For almost twenty years, I’ve explored the birdlife of the Adirondack Mountains, from the Champlain Region to the mountains of the Central Adirondacks. Our move to a heavily wooded lot has changed our yard into a hotspot for warblers, owls, hummingbirds, and an incredible variety of butterflies and moths.
Birding in the Champlain Adirondacks (Willsboro, NY)
In Willsboro, New York, our yard was in the Buena Vista Park, a popular summer destination since the 1930s. Most of the bird activity was centered around the feeder hung in a large maple tree. The usual suspects, such as Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Downy Woodpeckers, were regular visitors, with an occasional Chipping Sparrow stopping by.
Notable Champlain Yard Visitors
Among our more interesting neighborhood birds was a House Wren that loved to nap, often in a quiet spot right when he wasn’t singing. While Pileated Woodpeckers were always a favorite to see, their presence was sometimes overshadowed by a pair of Merlins that would terrorize smaller birds.
In 2011, we added a garden to our yard, which brought many new regulars. The vibrant Bee Balm was a major draw for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and the seeds from cone flowers provided a steady food source for American Goldfinches.
Garden Birds & Pollinators
The garden also became a haven for butterflies and other insects. While we never managed to get a picture of a Hummingbird Moth, we did capture a beautiful shot of a Painted Lady butterfly sipping nectar from a coneflower. A fun fact I learned from a friend, Jeff Babson, is that you can actually pet a bumblebee—and they don’t seem to mind at all! A big shout-out to Jeff for his help with bird and butterfly IDs over the years.
Birding the Central Adirondacks
In 2016, we purchased a new home on a heavily wooded lot in the Central Adirondacks, and the change has been incredible. One of the biggest surprises has been discovering active nests on our property, including those of an American Robin and a Blackburnian Warbler. I’ll never forget the time a young Blackburnian left the nest too early; its dad was so distraught trying to coax it back. We gave them some space and, a couple of hours later, they were both gone—I can only hope the little one made it back safely.
Butterflies & Moths of the Adirondacks
With so many trees, it’s no surprise that we have a plethora of moths. Our favorite is the beautiful Rosy Maple Moth, which was even featured in the Adirondack Explorer. Other favorites include the striking Reversed Haploa and the impressive Polyphemus Moth, with its incredible camouflage, large eyespots, and comb-like antennae.
We’ve also been delighted to find some new butterflies in our yard, specifically the Northern Pearly-Eye and the White Admiral. We can’t wait to see what other beautiful species we find next.
We’re also happy to have plenty of milkweed on our property, and we’re careful not to cut it. This plant is a critical food source for Monarch Butterflies. I remember ten years ago, you couldn’t drive down Route 22 without hitting them. Now, we’re lucky to see just a couple a day.
Owls of the Adirondacks
We look forward to many more days of being serenaded by the Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, and Red-eyed Vireo. We’ve even been lucky enough to have an “owl trifecta,” with sightings of Barred, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Great Horned Owls right in our yard. I’m excited for all the good birds and butterflies still to come!
Bird Summary:
Champlain ADK Yard Birds: 23 species
Central ADK Yard Birds: 36 species
Next up: Burbank Birding
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