This is history I am interested in! This is an amazing read. I never knew any of this. Feeding stations for birds. Meanwhile now in 2025 my husband and I help over 4 or 5 dozen wild mallards and hybrid at a park near our home who have been there since I was born in 1980. Robins slowly started staying in pa during the winter. I can't help but to think it is bc where they used to go deforestation happened. Same for waterfowl I'm sure. Bc now we also have 2 green winged teal who also winter with us. They're absolutely adorable. There are very huge nice houses by this park. Lots of kids bc there is a school nearby. Yet instead of taking interest in the wildlife they actually made fun of me and my 10 yr old God daughter this past summer bc we were trying to get more fishing lure out of a duck. We have been trying to get the catch and release fishing stopped there for awhile. The kids around the park are all indoor kids who think nature is disposable. I really wish they'd teach kids in school how important it is. Bc obviously the parents aren't. My God daughter was mortified. She didn't understand why these kids were so mean. The more time and yrs I spend there the more kids I unfortunately run into that way. I wish this was a lesson in schools. Ty for this awesome information!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's great that you've been able to see generations of birds come and go and track changes between the seasons. For me that's one of the most rewarding aspects of birding.
We use a combination of both feeders and native plants. Most of our yard debris stays in the yard, it’s not a pretty sight but it means lots of insects and other critters. Between the debris, plants, fruit trees, and feeders, we get many different bird species.
Many thanks for sharing. I’ve sometimes wondered how birds would get on without the feeders - as you say, those that don’t migrate are designed to survive.
I love this historical perspective as well as the artwork you’ve selected for this stack. I’m a new follower and I saw your comments about posting on blue sky as well so I’m going to follow your advice. (I’m new to Substack.)
Thanks for following! One of my favorite parts about doing historical research is finding old photos, graphics, and cartoons about birds. Good aesthetic sense is nothing new!
This is history I am interested in! This is an amazing read. I never knew any of this. Feeding stations for birds. Meanwhile now in 2025 my husband and I help over 4 or 5 dozen wild mallards and hybrid at a park near our home who have been there since I was born in 1980. Robins slowly started staying in pa during the winter. I can't help but to think it is bc where they used to go deforestation happened. Same for waterfowl I'm sure. Bc now we also have 2 green winged teal who also winter with us. They're absolutely adorable. There are very huge nice houses by this park. Lots of kids bc there is a school nearby. Yet instead of taking interest in the wildlife they actually made fun of me and my 10 yr old God daughter this past summer bc we were trying to get more fishing lure out of a duck. We have been trying to get the catch and release fishing stopped there for awhile. The kids around the park are all indoor kids who think nature is disposable. I really wish they'd teach kids in school how important it is. Bc obviously the parents aren't. My God daughter was mortified. She didn't understand why these kids were so mean. The more time and yrs I spend there the more kids I unfortunately run into that way. I wish this was a lesson in schools. Ty for this awesome information!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's great that you've been able to see generations of birds come and go and track changes between the seasons. For me that's one of the most rewarding aspects of birding.
We use a combination of both feeders and native plants. Most of our yard debris stays in the yard, it’s not a pretty sight but it means lots of insects and other critters. Between the debris, plants, fruit trees, and feeders, we get many different bird species.
It sounds like you've created a great little refuge for birding!
It feels like my own personal piece of paradise. It seems that the birds agree, too.
Many thanks for sharing. I’ve sometimes wondered how birds would get on without the feeders - as you say, those that don’t migrate are designed to survive.
They took care of themselves for a long time before we came around!
I love this historical perspective as well as the artwork you’ve selected for this stack. I’m a new follower and I saw your comments about posting on blue sky as well so I’m going to follow your advice. (I’m new to Substack.)
Thanks for following! One of my favorite parts about doing historical research is finding old photos, graphics, and cartoons about birds. Good aesthetic sense is nothing new!
Great minds think alike
Mass starvation of wild birds in southern states in 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/26/mass-die-off-of-birds-in-south-western-us-caused-by-starvation-aoe
Thank you for this post.