From Audubon North Carolina: A mysterious illness affecting songbirds -- especially jays, robins, grackles, and starlings -- has been reported in states to our north. As a precaution, we recommend taking down bird seed and suet feeders for at least 2 weeks and cleaning them with a 10 percent bleach solution. Insects, berries, and other natural food sources birds depend on this time of year are abundant -- your neighborhood birds will find plenty to eat without bird feeders. Learn more here.

Did you know that window collisions kill nearly one billion birds per year in the United States? The Coalition for a Bird-friendly Asheville, a new organization, is an innovative approach to bird conservation. The organization's goal is to advocate for the protection of migratory and resident birds through the implementation of measures that will support their safety. Click here to learn more. Photo: Black-throated Blue Warbler by Will Stuart

By gardening with plants native to our region, you can help birds AND pollinators! Why are native plants important? Insects—a crucial food source for songbirds—have evolved with native plants and depend on them for sustenance. By providing food for insects, you also help sustain bird populations. Visit our Bird-Friendly Gardening page and stop by our demonstration garden at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary to learn more! Photo: Monarch on goldenrod by Will Stuart