Wild Birds Unlimited

10/06/2026

Many backyard birds are clever food hiders, or “cachers,” storing seeds, nuts and even insects in tree crevices, under bark or in the ground to eat later! 🌳🥜 These smart birds use landmarks, the sun and even each other to keep track of their stashes, helping them survive tough winters and busy seasons. ❄️☀️ Watching them work is like seeing a tiny treasure hunt happen in your backyard! 🔍✨

10/01/2026

Help us this month by trying bird-friendly coffee!

Only 1/4 of coffee farms are grown under a forest canopy. Many of our migrating bird species rely on the forest canopy in Central and South America for food and shelter during the winter. Make sure our beautiful warblers and other migrators have a home to return to each winter by switching to shade-grown, bird-friendly coffee.

09/29/2026

The windows in our homes and offices can be hazardous for birds. Birds cannot readily distinguish the presence of a pane of transparent glass from an unobstructed space or passageway and often fly into window panes causing injury or death. Click here to learn more: www.wbu.com/window-strikes

09/23/2026

09/22/2026

🍂Fall migration turns your backyard into a potential pit stop for birds on the move, and a few smart tweaks can make it irresistible! 🌿✨

🌻 Leave seed-producing plants standing to provide natural food sources.
🌳 Add a brush pile or two for shelter and protection.
🐦Create low-lying feeding areas where ground-feeding birds feel comfortable.
🧼Clean and repair feeders, and make sure they’re easy to refill during the winter months.
🔄 Keep food fresh and consistent—even in small amounts—so passing birds remember your yard as a reliable stop along their journey.

🛒: mywbu.com/columbusoh

Featured Bird: Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's), Baltimore Oriole, Wilson's Warbler

(Birds pictured are representative of the many North American species that migrate. Ask us which birds are migrating through our area.)

09/22/2026

In the Northern Hemisphere, the First Day of Autumn is Tuesday, September 22. That's when the length of day and night are almost the same. Be sure your feeders are ready for some hungry birds that are either preparing or recharging for the longer nights.

The Blue Jay shown is an example of a North American bird working hard to find the additional calories needed to make it through autumn's longer hours of darkness. Which birds are visiting your backyard this season? Share in the comments.

09/21/2026

What kind of corvids do you have in your yard? Are you seeing crows, jays, or maybe even ravens?

If you haven't listened to the most recent episode of the Podcast, tune in today! You won't want to miss this very interesting topic! Listen here: https://www.wbu.com/podcast/episode-113-jays-crows-other-corvids/

09/20/2026

We are excited to share the flash sheet for our event next week with Hummingbird Tattoo Studio!

Join us with Hummingbird Tattoo Studio for a Flash Tattoo Event! Proceeds from the event will go to FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed).
WBU will be sponsoring a raffle with some awesome bird feeding supplies!
We would love to see you there!
-Flash starts at $100
-Arms, legs, shoulder blades only
-First come, first serve
-Cash only for tattoos
-WBU Raffle - Tickets $10
-Fun bird handouts and information
-Learn how to protect our waterways

09/16/2026

I hope you enjoy this throwback to last September when we met our dear Monarch friend, Gwumbo! If you have any photos of caterpillars or butterflies in your yard, drop the pictures in the comments! 🦋🐛

09/16/2026

Kathy and John Haigh have recently purchased the WBU store in Spokane, WA! John and Kathy also own the WBU stores in Billings and Bozeman, MT. We’re so excited to see their WBU journey continue to grow and can’t wait to see all the wonderful things they’ll bring to the Spokane community!
To learn more about how you can own your own WBU store, please visit us at https://franchise.wbu.com. To find a local WBU store near you, please visit https://www.wbu.com.

09/16/2026

🌙 Every spring and fall, the night sky becomes a superhighway for billions of migrating birds. They navigate by the stars ⭐, but lights from our homes 🏡 and businesses 🏢 can throw them off course.

The good news is that helping birds can be as easy as flipping a switch! Turning off non-essential lights gives migrating birds a clearer path and helps them stay oriented on their long journeys. Together, we can help make migration safer for our feathered travelers. ❤️🌎✨

09/16/2026

🎉 20 YEARS OF BLACK SWAMP BIRD OBSERVATORY'S OHIO YOUNG BIRDERS CLUB! 🎉

Registration is open for the 20th Anniversary Ohio Young Birders Conference, and this year’s event is going to be extra special!

📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026
⏰ 7:30 AM–5:00 PM
📍 Grange Insurance Audubon Center - Columbus, Ohio

For two decades, Black Swamp Bird Observatory's Ohio Young Birders Club has been bringing young people together to explore birds, build friendships, learn from one another, and discover just how far a love of birds can take them.

This year’s conference will bring together another incredible group of young birders for a full day of student presentations, inspiring featured speakers, birding, fun activities, and plenty of opportunities to connect with others who share their passion for birds and nature.

And because this is our 20th anniversary, we’ll be celebrating the people and memories that have made OYBC so special along the way!

Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to this year’s presenters, share conference activities and schedule highlights, and dig into the OYBC archives for some fun flashbacks and stories from former members.

Whether you’ve been part of OYBC for years or this will be your very first conference, we hope you’ll join us as we celebrate 20 incredible years and the next generation of young birders!

Register today at: https://www.ohioyoungbirders.org/2026-conference.html

09/13/2026

It's National Peanut Day! 🥜 To celebrate, let's fill up our peanut feeders for our friends that love peanuts like Jays, Nuthatches, Titmice, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, and...love them or hate them...squirrels!

Featured Bird: Downy Woodpecker
Feeder and WBU Food: EcoClean Peanut Feeder with Peanuts, Out of the Shell

09/10/2026

What if jays or crows could save your life, help replant forests after fires, or learn to communicate with you? Brian is joined by WBU store owners Kurtis Huston of Kamloops, BC and Laura Fleming of Medford, OR to explore the fascinating world of jays, crows and other corvids. Discover just how intelligent these birds can be, the surprising ways they interact with people, and the important roles they play in the natural world. Plus, learn how to attract or deter them. Listen here: https://www.wbu.com/podcast/episode-113-jays-crows-other-corvids/

09/10/2026

Our first Monthly Program of the season is on September 22, 2026 at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. Speakers include Carl Gleditsch and Ryan Foshee.
Registration at: https://tickets.audubon.org/events/01a01f7a-321b-3e2f-d75f-862f85379779

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, take a moment to rest, recharge, and listen to the birds. You work hard—you’ve earned a little R&R. Here’s to long weekends, lazy mornings, and soaking up the simple things. 😌

The Red-headed Woodpecker shown is a beautiful sight at feeders across many regions of the US. Let us know which birds are stopping by your feeders this holiday weekend. Share in the comments.

08/19/2026

Join us for Bird Trivia - Next Wednesday at 7pm.
Free to play!

08/18/2026

🐦 Late summer feeders can feel a little quiet at times—and that’s completely normal. With plenty of natural food available🌻🐛, birds spend more time foraging in the wild and less time visiting feeders.

🚫 But this isn’t the time to take your feeders down! Keeping a reliable feeding spot available now helps birds remember where to return when natural food becomes scarce later in the season. 🍂

💚 Stick with it through the slow season, and you’ll be rewarded with a busier backyard when fall activity picks up. 🍁🐦

🛒: mywbu.com/columbusoh

Featured Bird: White-breasted Nuthatch
Featured Food: No-Mess Seed Blend
Featured Feeder: EcoTough® Hanging Tray Feeder

08/13/2026

Join us with Hummingbird Tattoo Studio for a Flash Tattoo Event! Proceeds from the event will go to FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed).

WBU will be sponsoring a raffle with some awesome bird feeding supplies!

We would love to see you there 🐦 🪶 🦆

Hummingbird Tattoo Studio: 9610 Dublin Rd, Shawnee Hills, OH 43065