55+ Living Guide Winter 2018 Winter 2018 55+ issue for Joomag | Page 22

You’ll Find Everything for the Wild Bird
Lover and Backyard Naturalist!
Highest Quality
Wild Bird Seed
& Suet in the
Capital District
Black-Capped Chickadee
With more than 130 IBAs in New York alone, endless
state and public parks, you can observe birds in their
natural habitat almost anywhere you live or travel. But,
if you’d prefer to stay inside with a cup of cocoa on a
cold winter’s day, you can also try bringing the birds to
you! Regardless of the size of your yard or balcony, you
can create a haven for both migratory and resident birds
that will thank you with beautiful songs and regular
visits all year long. Keep a birdfeeder full all winter
with popular food choices such as black-oil sunflower
seeds, millet or suet and you’ll be able to enjoy watching
feathered friends like the Northern Cardinal, Black-
capped Chickadee, nuthatches and woodpeckers from
the comfort of your home. To keep them coming back
year-round, consider planting a native garden, or even
a patio garden. Winter is the perfect time to plan your
planting, and pollinators and native bird species like the
Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole,
and Ruby-throated Hummingbird are drawn to native
gardens for summer habitat and food needs. Imagine
your yard or balcony hosting countless butterflies and
birds all summer long – it would be just beautiful! For
information on what feeders, food and native plants can
attract each species, visit ny.audubon.org/birdfeeding.
If you’re at home or on the road and need help with
identifying a bird or song, consider trying a user-
friendly app for guidance. Two free and popular apps
are the Audubon Bird Guide and Merlin Bird ID.
Audubon Bird Guide is an electronic bird field guide
with a wide range of features for every birder while
Merlin Bird ID allows you to upload a photo or answer
five questions to help identify your bird.
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Bird Feeders • Bird Houses
Heated Bird Baths • Unique Nature Gifts
Nature Toys, Games & Books • Binoculars
Chimes • Much, much more...
Where People and Nature Come Together
308 Delaware Ave • Delmar
518.478.9453
www.wildbirdjunction.com
Audubon New York protects birds
and the places they need, today and
tomorrow, throughout New York
using science, advocacy, education, and
on-the-ground conservation.
Cedar Waxwing
Jesse Gordon
Audubon Photography Awards
visit us at ny.audubon.org