The author and her father in the yard during “the good ol’ days”ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE By Eagan Store Manager ANN MCCARTHY The phrase, “the good ol’ days,” means something different to everyone, and depends largely on age. To me as a 60+ year-old woman, the good ol’ days were wistful, carefree days spent outside. I remember birds, butterflies, bees, and fireflies. I remember diggin’ in the dirt looking for worms, catching turtles, frogs, and snakes, building forts, and just spending time outside. Play and exploration were the norm for most of us then. Today, our kids spend less and less time o ..read more

Photo by Christine PetersenAre you working to create a bird-friendly yard? Don’t forget about the pollinators!  A pollinator is any animal that visits flowers in search of nutritious pollen or energy-filled nectar and, as it travels, moves pollen between plants. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are well-known pollinators—but they’re not alone. Here in Minnesota, many kinds of wasps, flies, moths, beetles and other insects also provide this essential ecological service. Pollination helps plants reproduce, resulting in fruits and seeds that feed a bounty of birds. It Goes Both Ways Adult ..read more

Flycatchers are songbirds that feed mostly on insects that are caught on the wing, including all kinds of flies, as well as insects such as moths, butterflies, crickets, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, and even spiders and caterpillars. Flycatchers are common worldwide, but here in North America, we are home to a family of Tyrant (New World) flycatchers. These birds make up the largest family of birds in the world, with over 425 species identified.  In Minnesota, there are records of up to 19 of those flycatcher species, though less than a dozen are likely to frequent our state in a ..read more

The crew at All Seasons Wild Bird Store are always happy to talk birds with you! Photo by Ann McCarthy ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE Social media. Politics. Aging. Covid. Disability. Geography. Economic factors. For whatever reason, loneliness is on the rise nationwide according to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murty in a recent NPR Morning Edition interview. Loneliness can impact mental health resulting in depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideology. Loneliness can also impact physical health resulting in obesity, a weakened immune system, sleep deprivation, and even cardiovascular disea ..read more

From Craft Fair Bird House to Native Bird Habitat and Feeding Stations By Minnetonka—Westwind Plaza Senior Sales Associate Sharon Veno I have always had a love of nature. My venture into bird feeding started at a craft fair. I bought a cute bird feeder thinking it would be adorable garden art. That began the adventure of feeding birds, in Columbus, Ohio; in our sixth year of marriage at our third house. European Magpie Whenever I travel, I watch birds. Early on, the Magpies in England were intriguing. I didn’t have those at home! A trip to Costa Rica was focused on bird watching. Though we saw ..read more

ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE BirdCast  Bird migration forecast maps Twice each year, many of our favorite songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl species migrate between breeding grounds and wintering grounds. Peak spring migration for Minnesota is May 1 through May 15, but it can start as early as March for some species. Fall migration generally begins mid-August and lasts through mid-November. Upwards of 80% of migratory birds travel at night. They rest and refuel during the day. There are several threats to birds during migration including loss of habitat for resting and refueling, inclement weath ..read more

Ann’s Window to Nature Clover photo by Ann McCarthy The Bad News ~ Ongoing habitat loss and decay continue to devastate wildlife and wildlands nationwide. In fact, in North America alone, we have lost roughly 3 billion songbirds in the last 50 years. The Good News~ We can make a difference in our own backyards with minimal effort and at very little cost. The State of Minnesota has launched a program called “Lawns to Legumes,” that offers planting guides and cost sharing grants for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. #Lawns2Legumes Tips:  Leave the l ..read more

SPRING IS A GREAT TIME TO PLAN AND INSTALL A BIRD FEEDING POLE SYSTEM. Here at All Seasons Wild Bird Store, we carry Erva Pole Systems because they’ve been manufacturing quality bird feeding systems for over five decades, they offer the heaviest duty bird feeding hardware on the market, and they’re made in the USA. I personally love this system because it is very versatile and can be added to as your hobby grows. 1) Select a pole height Poles come in 80″, 74″ and 60″ heights. The 80″ pole allows you to hang longer, tube-style feeders with sufficient clearance over a squirrel baffle. The 60″ po ..read more

Suet is the hard, white fat found near the kidneys and loins of ruminant animals (beef and sheep). It is largely a bi-product of the meat industry. Suet is a “super food” for birds providing much needed protein and fat especially during the colder months. Suet comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors. It attracts multiple species including chickadees, wrens, nuthatches, jays, and most woodpeckers (Hairies, Downies, Red-bellieds, flickers, and Pileated). Suet feeders are typically constructed from metal or recycled plastic. They hold small cakes, large cakes, balls, and nuggets. They accommod ..read more

ANN’S WINDOW TO NATURE It’s a beautiful day. Everything seems a little bit brighter now that our days are growing longer, and our temps are warming. There’s a feeling of “we made it through another Minnesota winter. How did our ancestors do it?” I couldn’t live in a region that did not have four seasons. As the snowpack melts, little streamlets crop up everywhere. Although March is typically our snowiest month, nesting season is underway for some prominent residents including the Bald Eagle and many of our owl species. All these sights and sounds invite us outdoors to soak up the beauty and en ..read more