Suet for Birds: What It Is, When to Start, Which Feeder
Nearly half of Cornell's 98 common feeder birds take suet, and three will use nothing but a cage. What it is, when to start, and which feeder to hang.
Hilly Shore Labs7 min·September 4, 2026
The Blog
Birding guides & honest gear advice
Practical, jargon-free birding advice — gear comparisons, backyard how-tos, and the answers to questions every new birder has. No fluff, no gatekeeping.
Showing 1–30 of 41 posts
How to Choose a Bird Bath: What Actually Matters
The ornamental concrete pedestal is the bird bath most people buy and the one Cornell steers you away from. Depth, texture and cleanability decide it.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 31, 2026
Best Hummingbird Feeders: Why Easy Cleaning Wins
Roundups rank hummingbird feeders by capacity. Authorities say clean yours every 1–3 days all summer — so cleanability is the spec that decides it.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 26, 2026
eBird Explore: Find the Bird, Then Read Your Odds
Explore turns eBird from a notebook into a trip planner. Route your question to the right tool, then read a bar chart for what it is: a reporting rate.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 21, 2026
Confusing Fall Warblers: Read the Underside First
Field guides draw warblers in profile; the canopy shows you the underside. A five-species key read from below, plus the two pairs that are genuinely hard.
Hilly Shore Labs5 min·August 17, 2026
Hummingbird Feeders in Fall: When to Take Yours Down
Leaving a feeder up does not delay hummingbird migration — day length sets the clock. When to take yours down by region, and where you never should.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 8, 2026
Bald Cardinals and Quiet Yards: August Molt Explained
Bald cardinals, silent mornings and ragged jays are one story: molt. What it costs a bird, an August field key, and two questions science hasn't settled.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 6, 2026
How to Plan Your First Hawk Watch: Day, Wind, Site
At a hawk watch the date matters more than the place. Ninety years of counts from one ridge show where the big days fall, and how to pick yours.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·August 4, 2026
Fall Migration: What to Look For in August and September
Fall migration runs mid-August to mid-November, and it is harder than spring: drab plumage, almost no song, more juveniles. A week-by-week guide.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·July 30, 2026
Compact Binoculars: The Exit-Pupil Trade Nobody Explains
Compact binoculars trade away dawn light. We compare exit pupil, weight and price across five 8x25-8x32 pairs, and say when to buy full-size.
Hilly Shore Labs5 min·July 28, 2026
Why Aren't Birds Coming to My Feeder? A Calm Checklist
Set up a feeder and nothing showed up? You're not doing it wrong. Here's the friendly, in-order checklist for getting your first visitors.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 24, 2026
How to Stop Birds From Hitting Your Windows
Window collisions are one of the biggest and most preventable causes of bird deaths. Here are the fixes that actually work, ranked so you can start today.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 24, 2026
How to Attract Goldfinches to Your Yard
American Goldfinches are one of the easiest, cheeriest birds to bring in. A little fresh nyjer seed, the right feeder, and some patience is really all it takes.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 24, 2026
How to Attract Woodpeckers to Your Yard
Woodpeckers are easier to bring in than you'd think. The short version: put up suet, add a few peanuts, and leave a dead branch standing if you safely can.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 24, 2026
How to Identify an Unknown Bird: 5 Clues
Identify an unfamiliar bird by recording five clues in order: shape, bill, behavior, habitat, and sound. Color comes later.
Hilly Shore Labs6 min·July 22, 2026
Bird Buddy vs Birdfy vs FeatherSnap (2026): Which Wins?
Smart feeders that snap photos and ID birds for you. We compare Bird Buddy, Birdfy, FeatherSnap, and a value pick to find the real winner.
Hilly Shore Labs5 min·July 19, 2026
How to Choose Your First Birding Binoculars Under $200
You don't need to spend a fortune on your first pair. Why 8x42 wins under $200, the specs that matter, and how to actually use them in the field.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
How to Squirrel-Proof a Bird Feeder: The 5-7-9 Rule
Squirrels raiding your feeder? The physics of a real baffle setup, the 10-foot rule, and the weight-activated feeders that actually work.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
Bird Seed Guide: Sunflower vs Nyjer vs Suet, Compared
Which bird food draws which birds? A clear guide to black-oil sunflower, nyjer, and suet — and why cheap wild bird mix is mostly filler.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
Common Backyard Birds: A Beginner ID Guide
Meet the 12 birds you'll actually see at a US or Canadian feeder, and learn the simple size-shape-color-behavior method to name them fast.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
How to Attract Birds to Your Yard: Fast Beginner Guide
Attract birds fast with four things: food, water, shelter, and safety. Here's exactly what to add and which birds each one brings.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
How to Attract Bluebirds: Mealworms + the Right Box
Bluebirds come for mealworms and a proper nest box over open grass, not for seed feeders. Here's exactly how to set your yard up.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
How to Attract Cardinals: Feeders, Cover & Water
Attract cardinals with a platform or hopper feeder, dense shrubs for cover, and water. Feed at dawn and dusk — here's the full habitat setup.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
How to Attract Hummingbirds: Nectar Recipe + Feeder Tips
Attract hummingbirds with the right nectar: 4 parts water to 1 part white sugar, no red dye, no honey. Here's the full setup.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
How to Clean a Bird Feeder (The Right Way)
Clean feeders every ~2 weeks with a 1:9 bleach-water soak, scrub, rinse, and dry fully before refilling. Dirty feeders spread deadly bird disease.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
What Do Cardinals Eat? The Definitive Feeding Guide
Cardinals love black-oil sunflower and safflower seeds, plus peanuts, cracked corn, berries, and summer insects. Here's exactly what to feed them.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
When Do Hummingbirds Come Back? Region-by-Region
Ruby-throated hummingbirds hit the Gulf Coast by late Feb-March, mid-latitudes by April, and Canada by early-mid May. Hang feeders ~1-2 weeks early.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
Where to Place a Bird Feeder (The 3-and-30 Rule)
Place feeders within 3 ft of a window or more than 10-30 ft away, at least 10 ft from squirrel launch points, about 5 ft high, and near cover.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
Why Do Birds Sing in the Morning? The Real Reasons
Birds sing most at dawn to defend territory and attract mates, when still air carries sound far and it's too dim to forage.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
8x42 vs 10x42 Binoculars for Birding: Which Wins?
8x42 is the right pick for most birders — wider view, steadier image, brighter in shade. 10x42 suits open country and raptors.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026
All 41 guides, in one index
Direct links to every guide, including the older posts on page two.
- Suet for Birds: What It Is, When to Start, Which Feeder
- How to Choose a Bird Bath: What Actually Matters
- Best Hummingbird Feeders: Why Easy Cleaning Wins
- eBird Explore: Find the Bird, Then Read Your Odds
- Confusing Fall Warblers: Read the Underside First
- Hummingbird Feeders in Fall: When to Take Yours Down
- Bald Cardinals and Quiet Yards: August Molt Explained
- How to Plan Your First Hawk Watch: Day, Wind, Site
- Fall Migration: What to Look For in August and September
- Compact Binoculars: The Exit-Pupil Trade Nobody Explains
- Why Aren't Birds Coming to My Feeder? A Calm Checklist
- How to Stop Birds From Hitting Your Windows
- How to Attract Goldfinches to Your Yard
- How to Attract Woodpeckers to Your Yard
- How to Identify an Unknown Bird: 5 Clues
- Bird Buddy vs Birdfy vs FeatherSnap (2026): Which Wins?
- How to Choose Your First Birding Binoculars Under $200
- How to Squirrel-Proof a Bird Feeder: The 5-7-9 Rule
- Bird Seed Guide: Sunflower vs Nyjer vs Suet, Compared
- Common Backyard Birds: A Beginner ID Guide
- How to Attract Birds to Your Yard: Fast Beginner Guide
- How to Attract Bluebirds: Mealworms + the Right Box
- How to Attract Cardinals: Feeders, Cover & Water
- How to Attract Hummingbirds: Nectar Recipe + Feeder Tips
- How to Clean a Bird Feeder (The Right Way)
- What Do Cardinals Eat? The Definitive Feeding Guide
- When Do Hummingbirds Come Back? Region-by-Region
- Where to Place a Bird Feeder (The 3-and-30 Rule)
- Why Do Birds Sing in the Morning? The Real Reasons
- 8x42 vs 10x42 Binoculars for Birding: Which Wins?
- Do You Need a Spotting Scope? When It's a Waste of Money
- Bird Bath Tips: Attract More Birds With Water
- Heated Bird Baths: Do You Actually Need One?
- Bird Photography for Beginners: Your First Real Setup
- Digiscoping: How to Photograph Birds Through a Scope
- How to Join a Christmas Bird Count (Beginners Welcome)
- How to Learn Bird Songs by Ear: A Practical Method
- How to Use Binoculars for Birding: 8 Fixes That Work
- How to Use BirdCast to Time Your Best Birding Days
- How to Use eBird: Your Birding Notebook, Explained
- How to Use Merlin Bird ID: A Beginner's Walkthrough