September is when things really start to change in the bird world here in Rock County! As summer winds down, fall migration is getting underway, bringing new birds through our area and giving us plenty of reasons to get outside and watch the skies. 👀🐦

🔥🌶️ It’s Heating Up — and We’re Keeping It HOT Around Here! 

The temperatures are rising, and so are the savings! 🔥🐦

From August 27 through September 14, save 15% OFF all Hot Pepper Foods!

🌶️ Everyone saves 15%
🔥 Daily Savings Club® members save an EXTRA 5%
🎁 DSC Members: Get a FREE Hot Pepper Dough Cylinder with your purchase!

Hot Pepper foods are a great way to add some spice to your backyard buffet while helping make your bird-feeding station less appealing to squirrels.

Don’t miss this HOT deal — stop in and stock up while the sale lasts! 🐦🌶️

Not a DSC member yet? Ask us how to join and start enjoying exclusive savings, free gifts, rewards, and 15% off bird food all year long!

 

🌻 What to watch for this month:
• 🐦 Fall migrants moving through our area—keep an eye out for warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other songbirds!
• 💛 American Goldfinches are especially noticeable as they visit seed-producing flowers and feeders.
• ❤️ Cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches & woodpeckers remain active in our backyards.
• 🦅 Raptors become easier to spot as migration picks up and leaves begin to thin.
• 🐦‍⬛ Keep an eye—and ear—out for birds you don't normally see in your yard. Migration can bring some exciting surprises!

🌾 September is also a great time to prepare your backyard for fall.

Keep your feeders clean and filled, provide fresh water, and leave seed-producing flowers and native plants standing as long as possible. Those plants provide valuable food and cover for birds—and they can make your yard a busy stop along the migration route. 🌻

👀 Birding Tip:
Don't just look at your feeders! Take a walk around your yard, local parks, trails, and natural areas. Look in trees and shrubs, listen for unfamiliar calls, and check areas with berries, insects, and native plants. You never know what might be passing through!

📍 Rock County birders—what are YOU seeing this September?
Share your sightings with us! We'd love to hear what birds are visiting your backyard. 💚

🐦 Stop by Janesville's locally owned and operated Wild Birds Unlimited if you need help getting your yard ready for fall migration. We're always happy to help you make your backyard a better place for birds!

 

🍂🐦 YOUR SEPTEMBER BIRDING BUCKET LIST! 🐦🍂

September is one of our favorite months for birding in Rock County! Fall migration is underway, summer birds are still around, and new visitors are passing through. You never know what might show up in your backyard or along your favorite trail! 👀

🎯 How many can YOU find this September?

☐ 💛 American Goldfinch
Look for them around sunflowers, coneflowers, asters, and other seed-producing plants.

☐ ❤️ Northern Cardinal
A familiar backyard favorite that stays with us year-round. Listen for that distinctive call!

☐ 🖤 Black-capped Chickadee
Check trees and shrubs for these curious little birds. They may be among the first to investigate your feeders.

☐ 🤎 White-breasted Nuthatch
Look UP…or sometimes DOWN! These tree-climbing experts often work their way headfirst down trunks.

☐ 🪶 Downy Woodpecker
A common backyard visitor. Check tree trunks, suet feeders, and Bark Butter® feeders.

☐ 🧡 Baltimore Oriole
Some may still be passing through before heading south. Keep an eye out for flashes of orange in the trees!

☐ 💙 Blue Jay
Listen for their loud calls and watch for them caching food for later.

☐ 🐦 A Fall Migrant You Don't Normally See!
This is the bonus challenge! Watch for warblers, vireos, thrushes, sparrows, and other travelers making their way through Wisconsin.

🌻 BONUS: Find a Bird Using a Native Plant!

September is a great time to notice the connection between birds and the plants in your yard. Look for birds eating seeds, searching for insects, or taking shelter in native trees, shrubs, and flowers.

📍 ROCK COUNTY BIRDING CHALLENGE:

Take your binoculars on a walk. Check your backyard. Visit a local park. Sit quietly for 10 minutes and simply see what shows up.

And remember—you don't have to travel far to go birding! Your own backyard can be an incredible place to experience migration. 🏡🐦

📸 We want to see what you're finding!
Comment below with your September sightings or share a photo of the birds on your bucket list.

 

                                                           

 

 

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