When you have guests, you feed them. It’s only polite. | Roy Smith via Wikimedia Commons

Our local skies house everything from warblers to thrushes. So how can you invite them to your garden?

Feed them, of course. Late winter to early spring is a crucial time for putting out birdfeeders, as natural food sources may be depleted. Let’s fly through some need-to-knows to keep you popular with the local birds.

Feeder types 🪶

There are three basic types of feeders: seed, suet, and nectar.

Seed feeders are the most versatile. Black-oil sunflower seeds appeal to the greatest number of birds, according to the Audubon Guide to Bird Feeding. They’ve also got homemade recipes that everyone will be chirping about.
Suet (or beef fat) is a high-energy treat for bug eaters, and you can make a DIY feeder from an onion bag. Be warned: Warmer weather turns suet cakes rancid, which keeps birds away.
Nectar feeders give hummingbirds and orioles a sweet treat. Opt for a low-capacity feeder to make sure you’re cleaning it regularly.

Browse Wild Birds Unlimited to get a feel for the different types. Then, mix and match to make your home the flock of the town.

The perfect setup 🪶

You want to give songbirds an easy meal — not squirrels, cats, or birds of prey — so set up the perfect perch.

The magic numbers for a feeder pole are 30 feet from any windows and 10 feet from cover, particularly native plant cover. In fact, you can even spruce up your garden with bird-friendly plants.

Maintenance 🪶

Monitoring your feeders is key to keeping the local ecosystem healthy. Clean seed feeders twice a year (in the spring and fall), and keep an eye out after rain.

To avoid avian diseases (and connect with other birders), keep tabs on the local Audubon Society. Call the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources and take down your feeders if something seems amiss.

EVENTS

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Friday, March 17

Brain Days | Friday, Mar. 17-Saturday, Mar. 18 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center, 727 W. Main St., Louisville | Price of admission | Celebrate Brain Awareness Week with local scientists and educators.
St. Paddy’s at 3rd Turn | Friday, Mar. 17 | 12 p.m.-12 a.m. | 3rd Turn Brewing, 10408 Watterson Trail, Louisville | Free | Drink green beer, enjoy a fish fry, and listen to music from Joe D’Amato.
March After Hours | Friday, Mar. 17 | 5-10 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $20 | This month’s after-hours party is themed around Women’s History Month with women-led tours and a dance party with music by women artists.
4th Annual Fish Fry-Days | Friday, Mar. 17 | 6-9 p.m. | The Merryweather, 1101 Lydia St., Louisville | Free to attend | Enjoy beer pitcher specials and fried food from POCO.
Drive-By Truckers | Friday, Mar. 17 | 8 p.m. | Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, 724 Brent St., Louisville | $30 | See this southern rock band perform live.

Saturday, March 18

Kentucky Yoga Initiative Yoga Class | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 8-10 a.m. | Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St., Louisville | Free | Rise and stretch for this early morning class.
Tree ID Hike | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Horine Conference Center at Jefferson Memorial Forest, 12408 Holsclaw Hill Rd., Louisville | $5 | Fill your noggin with arboreal wisdom during this all-ages hike.
2nd Annual Burgoo Bash Cook-off | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 3-5 p.m. | Against the Grain Brewery & Public House, 401 E. Main St., Louisville | $10-$15 | Sample this Kentucky stew and vote on your favorite.
March Biergarten | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 6-10 p.m. | German American Club, 1840 Lincoln Ave., Louisville | Free to attend | Drink German-style beers and dig into a German food menu served cafeteria-style.
Kid Kentucky | Saturday, Mar. 18 | 9 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 611 S 4th St., Louisville | $12 | Catch this Kid Rock tribute show.

Sunday, March 19

Mouse Tales | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 12 p.m. | Portland Museum, 2308 Portland Ave., Louisville | Free | Watch a puppet show by local nonprofit Squallis Puppeteers with a finger puppet workshop after the performance.
Cookbook Club | Sunday, Mar. 19 | 1-3 p.m. | Cooking at the Cottage, 3739 Lexington Rd., Louisville | Free | Bring a recipe to share that’s green in color for March’s meet-up.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MARCH INTO THE WEEKEND

NEWS NOTES

Weather

55º | Morning rain| 81% chance of rain

Traffic

The Triple Crown 10K — part of the Triple Crown of Running series — takes off tomorrow, March 18 at 7:30 a.m. downtown. Road closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and stretch from the Butchertown neighborhood to 8th Street. (WDRB)

Coming Soon

It wouldn’t be Bourbon City if our famous spirit didn’t find its way into almost everything — including self-care. A new salon and spa called Bourbon & Blush is in the works downtown and its specialty is bourbon-themed treatments. The wellness hub will also offer less boozy services including hair care, waxing, and nail care. 💅

Today Is

St. Patrick’s Day. Observed to honor the death of St. Patrick, the annual holiday is celebrated globally and often features Irish dishes, parades, and dancing. Join in locally at Fourth Street Live! during its Shamrocks and Shenanigans party.

Drink

Start channeling your inner Charlie Bucket because Heine Brothers Coffee has hidden Racing Louisville and Lou City soccer tickets in 300 bags of its Racing-City Blend. Single game day tickets and season passes are divided among the beans and are available at all locations. One in every 30 bags is a winner. 🎟️

Outdoors

Cherokee Park’s Bridge #2 closed today to undergo a $700,000 restoration to replace its deck and rails. The bridge crosses the Scenic Loop over Beargrass Creek near the Baringer Hill Path and frisbee field. Construction is expected to last two months and detours are in place.

Arts

The fifth annual Art in City Hall exhibit is now on display. Six Louisville artists were chosen by Metro Council, City’s Commission on Public Art, and Louisville Visual Art and will receive a $500 honorarium. You can see their art and purchase it Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 🖼️

Plan Ahead

We’re spilling the beans. Louisville Taco Week returns Monday, April 17 through Sunday, April 23. The annual foodie week features seven days of $2.50 tacos from participating restaurants like Limón y Sal and Agave & Rye. Check in at four locations on the coordinating app to be entered to win prizes.

Shop

We all gotta eat — why not get rewarded for it? Kroger’s Boost Membership includes perks like free grocery delivery, 2x fuel points, $100+ in speciality savings, and more. Try it free for 30 days. 🛒 *

Sports

ICYMI, registration is open for Louisville City FC + Racing Louisville FC Academy camps (starting in April). Designed for all ages, campers train to become better players and more confident in their soccer skills. See camp dates + register your child.*

Number

$241. That’s the real price of a roundtrip ticket from Boston to Barcelona sold this year via Going — a travel membership that alerts you when flight prices drop. Sign up for a free membership or try an Elite membership for free if you’re interested in business and first class tickets, too.*

Finance

A cash back card so good, even the experts had to have it. (Hint: Features include up to 5% cash back, a big sign-up bonus, and no annual fee.) See what it is.*

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DRINK

Meet spirits and drink them, too 👻

Rocks glass with brown cocktail full of ice on a white marble table.

Phantoms of Prohibition features 5+ drinks and small bites. | Photo by LOUtoday

Louisville Food Tours’ latest edition is a cocktail tour revisiting the Prohibition era and its ghosts one drink at a time.

Phantoms of Prohibition: Ghosts, Cocktails, & Bites Tour reveals hidden speakeasies and local ghost stories, and makes stops at historical landmarks — like The Seelbach Hilton Hotel where Al Capone once had secret tunnels to escape police.

The three-hour tour makes five stops along its 1.5-mile route starting at Whiskey Row with two bourbon cocktails, one of which was created specifically for the tour, and weaves its way through downtown with other drinks and small bites along the way.

Here are a few highlights from the tour:

Lavender gin cocktail from Pin + Proof
Sitting in a booth at O’shea’s where a 19th-century ghost is said to be seen
Kentucky pineapple upside-down cake from 8UP and its ties to the 1930s

Tours are $139 for 21+ drinkers and $89 for those who just want to hear the history. Haunts run weekly Wednesday-Friday at 5 p.m.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Katie.

Editor’s pick: If you’re looking for something green to sip that isn’t beer today, get your hands on Gralehaus’ Matcha Honey Bee. It’s made with milk, honey, bee pollen, and Kilogram Tea matcha — which gives it its bright green color.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out these 30+ kid-friendly things to do.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Katie Molck, Lennie Omalza, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Mandey Lee | Advertise with us.

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