Birder and Parks Naturalist with Ottawa County Parks, Curtis Dykstra, shares his feeder setup at home with videos on how to improve your yards for birds and other videos just to enjoy the birds at his backyard feeders. Many of these videos were created during the COVID-19 quarantine in an effort to share some of the feeders at his home with you!
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To access more information on Birds and Birding in Ottawa County, Michigan, visit: www.miottawa.org/birding
Backyard Birding: Building a Brush Pile
March 31, 2021 – Brush piles provide excellent shelter for birds and can help attract them to your yard. So how can you build an effective one? Watch and find out some tricks on how to make your brush pile more attractive to birds. Stick around to watch the first visitors utilize the brush pile to access the bird bath.
Cardinal Couple uses Brush Pile & Bird Bath (extended footage from Brush Pile video)
March 31, 2021 – Brush piles provide essential shelter for birds. Watch as both a female and then a male Northern Cardinal descend from the brush pile to access the bird bath for drinking and bathing!
Pine Siskin on My Mind – quite literally!
October 16, 2020 – What happens when a flock of Pine Siskins is scattered by a Blue Jay and one hits the window? Watch to find out and see why a Pine Siskin is on my mind!
Backyard Birding: Busy with Blue Jays
October 3, 2020 – Have a laugh watching busy Blue Jays at play while snacking at the bird feeders! Watch to the end to find out what new bird I captured footage of “sipp’n” water at the bird bath.
Nest-building Hummingbird Catches Ant!
June 22, 2020 – Watch the amazing agility of this female Ruby-throated Hummingbird as she takes a quick snack break from building her nest to catch an unsuspecting ant passing by!
Backyard Birding: Migrant Mix – Grosbeak, Oriole, Hummingbird & More!
May 16, 2020 – With May well under way, it’s definitely time for more migrant birds to visit the backyard. Watch as a Grosebeak sings and feeds, as the nectar feeders receive action and also as other transient birds traveling through use the habitat in the yard to rest and refuel.
Backyard Birding: Splendid Sparrows & Bonus Birds – Creeper, Kinglet & Kissing Cardinals
May 9, 2020 – While usually lacking in bright colors, sparrows are splendid in their own right! Watch four different sparrows visit the yard. From locally nesting Song & Chipping Sparrows to migrant White-throated & White Crowned sparrows just stopping in for a break, the yard has been busy with Sparrows. Then afterward, hold on for a second round of fun with BONUS Creeper, Kinglet & Kissing Cardinals!
Setting up Hummingbird and Oriole feeders
April 29, 2020 – It’s the last week of April and that means Orioles and Hummingbirds are about to return to Michigan. Find out how to prepare for their arrival by making nectar and learning how to care for the feeders properly.
Backyard Birding: April Snowfall & Feeder Care with Bonus Birds!
April 22, 2020 – Last week’s snowfall didn’t keep the birds from visiting the backyard. See what birds braved the cold weather to eat, and even to bathe! Then, if you want a more in-depth look at my feeders and what I’m feeding the birds, check out the next video. Also see what wildflowers I have coming up by my bird bath, view some bonus birds that I saw while out in my yard and even meet my dog Rosie! To top it off, watch the 3rd video to see the story of a Yellow-rumped Warbler visiting my bird bath.
Backyard Birding: Cardinal Couple & Finches Getting Gold
April 15, 2020 – Until the other day, a very shy Cardinal couple made very infrequent visits to my feeders. Now I’ve been enjoying regular visits and have had fun watching the Goldfinches transition into their golden spring plumage!
Backyard Birding: Setting Up My Bird Bath
Bonus video from April 7, 2020! If you are interested to learn more about how to use bird baths to attract birds, this video will show you the process of both spring cleaning and setting up a bird bath to make it attractive for the birds.
Backyard Birding: Bath time for birds
April 7, 2020 – This past weekend I cleaned and set up my backyard bird bath. Watch this video to see who’s already been enjoying a bath!
Backyard Birding: More visitors
April 3, 2020 – More visitors keep making their way to my backyard feeders. In this video relax and enjoy watching Goldfinches, Downy Woodpeckers, a Mourning Dove couple and more!
Backyard Birding: Bird activity ramps up
March 26, 2020
Backyard Birding: Feeder set up and first visitor
March 25, 2020