El Dorado Hills, CA July 2026

Exploring

Yosemite National Park

The Courage to Explore

Summer always feels like an invitation to branch out and have fun, without having to overthink every moment. That desire to break from routine and turn off the noise is what calls us toward our next destination. No matter where our summer takes us year after year, there will never be a shortage of beauty, adventure, and perspective waiting beyond the everyday.

Though each story in this issue is different, they are all connected by the same thread: the courage to explore—to step into unfamiliar territory, to question, to wander. Exploration can lead us across mountains, across continents, or even inward toward parts of ourselves we are still learning to understand.

For travel and discovery near and far, we explore the breathtaking landscapes of Yosemite National Park and the beauty and cultural charm of Switzerland. We also offer a sneak peek into a local production company’s documentary series following two cousins on a dice-led adventure, capturing the excitement and unpredictability of stepping into the unknown.

We then take a more intimate and introspective journey through the work of a talented local artist whose pieces are both deeply personal and universally relatable, inviting viewers to reflect on their own evolving sense of self. And, a bestselling author and podcast host invites us to venture beyond our comfort zones with her practical approach to pursuing goals.

Any way you choose to take on the summer, try to embrace it with a spirit of adventure—no overthinking required.

Happy exploring!

KRISTY MURDOCH, PUBLISHER @ELDORADOHILLSCITYLIFESTYLE

July 2026

PUBLISHER

Kristy Murdoch

kristy.murdoch@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Todd Murdoch

todd.murdoch@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Krista Minard

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Cadence Murdoch

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Krista Minard, Janie Jones, Marshall Zweig, Kali Kasprzyk

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jacqueline Pilar, Charlene Taylor, Tom Honeycutt, Steve Montalto, Janie Jones, Visit Yosemite Madera County, Aramark Destinations

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Meredith Wilson

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

Granite Splendor

ADVENTURE BY CHANCE

A local production company films an adventure travel documentary built on a roll of the dice

ARTICLE BY KRISTY MURDOCH PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHARLENE TAYLOR

When most people set out to create a documentary, they begin with a destination, a subject, or a carefully structured storyline. But for the production team behind Pure Chance, the journey began in an unexpected way—through a Craigslist ad and an unconventional idea.

“While the film travels through striking locations, its true story is transformation and self-discovery.”

What followed was a new take on the traditional travel documentary: exploring fate and what it means to surrender control. As the project unfolded, so did the story itself, expanding from a playful experiment into a deeply human narrative about self-discovery.

We spoke with one of the producers, Charlene Taylor, about how the project came to life and what it looked like behind the camera.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE JOURNEY VIEWERS WILL EXPERIENCE?

The documentary follows cousins Dylan and Jonny as they allow dice rolls to guide their travels across the world, with each roll sending them somewhere new.  At first glance, the idea seems simple: roll dice to decide where the journey goes next. But underneath it is a bigger question—are our lives shaped by fate, or do we create meaning through choice?

What begins as a lighthearted experiment gradually becomes something more profound. Along the

way, they face physical challenges, emotional breakthroughs, fear, ego, friendship, and questions about identity and control. While the film travels through striking locations, its true story is transformation and self-discovery.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR TEAM TO CREATE THIS ADVENTURE DOCUMENTARY?

Pure Chance truly came to us by chance. In the fall of 2025, Doug Stanley came across a Craigslist ad from two cousins seeking a cameraman to document a dice-led adventure around the world. With a background leading production teams in Alaska on Deadliest Catch , Doug immediately recognized there was something deeper beneath the concept.

Doug stepped in as producer and post-production lead, helping build the team and guide the process. I joined as a story producer and editor, shaping the emotional arcs and narrative structure that emerged through the footage. Most people know me locally

through portrait photography—family sessions, headshots, and seasonal experiences like Santa and Easter Bunny shoots. I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior, emotion, transformation, and the stories people carry beneath the surface. Documentary filmmaking felt like a natural extension of that curiosity.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING LOCATIONS OR CONDITIONS YOU FILMED IN?

The environments varied widely, creating constant challenges. Some locations were remote, physically demanding, and unpredictable. Peru stood out as one of the most intense chapters due to altitude and terrain. Across the project, however, the biggest challenge was not any single location—it was the lack of control. Because the dice dictated direction, the crew had to remain flexible, solving problems quickly and filming in constantly shifting conditions.

WAS THERE A MOMENT DURING FILMING THAT SURPRISED YOUR CREW?

One of the biggest surprises was realizing the documentary was becoming something far deeper than an adventure story. While early expectations focused on excitement and adrenaline, the emotional honesty between Dylan and Jonny quickly became the heart of the film. Moments of vulnerability and personal breakthroughs happened in real time.

HOW LONG DID THE PRODUCTION PROCESS TAKE?

The project began in the fall of 2025 and developed over many months of filming, travel, and post-production. Because the story was not scripted, the editing process became essential in discovering what the film truly was. With hundreds of hours of footage across multiple countries, the focus shifted to identifying emotional through-lines and building a cohesive narrative.

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES TAKE AWAY?

At its core, the film invites reflection on chance versus choice. It asks whether life is shaped by randomness or whether we sometimes use randomness to avoid responsibility. At the same time, it’s about friendship, courage, curiosity, and stepping outside familiar patterns. We hope audiences leave feeling inspired—and maybe a little more reflective about their own lives.

WHAT EQUIPMENT OR TECHNIQUES WERE USED TO FILM?

Because production was constantly moving, the crew relied on lightweight, adaptable techniques. A run-and-gun style, mobile setups, drone footage, and handheld cinematography allowed authentic moments to be captured as they unfolded.

“Because production was constantly moving, the crew relied on lightweight, adaptable techniques. A runand-gun style, mobile setups, drone footage, and handheld cinematography allowed authentic moments to be captured as they unfolded.”

WHAT WAS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF THE PROJECT?

For me personally, this project expanded my work beyond photography into long-form storytelling. Photography taught me how to capture emotion in a single frame, but documentary filmmaking challenged me to sustain that emotion over time. It deepened my passion for storytelling and reinforced the bond between photography and filmmaking; both are about connection and authentic human experience.

WHEN CAN WE SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT?

Pure Chance is still in post-production as we shape the final feature and begin conversations around

distribution. We’re in the process of completing the film, developing promotional materials, and preparing it for submission to festivals, streaming platforms, and potential distribution partners.

We’ve already seen early interest from emerging media and streaming platforms, including discussions about the project helping to launch a new adventure and entertainment platform, which has been exciting as the film continues to evolve.

Watch the sizzle reel: https://youtu.be/6V8-JMEH0Bk @CharleneTaylor.studio

How to Keep Your Ears Safe

of your favorite summer activities can be harmful to your hearing. Exposure to sounds that exceed 85 decibels (dB) can damage hearing ability over time.

GRANITE SPLENDOR

Always alluring, Yosemite National Park is the place for hiking, waterfall viewing, and basking in nature’s glory

ARTICLE BY KRISTA MINARD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS

The forests, glacier-carved rock formations, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, flora, and fauna within Yosemite National Park create an unforgettable experience for some 4.4 million sightseers who come each year to enjoy the park’s spectacular vistas and commune with nature. In the valley and the high country, no matter the season, the scenery is simply unmatched.

Yosemite National Park is located about three-anda-half hours’ drive from El Dorado Hills, covers nearly 1,200 square miles in the central Sierra Nevada, and stretches across four counties—Mariposa, Tuolumne, Mono and Madera. Visitors come from throughout the world to view granite landmarks including Half Dome and El Capitan. They camp, hike, climb, cycle, raft, kayak, bird-watch, wildlife-sight (bears!), wildflower-peep, paint, take photographs, and simply admire the wonders of nature.

LOGISTICS AND GETTING AROUND

In summertime, Yosemite Valley, bisected by the meadow-flanked Merced River, draws the vacationing masses. This year, there’s no timed reservation system for park entry, so it’s a free-for-all. Pay your $35 (covers seven days of park entry) and hope for the best. Park officials have promised to control traffic and parking congestion in the valley, but reality is, you’ll be among many, so be prepared. Bring your patience, good shoes, snacks, and water; also, consider a weekday visit and use public transportation. The free, hop-on/hop-off shuttle is ideal for traveling around the valley—the air-conditioned zero-emission buses can go where cars

cannot, and drivers push maximum capacity at its 19 stops. Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) buses go into the park and among popular overnighting locations surrounding it. Take YARTS in, then move about the valley via shuttle. You’ll do plenty of walking, but you won’t be fighting to park. You’ll also make friends on the bus.

LEARN ABOUT YOSEMITE

In the valley, Yosemite Village beckons with the Yosemite Exploration Center—museum, theater, Yosemite Conservancy bookstore—and the nearby Indian Village, Ansel Adams Gallery, and more. Visitors will gain knowledge and a sense of history through exhibits, interactive signage, lots of artifacts, and a short, free film with gorgeous footage. The Ansel Adams Gallery is packed full of Adams’ famous photography of Yosemite (and other beautiful wildlands) as well as works by other artists and photographers, books, and gifts. Also in the area, the Village Store carries souvenirs—mugs, t-shirts, hats—and camping gear (forget your flashlight?) as well as groceries. The Yosemite Conservancy runs a number of programs, including art classes (watercolor, acrylic, journaling),

“Yosemite National Park creates an unforgettable experience for sightseers who come to enjoy the park’s spectacular vistas and commune with nature.”

naturalist-led walks, birding, stargazing, trail rehab, and junior ranger activities and more. Another learning opportunity: Take a two-hour valley floor tour in an open-air tram in good weather.

WATERFALLS

They’re flowing, most well into the summer. Yosemite Upper and Lower, Vernal, Nevada, Sentinel, Bridalveil . . . Viewing spots bring visitors in close, within cooling sprays of mist and near wild, dangerous runoff. Stay vigilant, and don’t lose your life for a selfie. (Horsetail, the one that famously glows orange—the firefall—in late February, is dry for the season.)

HIKES

Yosemite Falls—Take the paved loop about a mile to Lower Yosemite Falls,

where you can stand on the bridge and the cool mist will coat your skin (and glasses and phone). To get to Upper Yosemite Falls, gear up—it’s a steep, switchback-laden, 6.6-mile climb some 2,500 feet from the valley floor. Reward for reaching the top: panoramic valley views.

Mist Trail to Nevada/Vernal Falls—This strenuous 6.4-mile hike starts at Happy Isles and takes you to a rustic bridge and through waterfall mist—the trail’s namesake. At the top of the Vernal Falls is the peaceful Emerald Pool and more views of the valley. It’s another tough mile and a half to Nevada Falls, climbing right beside the falls.

Mirror Lake Loop Trail and Happy Isles—Mirror Lake, a wide, calm place in the creek, becomes a popular swimming hole beneath Half Dome each summer. It’s a 4.4-mile loop partly paved, partly

Credit: Aramark Destinations

Credit: Aramark Destinations/ Ahwahnee Hotel

dirt-and-stone trail. The trailhead is at Happy Isles, home of the Happy Isles Nature Center, with interpretive exhibits. The Merced River is right here; tranquil spots on the small “isles” give this area its name.

OTHER YOSEMITE STOPS

Curry Village—Of the 13 campgrounds in Yosemite, Curry Village is one of the most popular, with pitchyour-own tent sites; a “glampground” with heated and nonheated tent cabins; hard-walled cabins (with or without bath); and rooms in the Stoneman House. The area also has a general store, mountaineering school, bike and raft rentals, several dining options, an ice cream shop, amphitheater, and ranger programs.

Glacier Point—The road to Glacier Point opens as soon as snow levels allow. Take the 30-minute ride up and treat yourself to the best views. Watch for bears and coyotes sometimes in plain sight.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias—Just inside the Highway 41/South entrance and near Wawona (with a

museum, golf course, and horseback riding stables), gape in awe at some 500 massive sequoias. A free shuttle runs from Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza in summer/fall, or visitors can walk the two miles in (and back out). Only cars with disabled placards can proceed to the grove.

INDOOR STAYS

The Ahwahnee—This landmark hotel, built in the 1920s on the site of a former Miwok village, boasts views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls and has floor-to-ceiling windows and fireplaces tall enough to stand inside. The majestic dining room is open for dinner.

Yosemite Valley Lodge—It’s centrally located with lots of amenities, including bike rentals, Base Camp Eatery, Mountain Room restaurant, even a Starbucks.

Photography courtesy Aramark Destinations and Visit Yosemite Madera County

Helpful websites: nps.gov/yose, yosemite.com, travelyosemite.com, and yosemitethisyear.com

U NMATCH E D BE UT Y

If Switzerland is not on your bucket list, put it on there now! Switzerland is awash in beautiful mountains, hiking trails, the alps, villages and lakes. It truly captures the heart the second the plane lands. The train system is easy and affordable and a great way to see the countryside, so be sure to plan some day trips using their easy transportation systems. Don’t be afraid to visit with the locals to hear where they would go to base some of your day trips on their recommendations. They are generally spot on every time.

WHERE TO EXPLORE:

• Appenzell and Lake Constance is surrounded by Switzerland, Austria and Germany. An easy and short train ride to Appenzell and a quick gondola ride up the mountain boasts a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding areas.

• Ticino is where the locals suggest to visit and holiday. It is known for its waterfront promenade, bridges, castles, historical buildings and stunning landscape.

• Take in the sights of Zurich and its magnificent lakeside views. This spectacular city boasts amazing views, food and locals.

• Take a short three hour train ride to Paris to explore the gorgeous city and delectable French food.

WHERE TO EAT:

• To indulge in the traditional treat that Switzerland is known for, visit Sprungli which serves the best chocolate in Switzerland.

• To treat yourself to a Michelin restaurant, head to Zurich and eat at Kronenhalle.

• Aperol spritz and local craft beer is readily served at almost every cafe to enjoy.

• When in doubt, ask the locals, as they are happy to suggest their favorite eateries.

CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH

art and emotion

A local artist finds inspiration and themes in communication, shared experience, and womanhood

As a self-taught visual artist living in El Dorado Hills, Volha Naruta-Johnson creates textured pieces exploring the human experience—layered and imperfect. Her figurative oil series, “Being a Woman,” visits the often-pervasive tension between motherhood, career, and female identity.

Born in Belarus, Naruta-Johnson studied Cultural Heritage and Tourism at European Humanities University and has traveled to more than 40 countries. She has been a professional singer and worked in the field of psychology. All of which inform her art. “Some things cannot be processed through language alone,” she says. “Communication is one of our greatest gifts; we bring magic to each other’s lives. My way of doing that: painting.”

WHAT DREW YOU TO EXPLORE CONTEMPORARY WOMANHOOD IN YOUR WORK?

My work in psychology brought me close to women’s inner realities—themes of control, comparison, guilt, and the constant pressure to “be right.” I was living my own experience of becoming a woman, a wife, a mother. Contemporary womanhood, for me, is a lived tension between roles and essence, expectation and truth, rules and social games. That’s what I paint.

HOW DO THEMES OF MOTHERHOOD INFLUENCE YOUR PROCESS?

Motherhood expanded me. It also confronted me asking:  Who are you beyond being needed? I can work for hours, even days, forgetting to eat, to pause, to return to my body until something is complete. Motherhood doesn’t allow that kind of disappearance. It has been one of my deepest challenges. Yet it is my greatest happiness. My daughter is learning from who I am. What I want for her is not perfection, but truth. Not control, but an embodied freedom to experience what it means to grow into a woman. In my work, I return to that edge where devotion and autonomy are redefined moment by moment.

HOW HAS YOUR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS AN ARTIST?

I’ve lived inside cultures that seem to contradict each other—different religions, belief systems, and ways of seeing the world. Yet we are far more alike than we dare to believe. We carry similar questions, fears, longings. Discovering this freed me from needing to find perfect words. The language I work in now—through my art—is universal.

HOW HAS BEING SELF-TAUGHT INFLUENCED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR ART?

I’m drawn to what I can’t do yet and seeing who I become. I’m very impatient and impulsive. It frustrates me. But if something doesn’t work, I look for another way. This has given me a sense of inner ground. Keep working. Keep searching. And stay on your own side.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

Honestly, it started with me complaining a lot. About juggling different roles. About the fear of aging. About feeling like I’m not a good enough mother. People would say, “I feel the same.” And suddenly we’d be laughing about the hardest things. People are my biggest source of inspiration.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE VIEWERS GET FROM YOUR WORK?

A sense of recognition. A quiet inner “yes . . . I feel this.” And “I’m not the only one.”

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR WORK EVOLVING?

Within my series about women, a central character has begun to emerge who carries different emotional states, and she unfolds from painting to painting. I have a goal to grow technically. I’m publishing in major art catalogs such as “Arts to Hearts Project,”  “Curatone.art,” and “Visual Art Journal.” I’m also moving toward larger formats and deeper series—work not just seen, but experienced.

VOLHA NARUTA-JOHNSON | VOLA.ARTCALL.ORG

Volha credits the EDH community with inspiring her art. “I’ve found real friendships, a deeply supportive community, and one of the most open and welcoming art associations I’ve experienced,” she says. “I feel invited—not just to exist, but to create. It makes me want to give back, to thank people by creating work that can live with them, becoming part of their personal space and story.”

ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE

The 10% Target Mindset

Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT

Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.

He calls days later.

That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.

The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.

The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.

“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”

FEATURING JEN COHEN

Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.

1 2

MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS

The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.

STACK THE DECK

Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.

3

DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE

No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.

4

SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP

Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.

5

NEVER MISS A MONDAY

The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.

JULY 2026

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

JULY 2ND - 4TH

Folsom Pro Rodeo

Dan Russell Rodeo Arena – Stafford Street, Folsom | 5:00 PM

The Folsom Rodeo, held annually the week of 4th of July, is a PCRA-sanctioned event that honors the cattle ranches that built the Folsom community. With classic rodeo fun including bull riding, barrel racing, and cattle roping, the family-friendly rodeo also has live music and delicious food, and it concludes each night with a fireworks show. folsomprorodeo.com

JULY 3RD

Fireworks and Freedom Concert

EDH Town Center Amphitheater | 6:00 PM

Hip Service will be rocking Town Center at this most spectacular celebration of the year. In addition to live music, you’ll enjoy delicious food and, once night falls, the region’s best display of pyrotechnics to light up the night sky. It’s a free, family-friendly event. edhtowncenter.com

JULY 4TH

Annual 4th of July Family Blast

El Dorado County Fairgrounds – 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville | 3:00 PM

After last year’s unfortunate cancellation, this traditional annual event is back with live music, carnival rides, kids’ activities, food and drink, and of course a spectacular fireworks show once it gets dark. Come on out and celebrate America’s 250th! edhcountyfair.org

JULY 9TH, 16TH, 23RD, 30TH

Live on the Boulevard

EDH Town Center Amphitheater | 5:30 PM

Town Center’s signature summer concert series brings the community together for free live music every Thursday evening during the summer. This month’s bands include Viva Santana Show, Top Shelf Classics, Super Bad, Cynthia Renee, and Cripple Creek Band. edhtowncenter.com

JULY 17TH

Hands4Hope’s “Stuff the Bus” School Supply Drive

EDH Town Center – Target Parking Lot | 9:00 AM

Every summer, Hands4Hope holds its school supply drive to help students throughout El Dorado County cross items off their lists. Bring new backpacks, notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, erasers, and other school essentials. No donation too small. hands4hopeyouth.org

JULY 25TH - 26TH

Apple Hill Growers’ Summer Harvest Days

Apple Hill farms | 10:00 AM

Ooh, the luscious foothill summer berries! Enjoy those, stone fruits (peaches and plums, anyone?), hard cider, wine and more during this Apple Hill Growers event taking place at various farms in the Camino/Placerville area. The event is free, with plenty to taste and purchase. Follow the trail and fill your car with delicious ingredients for a pie or a crumble. visit-eldorado.com

Birdwatching Made Simple

EXPERT TIPS TO MAKE BACKYARD BIRDING A FASCINATING AND PEACEFUL PART OF YOUR LIFE.

ARTICLE BY MARSHALL ZWEIG

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Thinking of putting up a bird feeder? You’re not alone. Backyard birding is the second most popular hobby in the U.S.—right behind gardening. Bob Gors of Wild Birds Unlimited in Macomb, MI, shares expert tips to help you get started—and get results.

START WITH THE RIGHT SETUP

If you’re new to bird feeding, don’t overcomplicate it. Bob recommends starting with a tray feeder, either pole-mounted or hung. “It’s accessible to the widest range of birds,” he says, “and it lets you experiment with different seed blends.”

Before setting up, take a look at your yard. Birds prefer to feed near trees or shrubs where they can perch and scan for predators. “If your yard is wide open, it’s going to be harder to attract them,” Bob notes.

Quick Tip: Place your feeder about 15 feet from trees or shrubs to give birds a safe place to wait their turn.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SEED—AND SKIP THE FILLERS

Not all bird seed is created equal. Bob advises avoiding blends with fillers like milo, wheat, or oats. “Those are agricultural leftovers. Most birds won’t eat them.”

Each Wild Birds Unlimited store owner customizes their seed blends, based on the birds in each store’s specific area. Their blends contain no fillers—just high-quality ingredients birds actually eat. They’re available in no-mess varieties—no shells, no waste. “With standard seed, up to 40% of the weight of the bag is shells,” Bob says. “No-mess is 100 percent pure bird food.”

Quick Tip: Choose fresh, unscented, unflavored seed. Birds don’t need additives—just what they’d eat in nature. Check the ingredients on the bag: sunflower should be the first ingredient—since it’s the seed most birds love.

IT’S REMAINED PART OF THEIR LIVES: ONE COUPLE TOLD BOB THEY STILL START EVERY MORNING ON THE PORCH WITH COFFEE AND BIRDSONG. “IT BECAME A RITUAL THAT

KEEP UNWANTED GUESTS AWAY

Squirrels causing trouble? Try safflower seed. “It tastes bitter to squirrels but attracts cardinals, grosbeaks, titmice, nuthatches and chickadees,” Bob says. Hot pepper blends also work—birds can’t taste the heat, but mammals can.

To deter large birds like starlings, Bob recommends using a cage around tube feeders to limit access.

Tube feeders with small perches help discourage bigger birds. For tidier feeding, seed cylinders— compressed seed—are a great lowmess option.

Quick Tip: “Start simple,” Bob advises. “Watch what’s happening in your yard, then adjust as needed.” Unlike loose seed, cylinders make the birds work harder—and give you longer-lasting views of the birds.

SPOT BIRD BEHAVIOR (AND BACKYARD DRAMA)

Once your feeder’s up, the show begins.

“Different species act differently,” Bob explains. “Cardinals are typically the first and last birds of the day to the feeder. Male hummingbirds are very territorial and will defend ‘their’ feeder. Chickadees come to the feeder in a flash; they have a grab-and-go strategy. “In our backyard, orioles and bluebirds battle over live mealworms,” he adds. “The female bluebird often holds her ground.”

Quick Tip: You don’t need to track every species. “Just sit back with a cup of coffee and watch,” Bob says. “You’ll start noticing more than you’d expect.”

SEASONAL CHANGES TO EXPECT

Feeder activity increases in summer, thanks to fledglings. “By July, your bird population has basically doubled,” Bob says. At the same time, some favorites—like male orioles—start their fall migration as early as July.

One common myth? That goldfinches leave in winter. “They stay put,” Bob says. “But the males molt into drab-colored feathers, so people often don’t recognize them.”

Quick Tip: Keep feeding in winter. “Some of the best bird watching happens in the colder months—different species of birds visit us in the winter.”

HOW TO ATTRACT SPECIFIC BIRDS

Want cardinals? Use tray feeders or tube feeders with U-shaped perches. “They’re heavier birds,” Bob says. “Standard tube feeders are hard for them to use.”

Hoping for bluebirds? They prefer park-like settings. If your yard fits, try a nesting box with a 1.5-inch entrance, and offer live mealworms far away from the nest box.

Hummingbirds? Stick to sugar water—no red dye needed. “And expect a show,” Bob adds. “Males are fiercely territorial at the feeder.”

Wild Birds Unlimited carries feeders tailored to specific birds, but Bob and his team focus on fit. “We ask about your yard, your goals, and guide you from there.”

Quick Tip: Not sure what birds are in your area? Ask your local Wild Birds Unlimited shop.

WHY BIRD WATCHING STICKS

Bob says many customers started birding during the pandemic—and never stopped. “They looked out the window and realized something was there,” he says. It’s remained part of their lives: one couple told Bob they still start every morning on the porch with coffee and birdsong. “It became a ritual that many people now cherish,” Bob says.

For expert help making bird watching your ritual, stop by Wild Birds Unlimited in your area or visit wbu.com.