Birding

What you feed matters most.

What you feed matters most.

Useful tools for backyard birders. Seed-mix calculators by species, feeder recommendations by yard type, monthly cost math. Plus binocular reviews from someone who has actually used them in the field, not a marketing page.

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Calculators

Working tools that answer one specific question. No "sign up to see results." No upsell paywall.

Most used Seed Mix Calculator Pick the 16 species you want to attract. Returns the exact percentage mix (sunflower, safflower, nyjer, millet, etc.) plus the seeds you should skip entirely (corn, milo — they're filler). Open calculator → Feeder Selector By target species, yard predators (squirrels, bears), maintenance tolerance, and budget. Open calculator → Binoculars by Budget Real specs that matter (objective lens, exit pupil, FOV at 1000 yards) ranked at $100, $300, $800, $2000. Open calculator →

Real Gear Reviews

The cheap option is usually fine. When it isn't, this site says so. Reviews include real cost-of-ownership math, not "5 stars on Amazon" reasoning.

GuideThe best birding 'gear' is a chairNew birders spend on binoculars, scopes, apps, and cameras while ignoring the single change that improves their sightings most: sitting down and shutting up.

Why this page exists

Backyard birding content online is dominated by either pure beginner guides or sponsored Cornell Lab posts. This site is run by a person in Wilmington, Delaware who has counted birds at their own feeders for years.

The seed mix calculator outputs match what birds actually eat in real Mid-Atlantic yards, not theoretical species preference tables. Real yards have squirrels. Real winters change which species visit. The tool accounts for all that.

Plain note about money. Some links in the reviews and calculator results go to product pages on eBay with an affiliate tag. If you buy through one, the commission pays for the site. Your price doesn't change. The cheap option is usually fine; when the expensive option is worth it, this site will explain exactly why.

Gear actually worth buying

Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.

🔍 Shop Birding on eBay →
Vanguard Endeavor ED 8 x 42 Hunting Birding Binoculars (9D)8×42 binocularsThe honest spec for backyard + field. Vortex Diamondback, Nikon Monarch, Celestron Trailseeker in the $200-400 sweet spot. Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders with Weight Activated Perches Metal Wild Bird FeederSquirrel-proof feedersBrome Squirrel Buster + Droll Yankees Yankee Flipper actually work. Mesh tube feeders don't. Black Oil Sunflower Seed 25lb Bag - High Energy Wild Bird FoodWild bird seed (no filler)Black-oil sunflower is the only seed almost every yard-bird eats. Cheaper in 25-50lb bags. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: 2nd Ed. (0307957918)Sibley + Peterson field guidesSibley Eastern (or Western) + Peterson are the two guides people actually open. Hardcover lasts. Aspects ASPECTS437 The Gem Window Hummingbird FeederHummingbird feeders (glass)Glass beats plastic for cleaning + mold resistance. Aspects + First Nature hold up multi-year.
Browse all Birding listings on eBay →

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