Welcome to My Blog!
This blog is where I’ll share what I’m seeing in our yard, in the gardens, and around our small lake—anything related to birds and gardening. I’d love to hear from you as well! Whether you’re observing something interesting or have a bird-related question, feel free to reach out. I don’t follow a strict blogging schedule, but I typically post every 4 to 7 days—sometimes more often. Let’s enjoy learning about birds together.
If you’d like to get in touch, please email me directly at lindahendricksspence@birdingbeyondthefieldguide.com.
-
25AprRead More
A Now Rare House Sparrow at Our Feeder
In many places in North America, the House Sparrow is not rare. In fact, it can be so abundant as to be a nuisance. When we first moved here to central Illinois, we started with a few House Sparrows, but within 10 years, we had a flock of about 30 eating at our feeders every […]
-
24AprRead More
Our feeders and birdbaths
This past Saturday during feeder and birdbath maintenance, we made some changes which you can see on the BirdCam. First, the log feeder is gone. We do not provide suet during the spring and summer months. In the warmer months, birds have insects and fruit on which to forage throughout our yard and gardens so […]
-
20AprRead More
Male Purple Finch
It is unusual to rare for us to have Purple Finches in our yard. We did have a female for a week or so this past winter, but many winters we do not have any. We do have birding friends here in central Illinois who have Purple Finches at their feeders throughout the late fall […]
-
15AprRead More
Double-crested Cormorants
In spring and summer, we normally have 6-7 Double-crested Cormorants on our small lake. This spring we have had an invasion! More cormorants here than I have ever seen in the 20 years we have lived here. We do have several large lakes in our area and cormorants in spring and summer are common. But […]
-
10AprRead More
Brown-headed Cowbirds
Right now, we have a few Brown-headed Cowbirds on the platform feeder several times every day. Sometimes it is 3 or more males, but often there will be 1 female with them. Here in central Illinois, this is normal spring behavior for them and appears to be part of their courting ritual. What you will […]