Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Danielle Calkins, Assistant Editor

Happy October! If your house, like mine, is decorated with pumpkins, be sure to save them to make a quick and easy bird feeder. Simply hollow out your pumpkins and fill them with cracked corn and birdseed to give ground-feeding birds a special autumn treat.

We treated ourselves this month too, by going to see the premiere of The Big Year, which debuted Oct. 14. You can read our movie review here. And for a little fun for our readers, we're giving away one Big Year movie poster signed by Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. Enter here!

Danielle Calkins
Birds & Blooms

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• READ ON TO DISCOVER...
• Regional Report
• Bird of the Month
• From the Expert
• Purple Martin Gourd House
• Nature Photography Tips

Regional Report

The seasons are changing, and as cooler weather comes in, our regional reporters are sharing their best advice on cold-weather gardening and winter birds. 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: Mourning Dove

Have you ever had a mourning dove in your backyard? If not, you should try to attract them. These entertaining nesters will raise multiple broods all summer!

Learn how to attract the mourning dove to your yard, and listen to their song.

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From the Expert

George Harrison, Birding Expert

I love gazing balls, but I’ve heard they can confuse birds. Is this true?
—Bonnie Parton, Denham Spring, Louisiana

George: The problem with gazing balls is that birds can see their reflections in them. During the breeding season, the reflections appear to be another bird that has invaded the territory. As a result, the real bird will fight the reflection in an attempt to chase it away. This behavior can go on for weeks.

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Purple Martin Gourd House

It’s the perfect time of year to create gourd birdhouses. Cured hard-shell gourds are almost as tough as plywood and will last up to 30 years if properly coated with a preservative and handled with care.

Make your own birdhouse now!

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Nature Photography Tips

Taking photos of birds in motion is much more challenging than photographing perched birds, but with these simple techniques you can get a great shot in no time.

Learn the photography tips now.

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