After spending years walking, hiking, and driving to photograph birds, Melissa Penney tried something new. She decided to make the birds come to her! In the last five years, she has had 111 species of birds visit her urban Edmonton backyard. In May of 2025, she published a book to teach people how to create their own backyard habitats; A Playground for Birds: How to Turn Your Yard into an Avian Oasis has become a local bestseller.
An indispensable book for anyone who wants to see more birds in their yards, inside you'll find everything you need to know to attract birds but also how to take care of them once they arrive. It's written especially for people with an urban backyard who would love to have their yard feel more like an escape from city life. This book is for all naturalists, gardeners, and bird lovers!