Red Maple leaves turning orange © Renee Sack

Take 5: The Nature of Fall

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Ryan D.

September is here and autumn is rolling in! The leaves are just beginning to change—especially the earliest species to lose its summer green hue, the red maple—and we are looking forward to the change of season with a fun lineup of fall-focused online programs.

Learn how to identify hawks in flight just in time for the height of fall hawk migration, dive deeper into the unique nature of fall, take your feeder watching and backyard birding to the next level with the beginner birdwatching series, and more. Our expert instructors and online platform make learning about autumn more accessible than ever!

And don’t forget—the 2021 Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest closes on September 30, just a few short weeks away, so submit your beautiful nature photography today. Here are five photos submitted to the contest in past years, highlighting the awesome nature of autumn.

Red-tailed Hawk in fall © David Morris
Red-tailed Hawk in fall © David Morris
Red Maple leaves turning orange © Renee Sack
Red Maple leaves turning orange © Renee Sack
Canada Geese flying south in a V formation © Steve Nikola
Canada Geese flying south in a V formation © Steve Nikola
Eastern Gray Squirrel (black morph) gathering acorns © Claudia Carpinone
Eastern Gray Squirrel (black morph) gathering acorns © Claudia Carpinone
Sandhill Crane in Hanson, MA © Paul McCarthy
Sandhill Crane in Hanson, MA © Paul McCarthy
American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder © Anindya Sen

Take 5: Return of the Feeder Frenzy

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Ryan D.

We are so excited to finally be able to put bird feeders back out, now that the threat of the mysterious avian disease seems to have subsided. Thank you to everyone who heeded the call—taking down feeders was an important precaution during a time of uncertainty and we are grateful to everyone who played it safe with us.

To celebrate this happy news, here are five photos of birds enjoying various types of feeders from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest. You can learn more about which birds prefer different kinds of food and feeders on our website, and learn some important steps that you can take to protect our beloved birds, like regular feeder cleaning and keeping your cats indoors.

Northern Cardinal at a seed feeder © Andrea Kremer
Northern Cardinal at a seed feeder © Andrea Kremer
American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder © Anindya Sen
American Goldfinch at a nyjer (thistle) feeder © Anindya Sen
Carolina Wren at a suet feeder © Elaine LaBelle
Carolina Wren at a suet feeder © Elaine LaBelle
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a nectar feeder © Sue McEvoy
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a nectar feeder © Sue McEvoy
Northern Cardinals at a platform feeder © Karen Owens-Linehan
Northern Cardinals at a platform feeder © Karen Owens-Linehan