Tag Archives: backyard bird north carolina

Backyard Birding

Building a backyard birding oasis in central North Carolina

By Sally Siko

With as much traveling as I do throughout the year chasing birds, I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t given much attention to my feathered friends right here at home.
That changed in February when Michael offered to build me a bird and pollinator friendly yard.
Now I’d originally envisioned something low key.
Perhaps an 10×4 ft long strip of wildflowers and fruiting shrubs with a row of bird feeders skirting the row.
No big deal, just a pretty strip of flowers and feeders set off to the side of my backyard.

The thing is that my better half had a far better vision for the space!
This isn’t surprising given Mike’s extensive background in landscaping and his passion for gardening, yet I was blown away with the final results as this project far surpassed my expectations.
Here’s how we set off with this transformation from ho-hum boring grassy lawn to a beautiful backyard bird oasis!

Here is what the yard looked like before we started the work.

The first order of business was to remove the sod from about a third of my backyard to prep for planting.
We rented a sod cutter from Home Depot and got to work clearing three sections of the yard.
Two areas would be for planting flowers, trees and shrubs, the third will be a dedicated vegetable garden.
If you’ve never cut sod from the yard before I highly recommend that you buy or rent the most powerful machine you can afford. The idea is you want the cutter to work quickly and efficiently.
Another tip is to make sure that you have help moving the sod squares out of the cut area as they can be quite heavy to carry after pushing the sod cutter all day. I’m so grateful that Michael and my son were there to get this part done.
The adage “more hands make less work” applies here for sure lol!

Next up was tilling.
Again, don’t skimp on the price of a rental if you can afford to do so as the more powerful machines will get the job done in half the time.
Here’s a good tip: you can save money by purchasing a used high quality tiller.
Use it to complete the job, clean it off and then sell it after your done. We did that and actually made an additional $50 on the resale after the fact lol!

I also recommend that you cut the sod and till the dirt on days where the soil is dry. It’s much harder to carry the sod when it’s wet and tilling muddy dirt on a rainy day isn’t the most fun lol!
In addition, watch out for grubs and worms which will pop out from the freshly turned soil.


I picked up about a dozen grubs and put them on the top of my fence which the Bluebirds gobbled up immediately. A couple of happy Yellow-rumped Warblers found snacks hidden in the freshly turned dirt which was pretty cool too.
Mike also found a sleepy Bumblebee snoozing in the dirt which he carefully picked up and set free so that it wouldn’t get injured by the tiller.

Next it was time to build a pergola.
This was 100% Michael’s idea.
I’d told him that the yard was his blank canvas so whatever he thought would look cool while serving a greater purpose would be fine with me.
As it turned out this was a good move because now we’ve got a place to hang several bird feeders and a nice place to sit and enjoy the birds under the cover of semi-shade.
The pergola took about 3 days for Mike to build including construction and staining.
No formal plans were drawn out.
Just straight out of his brain into my yard, lol! It was neat to see how the structure came together in such a short time built with nothing more than scrap wood, concrete, wood stain and willpower.

Now it was time for the fun stuff, adding plants!
Although I absolutely adore my Hostas, Hydrangeas, Daffodils, Irises and Lillys, I really want this space to eventually be 90% filled with plants native to North Carolina.
I also didn’t want to have to spend a tremendous amount of money to fill the garden so I turned to Facebook marketplace to see if I could score a deal or two on some new plants.
As luck would have it, we ended up finding some nice native Blueberry and Elderberry bushes which we purchased from private individuals here in the Triangle.
I also scavenged a few raspberry and blackberry bushes from the woods behind my house and transplanted them into the yard too.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how happy the birds are going to be once these bushes start yielding fruit!

We also planted a ton of mixed wildflower seeds, scattering them by the handfuls throughout the garden.
I’d tell you what species they were but unfortunately I fucked up and threw away the seed packets and have forgotten exactly what all was in there lol!
It’s gonna be an incredible sight watching that array of color bloom in the backyard this summer.
Hopefully once the flowers come out, I’ll be able to identify them then.
In addition I thought it would be cool to see sunflowers outside my bedroom window so Mike cut out an additional bed and planted a ton of sunflowers and Zinnias too. I’m sure the neighborhood flock of Goldfinches are going to be stoked once those flowers go to seed.

Finally, it was time to plant a couple trees.
I’d already purchased a Peach tree a few years ago. Unfortunately I had planted it in a dumb spot too close to my fence (rookie mistake lol) so Mike dug it up and transferred it to a better spot in the new garden where it would have plenty of space to grow.
Next up was the Dogwood which had already been growing near the back corner of my yard. Again, Michael and I dug it up and transplanted into a better spot in the garden where it would thrive.
I’m hoping that the berries from this tree will provide the Cardinals in my neighborhood with plenty of nutritious food later this year.
Mike also picked up a beautiful little Apple tree which yielded a gorgeous cluster of blossoms shortly after planting it. The bees absolutely loved diving in and out of those flowers which was freak’n awesome!

With new plants in the ground now things were really starting to get exciting!
Still there was more to do.
Up next, mulch…
So.
Much.
Mulch.
10 yards to be exact.
160 wheelbarrow fulls.
Thank goodness the temperatures were in the 50s that day or we might have died from heat exhaustion haha!
Shoveling, pitching and spreading.
2 people, 6 hours = super tired but incredible results!


That mulch looked awesome. I love how the black contrasts with the green plants!

Now came some finishing touches.
Mike had some extra scrap wood left over from the pergola construction.
Not wanting anything to go to waste, he spent a couple hours and built a bench and a small patio at the back fence.
It’s a simple design with clean lines and set right at the perfect height for someone to sit and hold a camera comfortably.

To help make the birds feel at home Mike also built a couple of bird houses and installed them on top of the fence.
He also picked up a few cedar versions from WalMart that were only $12 a piece so that was a great deal!
It only took about a week before a family of Eastern Bluebirds and Carolina Chickadees took over to the nest boxes.
I’m so excited to see the sweet little birds raise their families later this spring!

We then picked up some pavers from Lowes and started lining the sunflower bed. As of the time I’m writing this post, we still have plans to line all the flower beds with these beautiful pavers which look like natural stone.
Hopefully we’ll get that done within a couple of weeks!

One of my favorite elements of the new garden area are these cool looking solar lights. They are pretty bright for a solar set up and really set off the design of the garden at night!
We’re thinking of adding some additional lighting on the back fence line to give the space more depth but still need to decide what kind of lights would look best.
I’ll keep ya updated 🙂

Lastly… the pond.
Errr what will be a pond lol!
I’ve got an idea to build up some dirt at the front end of the garden and install a waterfall trickling down into a creek which empties into a small pond at its base. The thought is that it will attract more birds into the yard to drink and have a bath. Plus, I really like the idea of listening to running water while sitting on my porch in the evening.
There is an offside chance that I might include some fish in the pond, perhaps catfish or goldfish. We’ve got a number of Great blue Herons in the area so I don’t imagine they would last very long, but it might be worth a try.

So there ya have it. This project took one month exactly to complete (February 28 to March 28th).
So far my backyard bird species count is up to 62 species and I can’t wait to see what new birds show up later this year.

Bird seed and suet was purchased at Tractor Supply Co. in Fuquay Varina, NC. It’s my go-to place to feed all my feathered friends! So far the favorite blend with my backyard birds is the fruit and nut blend and the warblers really love the berry flavored suet. Order some for your flock at the product links below!

Fruit & Nut Mix Wild Bird Food

Royal Wing Berry Flavored Suet

I’ve had backyard gardens in the past, but nothing like this. I’m still blown away by the transformation in the yard and could not be more grateful for Michael’s help.
It’s been hard work getting all this together in such a short time, but absolutely worth it!

Backyard Birding

Backyard birding NC- Baltimore Orioles in Lillington NC

By Sally Siko

I’ve been on countless feeder stakeouts over the years. Generally I’m not a fan of doing this because I have trouble sitting still for very long.
Plus I don’t like the odds of staying put and taking a chance that singular bird will show up at any given time.
Not to mention the boredom, hunger and the “oh I have to pee but don’t want to leave and risk missing the bird” scenario factor too lol!
Still, every time a Rare Bird Alert goes out reported by a homeowner seeing something cool at their feeder, I’ll still give it a try.
This time, things were different.



This Oriole showed up at my boyfriend’s house in Lillington NC a couple days ago so when the bird arrived to the feeders this morning, we watched it out the window while sipping coffee on the couch.
Once the sun rose a bit higher, the lighting got a bit harsh when viewing the bird from inside so we sat out front of the house and took photos from there. My friends Corie & Karen stopped by and Michael even made us some breakfast while we waited on the Oriole to return.
Definitely the best feeder stakeout I’ve ever done lol!


The Baltimore Oriole is a year round resident of North Carolina but in different regions at different times of the year. During the spring and summer months, they breed in the western part of the state, but spend the winter in the central and coastal areas.
Despite the fact that their range extends across the entire state, they are considered somewhat rare at most times throughout the year.
These guys are notoriously difficult to photograph too as they tend to hang out in the upper canopies of trees where they’ll be found hunting for insects and snacking on fruit.
This means that your best chance to get a good close up look at one is likely in a scenario like this, in a random suburban neighborhood eating jelly at a feeder on a cold winter day.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Photographing Swainsons and Gray-cheeked Thrush in central NC

By Sally Siko

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the property of a local birder (Brian P.) here in central NC who’s well known for his epic backyard birds.
In this case, the visiting Swainsons and Grey-cheeked thrushes were the main attractions.
After spending a couple of hours here it was easy to see why Brian’s yard was a choice destination for migrating birds.


In addition to putting up a nice variety of feeding stations, he’d constructed a beautiful creek and installed a number of plants so that his feathered visitors would have access to food, water and cover throughout the year.
Brian even was thoughtful to the needs of the birders stopping in by providing hot coffee, snacks and an info tent with flyers containing ID differentiation details on the various species of thrushes which grace his backyard oasis.
Truly a welcoming setup for birders and the feathered gems alike!

I was thrilled to be able to see and photograph both the Swainsons and Gray-cheeked together as this kind of thing is tremendously helpful when it comes to making an ID while in the field.
Though the two species appear similar, there are a few things to look for to help tell them apart.



As seen in the above photos in this post, the Swainsons Thrush has a prominent eye ring and some buffy golden brown coloration on its face.
They have an all around warmer color washing over their plumage too with shades of reddish brown on their backs and wings.


The Gray-cheeked Thrush (shown above) is grayer in overall plumage, with few buffy or warm tones showing in their feathers. They also lack the ring around their eyes plus they sport that namesake gray cheek patch with just a barely-there tinge of warm tones on their face.

Both the Swainsons and Gray-cheeks are making their way right through the state as the species are en route south for the winter.
They’ll only stick around for another week or so before returning in May so now is the time to see both before the year is through.



Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A Winter Wren encounter in central North Carolina

By Sally Siko

While birding near my home in central NC, I heard a familiar call emanating from the brush.
Thanks to a previously frustrating experience of trying to locate this species in the mountains of western NC this past spring, the song and calls of the Winter Wren have been permanently burned into my memory.
I’d spent nearly half a day attempting to get a good photograph of a Winter Wren earlier this year, a challenge which paid off in the end but not without headaches lol!
I swear this species can throw its voice like a ventriloquist, which makes trying to find one in a mass of tangled, dark undergrowth, nearly impossible.
Happily, yesterday this bird was far more cooperative than its mountain brethren and even flew out into the open onto a bare branch, which finally yielded a great opportunity to get some decent photos.



Measuring about 3.5” long from beak to tail, Winter Wrens are North Carolina’s smallest species of wren.
These tiny feisty dynamos are secretive little birds of dense woods. They often creep about among fallen logs and dense tangles, behaving more like a chipmunk than a bird, mostly remaining out of sight but (thankfully!) giving an occasional “kimp, kimp” call note every now and again.
Always on the lookout for a meal, they primarily eat insects, millipedes, spiders, and other organisms that fall under the general “bug” category. When insects are scarce they’ll also occasionally eat berries or seeds.


Usually, Winter Wrens live close to the ground, but during the spring males will ascend to high perches in the conifers to give voice to a beautiful song of long-running musical trills.
Look (and listen!) for them during the summer along the spine of the Appalachian mountains during the spring and summer, and now throughout the rest of the state during the winter months.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Out There with the Expert

Tips to attract birds to your backyard via Redfin & birdwatching NC

By Sally Siko -Admin Birdwatching NC

Recently, I was asked by Redfin.com to share some advice on how to attract birds to your backyard. Here is an excerpt from the article below..

“Foster a bird haven. The most effective way to attract many different species of birds to your yard is to offer a wide variety of food sources including seeds (especially black oil sunflower seeds), suet, nuts, jelly, sugar water (for hummingbirds) and fruits.

Also consider installing native plants, fruit-bearing trees, and shrubs in varying degrees of density in your backyard to promote an attractive, safe habitat for the birds to forage, roost and nest in.

It’s also a good idea to put out a birdbath or install a small pond garden so that the birds have someplace to bathe, cool off and grab a drink, something that is particularly important during the summer months.

Lastly, make sure that you clean your feeders and birdbath periodically and keep your feeders full. Following these steps, it won’t be long before your backyard will become a bird lover’s paradise!” -Birdwatching N.C.”-

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Bird watching Videos, Field Notes, Instagram Birding

Backyard Birding highlights from Fuquay Varina

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Decided to take a backyard bird break while working from home yesterday in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina. Here’s a quick highlight video of all the species I saw, including a visit from a surprise Louisiana Waterthrush! Photos & video by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the magnificent full frame DSLR beast, the @canon #5Ds . . . . #birdnerd #birdsofinsta #birdsofinstagram #ncwildlife #birding #birdwatching #birdwatchers #bird #birds #ncbirding #ncbirds #ncbirdwatching #canonwildlife #northcarolinabirding #birdwatchingnc #northcarolinabirds #audubonsociety #birdoftheday #audubonnc #bestbirds #birders #birdwatchers #lovesbirdsluvsbirds #luvbirdslovebirds #backyardbirds #backyardbird #bestbirds

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Bird watching Videos, Field Notes

Birding at home in Fuquay Varina N.C.

Doing a bit of work from home today and decided to step outside for a backyard birding break. With 16 different species found in about an hour, I’d say that this was time well spent haha!

Here is a video of some of the birds I saw that I captured with my Canon 5DS. It’s nice to able photograph these beauties from the comfort of my patio.

These are a few of my favorite photos from the day. The Canon 5DS did pretty well in the low lighting of the morning light, even with fully extending my focal length to 600mm. Gorgeous!

Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Why are Cardinals Red?

Why are Northern Cardinals red?

The state bird of N.C. is the Northern Cardinal, a familiar backyard feathered gem boldly colored with a cheerful song.
Have you ever wondered what gives their plumage that bright red color?

The coloration in these birds comes from three naturally occurring chemical compounds: melanin, porphyrins, and carotenoids.
Melanin is present in humans, giving us our skin, hair and eye colors — and it’s what gives cardinals black, brown, and buff hues.
Porphyrin is responsible for reddish and brownish shades.
But it’s the carotenoids, which create yellow, orange, and red colors, that are perhaps the most important to the male cardinal’s striking red coloring.



These carotenoids are found in plants. Cardinals that are especially bright red, are most likely dining on a healthy diet of carotenoid-rich fruits and berries.
You can aid these gorgeous birds in their development of rich coloration by planting native berry bushes like raspberries and mulberries in your yard. Another excellent food source is the Dogwood tree as their berries are particularly favored by Cardinals.
In addition to offering black oil sunflower seeds, you can also mix in some safflower seeds into your feeder which will add a bit of extra carotenoids into their high protein diets.
Such a gorgeous bird!

Photo by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A northern Cardinal in Fuquay Varina N.C.

By: Sally Siko, Admin-Birdwatching NC

Found a male Northern Cardinal all poofed up in my yard yesterday morning.
With the recent bit of cooler weather that’s made it into the Raleigh area of central NC, I’ve noticed an uptick to the number of birds at my feeders.

Northern Cardinal


The Cardinals usually appear early in the morning or late in the afternoon just before sunset. Makes me wonder if they know how bright their plumage is so they only come out into the open at dawn or dusk to avoid predators.
Such handsome birds, worth getting up a little early to enjoy!
Photo by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds

Photos and video captured with my mighty Canon 5DS. If you are interested in getting shots like these with this 50 MP beast of a camera, please check out the link below to Canon USA.

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Field Notes, Out There with the Expert

Early morning Cardinal observation in North Carolina

By: Sally Siko- Admin Birdwatching NC

I know they are a common bird here in central North Carolina but I cannot help but smile and grab my camera when ever I see a Northern Cardinal.


I especially love to photograph them in the wintertime on dark rainy days. Somehow I think they just look even better in seemingly “adverse” weather related photography conditions.
That crimson plumage just pops in this dim silver light 🙂 I’ve noticed that the Cardinals around here tend to come out of the woods along my property line just before sunrise and again at sunset to visit my feeders. During the rest of the day, they tend to stay in the forest.
The exception being on rainy days where they appear out in the open all day long.
Have any of you out there ever noticed this behavior?
Let me know in the comments below.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds