Optics & Gear
8x42 vs 10x42 Binoculars: Which Is Better for Birding?
8x42 vs 10x42 binoculars for birding: 8x wins for most (wider view, steadier image), 10x for distance. The specs, the verdict, and the best picks in both.
Jul 10, 2026
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Everything we've written
33 articles, newest first. Jump to a topic, or just scroll.
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Feeders & SeedBest Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders: 5 That Actually Work
The best squirrel-proof bird feeders, compared by how they actually stop squirrels, plus honest picks for cardinals, small birds, and tight budgets.
Jul 9, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Orioles Eat? Fruit, Nectar, and Insects
What do orioles eat? Insects, fruit, and nectar, not seeds. The full oriole diet by season and species, plus the feeder foods that bring them in.
Jul 8, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Crows Eat? The Omnivore Diet, Explained
What do crows eat? Almost anything: seeds, nuts, insects, small animals, eggs, carrion, and scraps. Plus what to feed crows in your yard and what to avoid.
Jun 24, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Bluebirds Eat? Diet by Season and Feeder Foods
What do bluebirds eat? Mostly insects in summer, fruit and berries in winter, and mealworms at feeders, not seed. The full bluebird diet by species and season.
Jun 18, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Wrens Eat? Diet, Insects, and Feeder Foods
What do wrens eat? Mostly insects and spiders, not birdseed. The real wren diet, why only Carolina Wrens visit feeders, and the best foods to attract them.
Jun 17, 2026
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Seasonal, Water & PlantsHow to Clean a Bird Bath (the 9:1 Vinegar Method)
How to clean a bird bath: scrub with 9 parts water to 1 part vinegar, no soap, and change water every 2 to 3 days. The Audubon-backed method, algae to winter.
Jun 11, 2026
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HummingbirdsHow to Clean a Hummingbird Feeder (and How Often)
How to clean a hummingbird feeder: hot water plus vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, no soap, every few days. The Audubon-backed method, frequency, and mold fix.
Jun 7, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Blue Jays Eat? Diet, Acorns, and Feeder Foods
What do blue jays eat? About 75% nuts, acorns, seeds, and fruit, plus insects. The full blue jay diet, the acorn-caching secret, and the best feeder foods.
Jun 6, 2026
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Feeders & SeedWhere to Hang an Oriole Feeder: Height and Placement
Where to hang an oriole feeder: 6 to 10 feet up, near tall trees, visible from above. The exact height, location, and placement that gets orioles to find it.
Jun 5, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Cardinals Eat? A Seasonal Diet Guide
What do cardinals eat? Mainly seeds and fruit, plus insects, and the foods that keep them red. Here is the full cardinal diet and what to feed them.
Jun 4, 2026
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Attracting BirdsCan Birds Eat Bread? What's Safe and What to Avoid
Can birds eat bread? It is not toxic, but it is empty calories that can harm birds and starve chicks. Here is the honest answer and what to feed instead.
Jun 3, 2026
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HummingbirdsWhat Do Hummingbirds Eat? A Complete Backyard Guide
Hummingbirds eat far more than nectar: insects and spiders make up most of their diet. Here is the full picture, backed by science, and how to feed them well.
Jun 2, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Mourning Doves Eat? A Backyard Guide to the Dove Diet
Mourning doves are ground-feeding granivores: about 99% of their diet is seeds. What to feed them, why they need a ground feeder, and what baby doves eat.
Jun 1, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Robins Eat? A Backyard Guide to the Robin Diet
What robins eat changes by season: worms and insects in spring and summer, fruit and berries in winter. Why they skip seed feeders and what they take instead.
May 29, 2026
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HummingbirdsHummingbird Nests: Where They Are, What They Look Like, When
What a hummingbird nest looks like (the size of half a walnut), where hummingbirds nest, when they raise young, and why you almost never find one.
May 28, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesWhat Do Woodpeckers Eat? A Backyard Guide to Diet and Feeders
What woodpeckers eat in the wild and at backyard feeders: insects, suet, peanuts, sunflower, plus a species-by-species breakdown for 7 backyard woodpeckers.
May 26, 2026
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Feeders & SeedDIY Bluebird Feeder: 3 Builds (5 Minutes to 1 Hour)
DIY bluebird feeder: the tuna-can-and-nail build, a clear-side platform, and the Andrew Troyer mealworm box. Plus where to place it and starling exclusion.
May 25, 2026
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Attracting BirdsHow Long Do Birds Live? Lifespans of 12 Backyard Species
How long do birds live? Average wild lifespans for cardinals, chickadees, robins, blue jays, and 8 more backyard species, plus the threats that cut lives short.
May 24, 2026
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Feeders & SeedBird Feeder for Blue Jays: 5 Styles That Work (and 3 to Skip)
Bird feeder for blue jays: 5 styles that work, what to fill them with, where to place them, and how to keep jays from pushing smaller birds off other feeders.
May 21, 2026
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HummingbirdsHummingbird Migration: The 2026 Backyard Guide to Timing and Routes
Hummingbird migration timing by state, the 4 flyway routes, the 7 backyard species, fall departure schedule, and the trackers that actually work.
May 18, 2026
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Attracting BirdsWhat Do Fledgling Birds Eat? (Read This Before You Feed Anything)
What fledgling and young birds eat, why you shouldn't feed a baby bird you found, how to tell a fledgling from a nestling, and how to find a wildlife rehabber.
May 15, 2026
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Feeders & SeedOriole Feeders: How to Pick One, Fill It, and When to Put It Out
Oriole feeders explained: 5 styles, what to fill them with, when to put them out by zone, and the jelly welfare rule most guides skip.
May 12, 2026
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Seasonal, Water & PlantsHow to Attract Birds to a Bird Bath: A Backyard Guide
How to attract birds to a bird bath: 1 to 2 inch depth, place it 10 feet from cover, add moving water, keep it clean, and wait 2 to 3 weeks for discovery.
May 9, 2026
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Feeders & SeedHow to Attract Birds to a Bird Feeder: A Backyard Guide
How to attract birds to a bird feeder: black-oil sunflower seed, the right feeder for the species you want, 4 to 5 feet up near cover, water nearby.
May 6, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesHow to Attract Bluebirds: A Backyard Species Guide
How to attract bluebirds: nest box (1.5-inch hole, no front perch), mealworms, open habitat with low perches, native berry shrubs. Three species by region.
May 3, 2026
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Backyard Species GuidesHow to Attract Cardinals: A Backyard Species Guide
How to attract cardinals: black-oil sunflower and safflower seed, wide-perch platform or hopper feeder, 4 to 5 feet up near dense shrubs. Year-round residents.
Apr 30, 2026
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Feeders & SeedHow to Keep Squirrels Out of Bird Feeders: 7 Methods
How to keep squirrels out of bird feeders: pole baffle, the 5-7-9 placement rule, weight-sensitive feeders, safflower seed. What actually works, what to skip.
Apr 27, 2026
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HummingbirdsHow to Attract Hummingbirds to a Feeder: 7-Day Plan
How to attract hummingbirds to a hummingbird feeder: red feeder, fresh 4:1 nectar, red flowers nearby. Expect 2 to 3 weeks for the first bird.
Apr 24, 2026
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HummingbirdsHow to Keep Ants and Bees Out of Hummingbird Feeders
How to keep ants out of hummingbird feeder and bees away from it: ants walk, bees fly, the fixes differ. Plus what to skip (Vaseline kills hummingbirds).
Apr 21, 2026
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HummingbirdsWhen to Put Out Hummingbird Feeders: State-by-State Guide
When to put out hummingbird feeders, state by state. Spring migration windows for every U.S. region, with the western species most guides skip.
Apr 18, 2026
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HummingbirdsHummingbird Nectar Recipe: 4:1, No Boil, No Red Dye
The hummingbird nectar recipe: 1 part plain white sugar to 4 parts water. No boiling for small batches. No red dye. Cornell Lab and Audubon-backed method.
Apr 15, 2026
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HummingbirdsBest Hummingbird Feeder: 8 Picks by Use Case (Honest Tiers)
The best hummingbird feeders by use case: ant-proof, bee-proof, high-capacity, window-mount, budget, splurge. Tiered honestly with welfare guidance.
Apr 12, 2026