Warmer temperatures, budding flowers, wearing flip-flops. They’re all signs of spring’s arrival, but hearing birds chirping is one of my favorite indications of a new season unfolding. To help mark spring’s arrival, here are a few birds to keep an eye or an ear out for!

The Eastern Bluebird will appear in gardens and orchards slightly before or at the arrival of spring. These creatures are about 6 and a half inches long and can be attracted using dried fruit, chopped peanuts, or live mealworms. They enjoy being in meadows or fields surrounded by trees for adequate nesting.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is also a good sign spring is present, especially if you live in the northern United States. Adult males sport emerald green plumage on their backs with ruby red on their throats. They begin arriving to their spring and summer destinations in late March until mid May, as they follow flowers blooming northward. Because they are quite curious and inquisitive birds, they are easily drawn to feeders.

Canada and Wilson Warblers make their appearance between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, with Yellow-rumped Warblers completing their migration a bit earlier. The latter is a sizable bird with a large head and a long, narrow tail. Varieties of Warblers include colorful plumage consisting of yellow, red, blue, black, gray, brown or orange!

The medium-sized songbird known as the Baltimore Oriole lives and breeds in open woodland areas or heavily wooded urban areas. With a length of 6.5-7 inches, the Baltimore Oriole can be attracted to your backyard feeders using oranges, nectars, or peanut butter.

All of the birds mentioned above make their presence known in the spring, but to ensure that you have a great backyard bird watching experience hang a variety of feeders to attract all types. Hanging feeders to accommodate seed-eating birds, hummingbirds, and orioles will bring an assortment of feathered friends to your yard.
 

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With the holidays approaching you may be scrambling to get your bird enthusiast friends a gift they’ll love. Sure, a partridge in a pear tree or six geese a laying might brighten their holiday season, but we found 10 gifts that are affordable and guaranteed to please.

1. “Bird Watchers Digest” Subscription – For just $19.99 you can give your birding enthusiast a printed subscription to “Bird Watchers Digest” and get the online digital version for free!  Not only that, if you order online you can create a free e-Card to send to your birdwatcher notifying, them of the gifted subscription.

2. Nikon 10-22X50 Binoculars – Sometimes it isn’t what always meets the eye. Quick central focusing and sharp multicoated optics for superb contrast and vivid color come at a very fair price. For a double surprise, throw the Binocular Harness in their stocking! For $17.95 you won’t break the bank, and your loved one won’t suffer from sore shoulders!

3. Wingscapes Birdcam – They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but with this nifty tool you can’t put a number on it. The Audubon BirdCam uses “Smart Sensor” technology to detect an animal’s presence in your yard and snaps photos without getting a ton of empty frames.

4. Perky Pet® Hummingbird Feeder – Give your friends the Perky-Pet® “Our Best” Feeder for their bird watching amusement. Then gather around to watch the natural beauty of these tiny fliers as they flit around and dive bomb each other for food.

5. Eagle Creek Pack-It Sack – Keep maps, field guides, and gadgets by your side on a rainy day with the Eagle Creek Pack-It Sack. The waterproof Spill-resistant LinkSeal™ Mesh keeps your documents and techie tools dry.

Be sure to check back for the remaining top 5! You won't want to fly the coup without looking at these!

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