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
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 11 posts tagged #backyard-birding
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: Best Food, Feeders & Cover
Attract cardinals with black-oil sunflower and safflower on a platform or hopper feeder, plus dense shrubs. Feed at dawn and dusk.
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
Bird Bath Tips: Attract More Birds With Water
Water pulls in more species than seed. Keep it shallow, rough-bottomed, clean, and moving, and warblers and thrushes that skip feeders will still show up.
Hilly Shore Labs4 min·July 19, 2026
Heated Bird Baths: Do You Actually Need One?
In freezing climates, open water is one of winter's rarest resources — a heated bath makes your yard a magnet from December to February. In mild regions, skip it.
Hilly Shore Labs3 min·July 19, 2026