The essentials for living your best life.
The essentials for living your best life.
Discover how backyard wildlife changes with the seasons—and learn simple ways to create a welcoming habitat while preventing unwanted encounters. From spring nesting to winter shelter-seeking, thoughtful landscaping and secure food sources can help you protect your home and enjoy nature year-round.
Native trees do far more than add greenery—they build the food web that supports backyard birds, caterpillars, and pollinators from the ground up. With the right mix of spring blooms, nesting sites, canopy layers, and shade habitat, even a small yard can become a thriving wildlife haven.
Eggshells can give backyard birds a small but useful calcium source during nesting season, when laying females and growing chicks need it most. Clean, bake, crush, and offer the shells in a shallow dish as a supplement, not a substitute, for a bird’s regular diet.
Essential Concepts
Clean, bake, crush.
Offer in spring and early summer.
Best for nesting birds needing calcium.
Use as a supplement only.
Capture stunning backyard bird photos without sending your subjects flying. With patient observation, a quiet setup, and the right camera techniques, you can photograph natural behavior while letting birds feel completely at ease.
Turn your backyard into a lively bird sanctuary with simple feeders, nourishing seed mixes, and a few smart placement tips. Invite colorful visitors like cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds while creating a fun, educational activity the whole family can enjoy.
Window strikes kill nearly a billion birds each year in the U.S., but the good news is that simple changes at home can make a real difference. From patterned films and netting to easy DIY fixes, you can help turn dangerous glass into a safer space for backyard birds.
Birdbaths do more than add charm to your yard—they attract birds, butterflies, and other helpful wildlife while providing a vital water source year-round. They can also help with pest control, pollination, and even create a fun, educational space for kids to enjoy nature up close.
Blue jays are bold, brainy backyard showstoppers with surprising tricks up their feathers and plenty of attitude to match. From their clever problem-solving to their noisy social drama, they bring nonstop entertainment and real ecological value to any garden.
Bring your backyard to life with the Tufted Titmouse, a bold little songbird that’s as charming as it is clever. Learn how to attract these year-round visitors with the right food, shelter, and simple habitat tips that keep them coming back.
Feeding birds in your garden can be a rewarding way to attract more feathered visitors year-round. From sunflower hearts and suet to fresh water and native plants, the right mix of food and shelter helps keep birds healthy, happy, and coming back for more.
Attract more hummingbirds to your yard with simple tips on feeder placement, safe nectar, and easy cleanup. Learn how to keep these tiny visitors happy, healthy, and coming back all season long.
Winter can be tough on backyard birds, but a little help goes a long way. By providing fresh water, high-energy food, and safe shelter, you can give your feathered visitors the best chance to stay warm and thrive all season long.
Turn your garden into a welcoming haven for birds with a thoughtfully placed birdbath. With the right setup and a little care, you’ll enjoy more feathered visitors, a healthier ecosystem, and the simple joy of birdwatching from your own backyard.
A well-placed bird bath can turn your garden into a welcoming haven for local birds while giving you a front-row seat to their daily visits. Learn the simple do’s, don’ts, and maintenance tips that keep it clean, safe, and irresistible year-round.
Discover how House Finches went from a 1940s Long Island release to one of America’s most familiar backyard birds. Learn about their colorful plumage, adaptable habitats, favorite foods, flocking habits, and fascinating nesting behaviors.
Cracked corn is an affordable, energy-rich treat that can attract a wide variety of birds, from sparrows and doves to ducks and geese. With the right feeder and a few simple precautions, it can turn your backyard into a lively birdwatching spot.
House cats may be beloved companions, but their outdoor hunting can pose a serious threat to birds—especially vulnerable backyard species. Discover the startling impact of free-ranging and feral cats, and learn why responsible pet ownership matters for protecting local wildlife.
Don’t toss those eggshells—bake, crush, and offer them to your backyard birds for a simple boost of calcium and a natural aid for digestion. They’re especially helpful in spring, but can support your feathered visitors all year long.