'Watch the birdie' in your own backyard

"Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is?" - children's rhyme

Turns out the birds are all around, you simply need to take the time to look. Time, which some folks have found an excess of during the pandemic, has inspired people to flock to all sorts of new hobbies-one of which is bird watching.

Jamie Simo, store manager of Front Range Birding Company in Boulder, said you don't have to wait for spring to start bird watching in the area.

"We always get really interesting waterfowl this time of year," she said. "It's interesting how many species we actually have here in Colorado, because we have so many different habitats. We also get a bunch of rarities that come through in migration."

Simo, who has an environmental science degree, has always been interested in wildlife in general, but after taking a zoology course as part of her degree program, quickly became obsessed with birds in particular.

She participated in the Denver Audubon Master Birder Program and started working for Front Range Birding Company in Boulder which was a natural fit. "I've also been really interested in conservation and educating people about nature and what's around them," said Simo.

Front Range Birding Company, which has stores in Boulder and Littleton as well as an online store, is one of the largest independent wild bird stores on the Front Range, offering a selection of binoculars, spotting scopes, premium wild bird seed, bird feeders, nest boxes, and gifts for nature and bird lovers.

"We've been here a little over two years, and there's still new people coming in," Simo said.

The staff also helps people make informed decisions about how to set up a backyard habitat and what type of feed to purchase, a popular service that Simo said folks have really valued in light of all the additional hours spent at home in the past year.

"They need something to do because everything is closed and a lot of them are working from home. So it's something to look at out their home office window," she said.

As part of this service, the FRBC staff helps with new backyard bird habitat set-ups, which can include everything from poles, feeders, and bird baths to what type of feed to purchase. Simo said they try to figure in all the logistics-where someone lives, if they have an HOA, if they have a lot of mature trees, and if they'll be dealing with squirrels (and do they mind feeding the squirrels too) to get the customer set up with the best backyard bird habitat for their space.

"We try to determine whether they can hang a feeder on a pole, whether they want to put it on a tree or maybe they have a deck where they can use a clamp-on feeder. We ask if they want to feed bigger birds or perhaps they just want to feed small, cute birds. We give them advice on everything," said Simo.

Depending on what type of birds you want to attract, you'll want to pick the type of seed that most appeals to them, for example nut blends for woodpeckers or millet for juncos coming down from Canada.

"Usually, I recommend starting with straight sunflower seed-that's kind of the chocolate of the bird seed world," said Simo.

Additionally, before setting up feeders, consider how much time and energy you want to spend on your bird habitat. You will need to regularly clean and restock your feeders in order to keep your avian visitors healthy.

"We're hearing a lot of reports, especially in Washington state and Oregon, about salmonella outbreaks at feeders. Just like people with the pandemic, birds coming into close contact at the feeders can spread disease," said Simo.

Simo recommends cleaning your feeder every couple of weeks unless you notice signs of sick or diseased birds, in which case you will need to clean the feeder more frequently or take it down for a bit. "That just helps keep everybody safe and healthy," Simo said.

If that sounds like more work than you're willing to commit to, you have other options. "If you don't have a lot of time or energy to do that, maybe consider if you can just do some habitat plantings or provide a birdbath which doesn't take as much effort and still is totally good for the birds," said Simo.

And if you're worried about the birds getting a bit too reliant on your feeders, Simo said that unlike mammals, birds don't tend to become too habituated to food sources. "If you take your feeder down, say if you're moving, the birds will find another place to eat," she said.

In fact, Simo said if there is a particularly good crop of sunflowers or thistles in your area, you may notice that your feeder won't get visited very often as the birds may prefer the natural forage to your feeder, a distinction Simo compared to eating a steak dinner vs. grabbing a burger at a fast food joint.

Additional considerations Simo pointed out are to make sure you aren't using pesticides in your yards as often birds will also be eating insects as they pass through the area, and to keep your house cat inside.

A few of the common birds you'll likely find stopping by your backyard include chickadees (depending on your elevation, you could get black-capped or mountain chickadees), finches such as house finches, purple finches, American goldfinches, and northern flickers, Colorado's biggest woodpecker. Migratory birds that you might spot passing through the area include orioles, tanagers, and various kinds of warblers.

If you're interested in learning more about what bird species you are observing, Simo recommends checking out the local Audubon chapter, Boulder County Nature Association, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's free online resource called eBirdfor more information.

"[With eBird], you can find hotspots for birds. You can look up migratory maps and see what other people have seen," said Simo.

FRBC also offers a variety of resources including bird walks and evening classes. Though the store had to cut back on offerings due to COVID-19 safety concerns, they hope to start up socially distanced bird walks again in February.

"We're really excited about that. Everybody who comes on the bird walks has something to add so it's exciting to get together and pick each other's brains," said Simo.

If you aren't yet ready to invest in a backyard bird habitat, live in an apartment, or are perhaps eager for ways to get out of the house, there are plenty of great birding spots in and around the Niwot area.

Simo recommends Walden Ponds for spring and fall migrations or anywhere with open water. "My favorite goose spot is Milavec Reservoir in Frederick. We had the pink-footed goose show up and set a state record there," said Simo.

Hall Ranch and Heil Valley Ranch are two other open space areas where you might spot some different species. And keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, hawks, ospreys, and other raptors cruising the skies around Boulder, Lagerman, and Dodd Reservoirs.

Simo also recommends simply taking a walk around your neighborhood to see what you can find.

"You don't have to be a super hard core birder to be a bird watcher. You don't even have to have a feeder. Just take a walk around while looking and listening," she said.