Migration is the best time to catch a glimpse of this storied bird. Whether it's crab cakes or barbecue with guava chutney,warblers or hawks, a good hike or a short ride, shopping or beach combing, the Eastern Shore Birding Festival has something for every birder. Since winter weather is upon us, here are a few helpful tips for ensuring an enjoyable snowbound experience for you and the birds that share your backyard. Shelter is good . If you can find a snow-free patch of ground beneath a porch, dense evergreen, or other environment, scatter seed there.
Bare earth is essential to ground-feeding species like robins.
Once I enjoyed a close-up view of a quail that had decided to seek shelter beneath my deck and could not be moved. I thought something was wrong with the bird, went outside to check on it, and realized it was fine when it disappeared stealthily behind the only cover available, a large stump I had set out to be split for firewood. When the snow left, so did the quail. Suet is good. I've heard stories of people who, having run out of bird seed, decided that corn chips and cereal would be suitable.