Our Blog

  • A stocky, metallic green hummingbird with a straight bill hovers under a yellow flower as it drinks the flower's nectar.
    Blog
    Data Entry Contest: Backyard Bird Havens

    For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share…

  • A large black and white woodpecker with a bright red crest and cheek stripe forages for seeds in a magnolia tree.
    Blog
    Data Entry Contest: Describe How You Became Interested in Birds!

    For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share…

  • Small, drab yellow finch perched on pine branch.
    Blog
    Data Entry Contest: How do you FeederWatch?

    For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share…

  • a yellow and black-patterned warbler perched on an orange bird bath
    Blog
    Data Entry Contest: What are you most excited for this season?

    For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share…

  • Blog
    Methods Behind the Madness: Why Only Count the Most Birds Seen at Once?

    You’ve just sat down in your living room under a cozy blanket with a steaming mug of fresh coffee to begin your FeederWatch count. You watch for an hour as chickadees race back and forth to your feeder from deep…

  • Blog
    Keeping House Sparrows away from feeders

    A FeederWatcher shares his strategies An invasion of House Sparrows almost caused FeederWatcher Bill Kampen in Leavenworth, Washington, to stop feeding birds. A few sparrows appeared at Bill’s feeders one day, and soon there were so many House Sparrows that…

  • Several Pine siskins flocking a platform feeder
    Blog
    Methods Behind the Madness: Why shouldn’t I start a count when I see an exciting species?

    Why shouldn’t I start a count when I see an exciting species? If you see a new or uncommon bird species, it’s completely understandable to want to report it on a FeederWatch count. It’s great to notice rare birds, but reporting counts only when you see exciting species misrepresents the birds at your feeders and makes it seem as if rare species are more common than they really are.

  • Blog
    Preventing disease: What’s the best way to clean your bird feeders?

    Feeders can increase the risk of disease transmission in birds if they are not cleaned adequately. New research shows ideal cleaning methods to prevent the spread of disease among the feeder birds we love.

  • Blog
    House Finch Eye Disease: Increased virulence as disease progresses

    Recent findings indicate that the pathogen that causes House Finch eye disease – Mycoplasma gallisepticum – is becoming stronger and more dangerous than earlier versions of the pathogen.