With more people spending time at home over the past year, interest in backyard birding has seen a significant spike. Adding a bird feeder to your yard is a great way to closely observe wild birds, as well as offset the loss of avian habitats in urban areas.

Feeders can be set up in various ways to fit your outdoor space and can be focused on attracting birds of all kinds. Home birders can also act as citizen scientists by reporting on the variety of species a feeder attracts—which might even include rare out-of-range birds that have lost their way and need sustenance. 

Matt Felperin, NOVA Parks’ roving naturalist, is ready to get you started with tips on building a bird buffet at your home or apartment. He covers feeder types, seasonal considerations, food that can attract the greatest variety of feathered friends, and plenty more practical topics. He also offers a live look at the bird feeder at Potomac Overlook Regional Park as he identifies its fly-in visitors and their dining behaviors.

Patron Information

• If you register multiple individuals, you will be asked to supply individual names and email addresses so they can receive a Zoom link email. Please note that if there is a change in program schedule or a cancellation, we will notify you via email, and it will be your responsibility to notify other registrants in your group.
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for streaming programs typically closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.
• Once registered, patrons should receive an automatic email confirmation from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.
• Separate Zoom link information will be emailed closer to the date of the program. If you do not receive your Zoom link information 24 hours prior to the start of the program, please email Customer Service for assistance.
• View Common FAQs about our Streaming Programs on Zoom.