44: How to Start Birding in Your Backyard (and Help Birds During Nesting Season)

Spring is when the birds get loud again. You hear them before you see them — in the morning, in the trees, and in the background of your day.If you’ve ever thought about getting into birding, this is a really natural place to start — right outside your door.In this episode, we’re talking about how to start birding in your own backyard, how to identify common birds by sight and sound, what’s happening during nesting season, and how to support birds in ways that genuinely help.There’s a lot of advice out there this time of year — and not all of it is as helpful as it sounds. So we’ll also walk through what to avoid, common bird hazards in suburban spaces, and simple ways to support backyard biodiversity and habitat.TakeawaysHow to start birding right in your own backyardWhy birdsong supports mental well-beingHow to identify birds by sight and sound (using Merlin Bird ID)What citizen science is — and how to take partA look inside Project NestWatch and nesting seasonHow to join the Great Backyard Bird CountWhy common nesting materials (like yarn and dryer lint) can harm birdsWhat birds actually need: habitat, not materialsCommon bird hazards (windows, cats, habitat loss)Simple ways to support backyard biodiversityOne Small ShiftLeave your earphones at home for one walk this week and just listen. Learn to identify one bird by sound and tell me who it is!Resources:Safe Nesting Materials for Birds (blog post)Merlin Bird IDBirds Canada - Project NestWatchBirds Canada - SwiftWatchGreat Backyard Bird CountWild Birds UnlimitedFeather FriendlyRelated Episodes:Ep. 18: Connecting Communities Through Green Spaces with Carolyn ScotchmerEp. 20: Wildlife Conservation, Birding, and Finding Hope in Nature with Matt HowardEp. 25: Redefining Sustainable Living — From Zero Waste to Real-World ResilienceSupport the showConnect With MeWebsiteNewsletterShopInstagramSupport the ShowSustainable in the Suburbs is mixed and edited by Cardinal StudioIf you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you followed the show, shared it with a friend, or left a rating and review. Every little bit helps more people find Sustainable in the Suburbs — and live a little greener.