Backyard Birds & Gardens

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

🐦 BIRD OF THE WEEK: Northern Mockingbird

Did you know Louisiana’s state bird is nesting right now in St. Tammany Parish?

These backyard favorites are known for their incredible singing abilities — copying dozens of sounds from other birds and even noises they hear around them.

Right now, many are busy raising young, so if one swoops near you, don’t worry… they’re just protecting their babies. ❤️

Want to make your yard more bird friendly?
✔ Fresh water
✔ Native shrubs
✔ Shelter & nesting spaces
✔ Bird-friendly habitat

Stop by Backyard Birds & Gardens for feeders, supplies, and everything you need to welcome more birds' home.

For the Birds. For your Garden. For you.

05/21/2026

🕊️ Have you joined the Bird the Boot Challenge yet? There’s still plenty of time to get outside, spot some birds, and compete for prizes across Louisiana! 🌿🐦

Whether you’re birding from your backyard, a local park, or out on the trail, every sighting counts.

✅ Pick your category
✅ Log sightings in eBird
🏆 Compete for prizes

📅 Challenge runs through June 1
📥 Submissions due June 12

✨ Learn more & register: https://buff.ly/5kL7T4Z

Thanks to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, Wild Birds Unlimited, Baton Rouge Family Fun, and the Louisiana Ornithological Society for supporting birding and outdoor recreation across Louisiana 💚

05/21/2026

🐦 BIRD OF THE WEEK: Carolina Wren 🤎

If you’ve heard a loud “tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle!” coming from your yard lately — chances are a Carolina Wren is nearby.

These tiny birds may be small, but they have BIG personalities and even bigger songs. Right now, in Southeast Louisiana, Carolina Wrens are busy nesting and raising families.

Fun Facts:
✨ Carolina Wrens build nests in unusual places — flowerpots, wreaths, mailboxes, garages, and birdhouses
✨ They often raise 2–3 broods each year
✨ Both parents help care for the babies
✨ They stay in Louisiana year-round — no long migration trips for these backyard favorites

Want to attract Carolina Wrens?
✔ Offer mealworms or suet
✔ Provide dense shrubs and shelter
✔ Add fresh water nearby
✔ Leave natural areas where insects thrive

Keep an eye around porches, hanging plants, and cozy corners — you might spot a busy Carolina Wren family nearby. 🤎

Stop by Backyard Birds & Gardens for feeders, mealworms, bird houses, and backyard supplies to welcome more birds' home.

05/20/2026

A great article about sapsucker woodpeckers.

We are getting questions about the damage pictured in this photo...it is SAPSUCKER damage...here is some narrative from retired/former LSU horticulturists Dan Gill and Lee Rouse.

If you listen quietly outside during March and April, you may hear a distinct tapping sound in your neighborhood trees. A bird called the sapsucker is creating this tapping sound.

Sapsuckers are a migrating bird that spend their summers in the northern part of the country and the winters and early springs in the southern parts. Because the sapsucker is here for a short amount of time, you may miss seeing the bird itself. But if you look at your neighborhood trees or those in the forest, you may notice the distinct patterns they leave behind on the trunks.

The sapsucker will typically drill horizontally parallel rows of holes in the trunks or branches of trees. The tree will begin to ooze sap and sugars from the holes, which were drilled by the birds. The sapsucker will come back to the drilled holes and suck up the sap, which oozed out along with the insects that the sugars attracted.

The sapsuckers tend to be attracted to maple, ash, elm and oak. Typically, the health of the tree will not be compromised by the damage caused by the sapsucker so long as the damage occurs on the trunk or larger branches. However, as the sapsucker begins to drill on smaller or younger trees or smaller branches of a larger tree, this may have a detrimental effect. Oak trees are typically better at handling the damage caused by the sapsuckers.

The scars of the holes drilled by a sapsucker may be seen for many years after a bird has fed on that tree.

05/19/2026

Your backyard deserves a little charm, color, and relaxation. 🌿🐦✨

From beautiful bird houses and hand-painted bird spinners to the soothing sounds of Corinthian Bells wind chimes and Murphy’s mosquito protection products — we’ve got everything you need to turn your outdoor space into your favorite place to be. 🌸

Create a backyard the birds love… and you will too. 💚

Stop by Backyard Birds & Gardens and discover unique treasures for your garden, patio, and feathered friends!

05/14/2026

☀️ Enjoy the outdoors — without the mosquitoes. 🦟🌿

Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito & Tick Repellent products are here to help you take back your backyard, patio nights, gardening time, camping trips, and outdoor adventures. 💚

Made with naturally derived ingredients like lemon eucalyptus oil, these products help repel mosquitoes and ticks without the harsh chemical smell.

✨ Featured Favorites:
✔️ Mosquito & Tick Repellent Spray
✔️ Repellent Wipes & Aerosol
✔️ Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks
✔️ Mosquito Repellent Candle

Perfect for:
🌿 Gardening
🏕️ Camping
⚾ Ballgames
🍔 Backyard BBQs
🌅 Evenings on the patio

Stop swatting and start enjoying your time outside again. 🙌

📍Shop Murphy’s Naturals products now at Backyard Birds & Gardens before summer mosquito season is in full swing!

05/12/2026

🐦✨ Bird of the Week: Chimney Swift ✨🐦

You’ve probably seen them darting through the sky at dusk — but did you know Chimney Swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air? These fascinating birds eat flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, beetles, and wasps, making them incredible natural pest control for your neighborhood. 🌿🪰

Unlike most birds, Chimney Swifts don’t perch on branches. Instead, they cling to vertical surfaces like chimney walls using their long claws. They even build their nests inside chimneys using twigs glued together with their own saliva! 🤯

💡 Fun Facts:
• Chimney Swifts are among the most aerial birds in the world
• They can even bathe while flying by skimming across the water
• Baby swifts cling to chimney walls before they can even fully see

Unfortunately, Chimney Swift populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss and modern chimney construction. Supporting bird-friendly habitats can help protect these amazing birds for future generations. 💚

Stop by Backyard Birds & Gardens for feeders, birding supplies, and expert advice to help create a bird-friendly backyard sanctuary! 🐦🌻

05/09/2026

GREAT IDEAS for M💜M Backyard Birds & Gardens

05/07/2026

🌸 MOTHER’S DAY SALE IS HERE 🌸

Looking for a gift that’s thoughtful, unique, and something they’ll enjoy every single day?

Give the gift of birding right at their fingertips. 🐦

Now through Father’s Day — Feathersnap Camera Feeders are ONLY $159.99!

✨ Watch birds up close in real time
✨ Capture photos & videos right from your phone
✨ A gift that keeps giving all year long

Perfect for Mom… and honestly, Dad too 😉
📍 Stop in and grab yours while they last!

⚠️ Quick Note About Our Phones Our phone system is still not working properly, and voicemail is currently unavailable.

👉 If we don’t answer, please call back — we may just be helping another customer.

We appreciate your patience and understanding!
Come see us in-store and let us help you find the perfect gift!

05/06/2026

Creating a hummingbird‑friendly garden is a great way to support wildlife while adding color to your landscape. By choosing the right plants, you can provide natural nectar sources that attract hummingbirds throughout the growing season.

Learn what plants keep hummingbirds coming back year after year: https://tinyurl.com/HummingbirdGardensLSUAgCenter