When my wife and I bought our first home, I knew I wanted to put a bird feeder in our backyard. I greatly desired having a little slice of nature in the middle of our town.
As someone who tries to be conservation-minded, before I went to the hardware store and bought all of the necessary supplies, I stopped to ponder a question I still ask myself to this day: “Is it OK to feed wild birds?”
Continue reading “Is it ethical to feed birds?”
When I originally started putting together this numbers-driven yearly recap in 2020, I had two goals: the first was to show that the information and perspectives I share through my work are the product of significant personal experience.
The second was simply to let my inner nerd breathe for a little while.
This is the fourth installment of this annual series and, looking back, I am pleasantly surprised at how popular this piece tends to be. Each year, this collection of numbers is one of the 10 most-viewed pages on my site.
Thank you all for a great 2023. Let’s take a look back at the year that was:
Continue reading “My 2023 outdoor adventures, by the numbers”
Most birds fly south in winter. That’s a simple fact many of us are taught at a young age.
But, you see, “south” is a relative term. For many species of waterfowl, Wisconsin is about as south as their migratory journey reaches. After all, each winter odyssey has a different starting point and migration is a two-way street. While many of our familiar species leave the Midwest during colder months, new, less familiar ones also arrive.
If you want an example of this, all you have to do is grab your binoculars and head to the largest section of open water you can find during the winter months. I’m willing to bet you will be amazed by the sights that are likely to greet you.
Continue reading “Take advantage of Wisconsin winter duck-watching”
By now, most of you know that I am a numbers person.
The reason I can make that statement is that this annual recap of my outdoor adventures by the numbers is one of the more popular articles on this site each year.
2022 was a fantastic year for me as far as the outdoors are concerned. Here is a look back, by the numbers.
Continue reading “My 2022 outdoor adventures by the numbers”
Fall can be a great time to establish new bird feeders on your property.
The migration provides ample opportunity for quickly acclimating a host of bird species to your offerings, whether you are trying to add a new feeder to the mix or simply attempting to attract birds to your yard for the first time.
I recently dealt with the latter.
Continue reading “Tricks for attracting birds to a new bird feeder”
From his time as a freelance writer to his extensive knowledge in birding and career as a professional angler, Daryl Christensen has seen and done a lot in the Wisconsin Outdoors.
Join us for a wide-ranging conversation that touches on fishing, hunting, birding, and more.
Continue reading “Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast – Episode 29: Outdoor wisdom”
It’s Episode 21 of the Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast!
I would like to wish a Happy Festivus to all who celebrate.
In the spirit of the holiday, my mom is here to air her grievances. She also shares her view of the outdoors from her unique perspective.
Continue reading “Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast – Episode 21: A Festivus celebration and lessons from mom”
It’s Episode 17 of the Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast!
In this show, I am joined by Samantha Lammers, park director at Maywood Environmental Park in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
We discuss the importance of conservation and outdoor education while taking a deep dive into the beauty of Maywood and all of the outdoor opportunities it offers.
Continue reading “Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast – Episode 17: Conservation and outdoor education”
Squirrels and bird feeders go hand-in-hand. While the occasional visit from a furry friend is delightful for most people, the frequent presence of squirrels around your feeders can quickly become a nuisance. Not only can these critters eat you out of house and home, their rodent acrobatics can damage feeders. These factors can end up costing you time and money.
Here are some tips for squirrel-proofing your bird feeders and keeping the peace in your yard.
Continue reading “Tips for squirrel-proofing your bird feeder”
It’s Episode 14 of the Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast!
Nick Anich, Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator – Bureau of Natural Heritage for the Wisconsin DNR, joins the show to discuss birding and highlight the benefits of utilizing the eBird app.
Nathan and Nick discuss bird feeders, how to get into birding, and the impact of citizen science.
Continue reading “Nathan Woelfel Outdoors Podcast – Episode 14: Birding and the importance of citizen science”
Nathan Woelfel Outdoors 