Connecting with Creation

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern

House Finches are among the most common year-round birds in Cincinnati and are especially fond of sunflower seeds. Males display reddish plumage on their heads and chests, a color they gain from pigments in the food they eat.

In May 2025, the staff of EarthConnection (EC), a ministry of the Sisters of Charity dedicated to integrating spirituality and sustainability in our lives, installed a live video birdfeeder in the front garden.

The feeder records footage of each bird that lands on it, and saves data about the types of birds visiting, the frequency of visits, the amount of birdseed loaded into the feeder, as well as the environment surrounding the feeder, which can be viewed from an app. The feeder also reflects EC’s mission to ‘live lightly’ by being completely solar-powered.

In December, EC received a yearly report that shared all of the data taken since the feeder was installed. The app shared that EC ranked in the top 1 percent of 638,000 bird hosts worldwide with 4,940 visits from 33 different species.

The most common visitors for the feeder have been House Finches with 1,720 visits; Northern Cardinals with 1,271 visits; and House Sparrows with 972 visits in the last eight months. Some of the most interesting visitors, though, are the Common Starling, which frequently scares other birds away from the feeder, and the Northern Mockingbird.

One specific pair of Cardinals, penned Bruce and Karen by the EC staff for their boisterous attitudes, visit frequently. Bruce, the male cardinal, has visited 225 times since May to eat seeds and intimidate the other birds.

The feeder also ranked in the top 5 percent of bird hosts worldwide for House Finch visits this year. EC’s video footage has shown these birds are messy eaters who fling birdseed to the ground while they pick through a variety of seeds, nuts, and dried fruit.

S. Winnie Brubach, who selects a “No Mess Mix” of hull-less seed, explains that EC isn’t trying to attract specific bird species. Instead, the goal is to provide seeds rich in healthy oils that help birds stay warm during Cincinnati’s cold winter months, while also ensuring that any seed tossed from the feeder by feisty House Finches won’t take root in the soil.

The feeder was purchased with the intention of using the videos for educational purposes, as EarthConnection hosts visitors for webinars, tours, and special programs. EC plans to use the data collected to create a presentation for Girl Scouts, helping them learn about local birds while working toward their ‘Nature’s Habitat’ badges.

While the feeder was purchased primarily to educate EarthConnection visitors, EC staff have also found themselves learning more about local birds — from distinguishing the different beak shapes of various species to understanding which seeds they prefer and how they interact with one another.

Another benefit has been the enjoyment that the feeder has provided for the Sisters of Charity Community through updates sent by EC staff. Recently, members of the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count for Western Hamilton County visited the feeder after hearing how popular it is. The visitors even spotted a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in a nearby pine tree.

In the coming year, EarthConnection looks forward to teaching even more students and Girl Scouts about local birds, while expanding its lessons and offering additional presentations that help visitors learn how to sustain wildlife in our communities.

goldfinch

American Goldfinches are year-round inhabitants of Cincinnati and are easily recognized by their bright yellow plumage. During winter, males’ colors dull slightly, then brighten again for breeding season, when paler-colored females seek out the brightest yellow males.

downy woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents of Cincinnati and look nearly identical to Hairy Woodpeckers, only smaller. Males have a small patch of red on the back of their heads, while females remain black and white year-round.

common starling

Common Starlings are year-round inhabitants of Cincinnati and are known for traveling in large flocks. When you see a telephone line covered from one end to the other with small black birds, chances are you’re looking at a flock of starlings.

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