BIRDS with Sam

10/04/2026

‼️ Make this Halloween safe for birds, too! ‼️

Please!!! If you see a bird tangled in the large fake spider webs that are common on bushes and trees, contact me ASAP! I'm trained how to handle birds safely and will come to extract the bird!

Tips for bird safety this Halloween: https://www.audubon.org/magazine/how-have-bird-friendly-halloween

Photo from: https://www.chicagobirder.org/blog/2023/10/14/holiday-decor-danger

09/02/2026

Migration is in full swing!

Our little songbird friends are making the incredible journey south for the winter, and they need our help! Building collisions kill hundreds of millions (some estimate billions!) of birds each year in the USA alone. (https://www.audubon.org/magazine/window-strikes-are-even-deadlier-birds-we-thought)

This morning, a warbler bumped into my window and spent some time recovering in my garden before flying off. This bird was lucky - but the next one might not have been. To prevent future collisions, I spent three hours today installing the Feather Friendly Window Collision Tape on the outside of my window. The unobtrusive dots are spaced 2" apart to break up the reflection of trees and sky.

Please consider adding dots to your own windows!

Top lessons learned for the next window...
1) Draw a reference grid on the inside of the window first to ensure your lines stay straight!
2) Run the lines top to bottom so gravity can help with alignment.

More information on why birds hit windows: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/why-birds-hit-windows-and-how-you-can-help-prevent-it/

Buy Feather Friendly Window Collision Tape from Lee Valley Canada: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/garden/pest-control/birds/112281-feather-friendly-window-collision-tape?srsltid=AfmBOoqzGSfu6pamx3jn457K2xotX-JRdHUA1xLu3eJ1MMAOFGPRInmy)

08/31/2026

Hummingbirds do NOT share well. Bird and Moon Comics captures their attitude perfectly!

Is anyone else enjoying their antics this summer?

If you'd like to start feeding hummingbirds, check out this article from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/feeding-hummingbirds/

Happy Birding!

07/13/2026

🤠🐦🌴
Come join me at the Thunder Bay Public Library to hear all about studying Adelaide's warblers in Puerto Rico! (No Registration and no fees.)

📅July 20, 2026
🕕6:00-7:30 pm
📍Mary JL Black branch

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Join Sam Krause, a tropical ecologist, for this special presentation about her research studying birds in Puerto Rico. Admittance guaranteed to the first 40 attendees.. Event starts at July 20, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

06/30/2026

Are you thinking about buying binoculars? Check out this buying guide from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Although these reviews are 4 years old now, the information about binoculars in the article is great. Many of the brands listed are still considered the best in the beginner binocular world.

Check it out:

We reviewed more than two dozen pairs of 8x42 binoculars—a popular, versatile choice for most kinds of birdwatching. Here's what we learned.

06/22/2026

Thunder Bay has some special visitors in the spring. If you look and listen carefully, you can find indigo buntings near the Stanley Hotel on Hartstone Drive. 🤫

06/18/2026

Always!

Where you'll see a rare bird.

06/08/2026

If you haven't been out to the Mckellar Island Bird Observatory, make some time to visit this fall!

My six year old son and I had a blast volunteering for a few days this spring. I have some previous mist net experience and was able to help with extractions while my son helped release the birds after banding.

Some highlight photos:
1) male chestnut-sided warbler
2) female magnolia warbler
3) male blackburnian warbler
4) male Wilson's warbler
5) male mourning warbler

Thank you Brady and Angelina for hosting us!

06/03/2026

Hello birdy people!

🤠 Would anyone be interested in a "birdwatching by ear" workshop this Saturday (June 6)?

- Meet 8:00am in trowbridge parking lot
- 2-3 hours depending on the birds 🐦
- $10/participant
- We'll start with an initial introduction about field guides, apps, binoculars, and some birding tips
- During the walk we'll focus on identifying birds by sound, but we'll also ID any species we can visually as well.
- Expect mosquitoes! 🦟

Who would be interested? (If at least 3 people can commit to attending, I'll run the workshop!)

05/27/2026

Don't let those female red-winged blackbirds fool you! 😂