when it decided to take a break for a big yawn.

Jessica Nelson DAYTON, MARYLAND

In Canada the winters are often very long. I always look forward to the arrival of spring, and one of the earliest visitors to show up is the mountain bluebird. I love their bright blue color. It reminds me of warm summer days with deep blue skies.

Wendall Shaw CARDSTON, ALBERTA

When I moved here, I didnt realize how much it would become a paradise for me and the birds! I love feeding and taking pictures of my visitors, such as this male purple finch.

Michelle Summers PARADISE, TEXAS

My son and I took a recent trip to Buffalo, Wyoming, and found these young great horned owls in a secluded area outside of town. They seemed as curious about us as we were about them. After observing them from about 10 yards away, we went home for the night. The owls, on the other hand, stayed in place and most likely took care of the local garden snake population (much to the dismay of my 4-year-old snake hunter).

Trevor Ruff BARABOO, WISCONSIN

Easter weekend last year was dreary. A large system stalled over the state, and it was pouring rain all day Saturday. Sunday was better, but thick fog lay across Indianapolis most of the morning. Needless to say, it was difficult to get out to take photos. After Easter dinner I decided to squeeze in some photo time and hung the thistle feeder in the redbud tree. This American goldfinch was accommodating, and I was happy to get a few memorable shots.

Mike Timmons INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

I lucked out and spotted this scarlet tanager sitting pretty in the sunlight while I was out for a walk. Im always glad when I bring my camera along with me.

Phillip Werman NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

TWO HUES

Male scarlet tanagers look very different from females in summer. They are striking red with black wings, while the females are a muted olive yellow. In winter, the males fade to dull yellow and look like the females again.