Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Last month I shared a hummingbird video with you that our readers fell in love with. I have another video surprise this month, too! We received this up-close video of a robin feeding its young from a reader in Middleton, NJ. It’s great! What’s the closest bird encounter you’ve ever had? Share it with us!

You can always share your bird encounters with us on our Facebook page, too.

Happy birding!

Danielle Calkins
Birds & Blooms

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• READ ON TO DISCOVER...
• Regional Report
• Bird of the Month
• From the Expert
• Project of the Month
• How to ID a New Bird Sighting

Regional Report

Warm weather is here; and with it comes lively bird sightings in your area. Click on your region below to learn more about your area on our Birds & Blooms blog.

• Southwest
• Midwest
• Northeast
• Northwest
• South Central
• Southeast

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Bird of the Month: Tree Swallow

Tree swallows are amazing acrobats when it comes to flying. Do you have these entertaining birds in your backyard?

Learn how to attract the Tree Swallow to your yard, and listen to their song.

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From the Expert

We recently moved to a new housing development where there are no trees. I'd like to put up birdhouses and feeders, but worry the lack of protective cover will keep birds away. How can I attract birds to such an open area?—Charlotte Van Cassele, Brockport, New York

George: You're correct in assuming birds are unlikely to nest or feed in a backyard that doesn't have some protective natural cover. The solution is easy—simply plant some. Evergreens will give you instant cover, in summer or winter. So will a discarded Christmas tree or a pile of brush collected from the yard. When the season is right for planting, you can add deciduous shrubs, shade trees and ground covers. Then the birds should flock to your yard to nest, eat and bathe.

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Project of the Month: Homemade Hummingbird Feeder

This is one easy project that anyone can make. With a simple water bottle, wire and a hummingbird feeder & stopper tubes—it’s a synch!

Build your own feeder today, and start attracting hummingbirds tomorrow!

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How to ID a New Bird Sighting

Let us guess, you’re excited because you just saw a new bird that you’ve never seen before—but what is it? Here are some simple tips to identifying your friendly flier.

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