Weekly Articles by Eric Moore
The owner of Jay’s Bird Barn, publishes an article about bringing wild birds to your backyard in The Daily Courier every Thursday. Learn more about Eric Moore.
Recent Articles
The most recent articles can be viewed directly on The Daily Courier’s website.
Weekly Article Archive
Below you will find an archive of all the weekly articles Eric Moore has published with The Daily Courier through 2019.
Willow, Watson Lake levels may affect availability of food for wild birds
This past Thursday I led a Jay's Bird Barn-sponsored bird walk to both Willow and Watson Lakes. It was a beautiful fall day - just perfect for bird watching. One of the first birds we observed at Willow Lake was a Merlin (a small falcon) that zipped past us and flew...
In the fall, replace your hummingbird feeders with suet feeders
In my column last week, one of the topics discussed was when hummingbird feeders should be taken down in the fall. I was certainly glad this past week that I still had two feeders out, as a rare hummingbird showed up in my yard! Last Wednesday, as I doing some yard...
Fall bird feeding questions and answers
As the days get shorter and cooler, it is time to consider what changes you might want to make in your bird feeding activities. One question we are asked over and over again this time of year is, "When should I take down my hummingbird feeder?" Last week, I took down...
The Paton Center is dedicated as an Important Bird Area in Patagonia
For more than forty years, one of my favorite places to go bird watching in Arizona has been the small town of Patagonia, in Santa Cruz County. When it comes to bird watching, few places rival the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve and the Paton Center. Not familiar...
Updating lifetime of bird records takes me back in time
The rare purple gallinule that I wrote about last week has not been seen for over a week now. It is hard to know what became of it-did it successfully migrate back to its more traditional range? Did it continue its off-course migration? Did it get eaten? Granite Basin...
Chasing a rare bird adds a new species to my life list
On Thursday of last week, I received a Prescott Rare Bird email notification of yet another rare bird sighting at Granite Basin Lake-this time it was a purple gallinule. Gallinules are similar to American coots, which are very common at all of the lakes in the...
An uncommon ‘common’ visitor shows up at Watson Lake
This past week, an astute birder identified a single common tern at Watson Lake. While the name "common" would indicate this species is abundant, that is not true for this part of the country. Common terns are actually very uncommon in Arizona. Terns have long, narrow...
The one that almost got away
It is not very often that I see a 'new' bird that I have never seen before. Having lived in Arizona most of my life, I have seen most of the birds that an active birder is likely to encounter in the state. Adding new birds to my life list usually involves going to a...
What’s going on in September? A lot!
September is a busy month, and not just for migrating birds! As I look ahead, there are several community events with an emphasis on the great outdoors-which we are so blessed to enjoy here in the Central Highlands area of Arizona. Saturday, Sept. 5 is the kickoff for...

About the owner, Eric Moore
My interest in birds began when I was very young. By the time I was five years old I was fascinated with birds and watched them at feeders in my parents’ yard in Massachusetts.
At the age of 13 I joined the Tucson chapter of the National Audubon Society. When I lived in Utah I participated in the Utah County Birders Club (there was not an Audubon chapter in Provo). I have been associated with the Prescott chapter of the National Audubon Society for the past eleven years and have served on the board of directors and as the publicity chair.
I have led bird walks, been in charge of the Spring Migratory Bird Count, and I have participated in the Christmas Bird Count in Tucson, Provo, and Prescott for a time period spanning 30 years. I consider myself to be an excellent birder. Birding is more than a hobby for me–it is a passion.
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