QT Bird

birds, blooms and back to basics

Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how QTBird.com, owned and operated by Sara Noel (“I,” “me,” or “my”), collects, uses, and shares information when you visit QTBird.com, create an account, join the forums, sign up for my newsletter, or contact me (together, “the Site”). It also explains the choices and rights you have regarding your information.

Quick Links

  1. Information I collect
  2. How I use information
  3. Cookies, analytics, and advertising
  4. How I share information
  5. Security and retention
  6. Links to other websites
  7. Children
  8. Your rights and choices
  9. Visitors outside the U.S.
  10. Notice for California residents
  11. Changes to this policy
  12. How to contact me

1. Information I Collect

Information you give me

  • Account information: When you create an account for the forums or comments, I collect your username, email address, and password. You may also choose to add a profile photo or details about your interests. Your username is public, and other profile details may be public depending on your settings.
  • Content you post: Comments, recipe reviews, ratings, forum posts, photos, and other content you submit (“Content”) are public and linked to your username. Anyone can read them, so please don’t share sensitive personal information in public areas.
  • Newsletter sign-ups: When you subscribe to my newsletter, I collect your email address and any other details you choose to provide, such as your name.
  • Messages to me: When you use my contact form or otherwise reach out, I collect your name, email address, and whatever you include in your message.

Information collected automatically

  • Usage and device information: Like most websites, the Site automatically collects information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, device type, referring website, pages viewed, links clicked, and the date and time of your visit.
  • General location: Your approximate location (such as city or region) may be inferred from your IP address.
  • Cookies and similar technologies: See Cookies, analytics, and advertising below.

Information from third parties

If you sign in or interact with the Site through a social media account, I may receive information from that service, such as your username and email address, depending on your privacy settings there. Please review that service’s privacy policy for details.

2. How I Use Information

I use the information I collect to:

  • Run and maintain the Site, including accounts, comments, reviews, and forums.
  • Send my newsletter and other updates you’ve signed up for.
  • Respond to your messages and questions.
  • Understand how visitors use the Site so I can improve content and features.
  • Show advertising, including ads tailored to your interests (see below).
  • Keep the Site and community safe, enforce my Terms of Service, block spam, and prevent abuse or fraud.
  • Comply with the law, respond to legal requests, and protect my legal rights.
  • For other purposes with your consent or as permitted by law.

Some of this processing may involve artificial intelligence or machine learning tools. I may also combine or de-identify information so it can no longer reasonably identify you, and use or share that information for any lawful purpose.

3. Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising

Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites remember information about your visit. The Site, and the third parties described below, use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies.

Google Analytics: I use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and use the Site, such as which pages are popular and how long people stay. You can opt out by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Google AdSense: The Site shows ads through Google AdSense. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this Site and other sites on the internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some other vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info or the NAI Opt-Out Page. To learn more, see How Google uses information from sites that use its services.

Affiliate links: As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, the Site includes links that may place cookies on your device so the retailer can tell a purchase came from QTBird.com. These cookies are controlled by the retailer.

Your cookie choices: Most browsers let you block or delete cookies, or alert you when one is set. Blocking cookies may affect how parts of the Site work. You can also set your email program to block images, which can prevent newsletters from reporting whether they were opened.

4. How I Share Information

I do not sell your name, email address, or account details. I may share information in these situations:

  • Service providers: Companies that help me run the Site, such as my web host, email newsletter provider, analytics provider, and forum software. They may only use your information to provide services to me.
  • Advertising partners: As described above, Google and other advertising partners may collect device and browsing information, such as IP addresses and cookie identifiers, to show and measure ads.
  • Public Content and partners: Content you post publicly can be seen by anyone. Where permitted by law, I may share or license public Content with third-party partners, including for use with artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, as described in my Terms of Service.
  • Business transfers: If QTBird.com is sold, merged, or transferred, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
  • Legal reasons: When I believe in good faith that disclosure is required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request, or is needed to enforce my Terms of Service, collect a debt, or protect the safety, rights, or property of my users, myself, or others.
  • With your consent: In other cases where you’ve given permission.

5. Security and Retention

I take reasonable steps to protect your information, but no website or internet transmission is completely secure, and I cannot guarantee the security of your information. Please help protect your account by choosing a strong password, keeping it private, and logging out on shared devices. Let me know right away if you notice any unauthorized use of your account.

Messages sent by email or through web forms may not be secure in transit. Please don’t send sensitive information this way.

I keep information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law.

The Site links to websites and services run by others. I don’t control them and am not responsible for their privacy practices. Please review the privacy policy of any site you visit.

YouTube: QT Bird publishes its own bird-feeder videos on the QT Bird YouTube channel (@QTBirdcom). To upload and manage those videos, I use YouTube API Services. They are used only for my own channel: I do not access, collect, store, or share information about YouTube viewers or other YouTube users through them. When you watch a video on YouTube or in an embedded YouTube player, YouTube’s own terms and Google’s privacy policy apply: see the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy. You can review or remove any app’s access to your Google account at Google security settings.

7. Children

The Site is intended for adults 18 and older and is not directed to children. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If I learn that I have, I will delete it. See also my Child Safety Policy.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Your information rights: Depending on where you live, you may have the right to ask me to tell you what personal information I have about you, provide a copy, correct it, or delete it. You may also have the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for targeted advertising. I will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights. Some information may be exempt under the law, and I may need to verify your identity before responding. You may also use an authorized agent with your signed, written permission. If I deny your request, you may appeal by replying to my response.

If you have an account, you can update much of your information by logging in and editing your profile.

Newsletter: You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any newsletter. I may still contact you about your account or messages you’ve sent me.

Opting out of targeted advertising: Sharing device and browsing information with advertising partners for personalized ads may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information under some U.S. state laws. U.S. residents can opt out in any of these ways:

You’ll need to opt out on each browser and device you use, and opting out means you’ll still see ads, just less personalized ones. If your browser sends a legally recognized opt-out signal, such as Global Privacy Control, I will honor it as required by law. I do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of anyone under 16.

To make any request, please use my contact form.

9. Visitors Outside the U.S.

QTBird.com is operated from Michigan in the United States, and your information is processed in the U.S. Some service providers may process information in other countries. By using the Site, you understand your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where privacy laws may differ from those in your country. If you live outside the U.S., you may have the right to file a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Legal bases for using your information: If you are in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or another place with similar laws, I rely on the following legal bases to use your information:

  • Contract: To provide services you’ve asked for, such as your account, forum access, or newsletter, and to enforce my Terms of Service.
  • Legitimate interests: To run, secure, and improve the Site, prevent spam and fraud, and protect my legal rights, where these interests are not outweighed by your rights.
  • Legal obligation: To comply with laws, such as responding to lawful requests from authorities.
  • Consent: For things like non-essential cookies, personalized advertising, and marketing emails. You can withdraw your consent at any time through the cookie banner, your browser settings, or by unsubscribing, without affecting anything done before you withdrew it.

Depending on where you live, you may also have the right to object to or restrict how I use your information, and to receive a copy of your information in a portable format. To make a request, please use my contact form.

10. Notice for California Residents

If you live in California, you have the rights described in Your rights and choices, including the right to know, access, correct, and delete your personal information, and to opt out of its sale or sharing for targeted advertising. In the past 12 months, the Site has collected the following categories of personal information: identifiers and account details (such as username and email), content you post, messages you send, device and usage information, general location, and inferences about your interests drawn from browsing activity. Device, usage, and location information may be shared with advertising and analytics partners, which may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” under California law. I do not use sensitive personal information for purposes that require an opt-out.

Under California’s “Shine the Light” law, you may ask whether I’ve shared personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes. To make a request, please use my contact form.

11. Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated. Continuing to use the Site after changes means you accept the updated policy.

12. How to Contact Me

Questions about this Privacy Policy or your information? Please reach me through my contact form.