The Zen Birdfeeder

Hummingbird Nest Cam 2011

Live Videos by Ustream
A couple years back we shared a link to a live video stream on a hummingbird nest in California.  Here's a current nest, also in California.  Caution - it can be additive!

Wildlife Wednesday

My first-ever Wildlife Wednesday,
featuring my first-ever Raccoon on my deck!

ps:  Cat DID NOT like this visitor! 

Are Birds Telling Us "Spring is Finally Here"?

Just when you think winter will never end, the birds give you hope!

New birds and new sounds are starting to float through my yard, birds that announce the arrival of a new season with their presence, uttering songs and calls that start the process of renewal and new life.

Shiny black with an occasional flash of red, the arrival of the Red-winged Blackbird foretells the coming of spring.  "Konk-ler-eeeeee!  Konk-ler-eeeee!"  Like many migrating birds, the "he" arrives before the "she" to scope out and establish territory.

 

The sound of "Honk! Honk! Honk! Honk! Honk!" makes me look high in the sky to see a skein of nearly 90 noisy Canada Geese.  They're headed in a northwesterly direction to locations unknown.

A Song Sparrow arrives, scratching food out of the hardened snow.  Not in the singing mood...yet.

 

The distinctive low-pitched "cr-r-ruck" of a Common Raven alerts me to a dance going on high above the pine trees.

Everyday it seems, a change takes place as spring incrementally moves in to upstate New York.

A Gift from the Heart

One of the best things about owning a Wild Birds Unlimited store is the friendships you develop.  Over the last 7-1/2 years, our customers have become our friends.

We find that because of the nature of our little shop - a special place for people who love birds - we attract a special type of customer.  Customers like Regina and Terry. At Christmas, they surprised us with a very special gift from their hearts - a needlepoint done by Regina's own hands.

As you can see, it is beautifully framed and features four birds: chickadee, cardinal, waxwing and blue jay.  A bit of metallic yarn was sewn in to give each bird a little sparkle.

A few months earlier, Regina had asked me what my favorite bird is.  And now my favorite Black-capped Chickadee has the top spot in the piece.

This special gift has a place of honor in our home.  We lovingly hung it to the right of our front door, where we can enjoy it every day as we take in the bird activity outside.

We feel very honored and so grateful to have wonderful folks like Regina and Terry in our lives, who love to share their passion for the birds with us.  Thanks again, Terry and Regina, for a very special gift!

Five Steps to Prepare Your Yard for Spring

With the right additions, your yard can be even more attractive to resident and migrating birds.  Here's five steps you can take to get your yard ready for the birds this spring.

1)  Start out Clean!

Start the season with a little spring cleaning!  Clean your feeders, baffles, poles, and weather guards with a 10% bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water).  Do it on a sunny day if you can and let the feeders air-dry in the warm sun.  Take time now to repair any weather damage to your feeders and replace those beyond repair.  Rake up any debris under your feeding stations.

 

WBU Advanced Pole System Setup

2)  Set up a New Bird Feeding Station

Adding a WBU Advanced Pole System® bird feeding station with new feeders can help attract more birds to your yard. More feeders, spread farther apart, can reduce overcrowding and help lessen birds’ stress.

Also, by offering new or different foods in your new feeders, you’ll attract a greater variety of birds to your yard.

 

Birdbaths attract a wider variety of birds

3)  Add a Bird Bath to Attract New Birds

Birds need water to keep their feathers in top-flight condition and for good insulation on cool spring nights. Add a decorative bird bath that is bird-friendly with sloping sides.  If it's too deep, add pieces of slate or a rock in the middle to allow smaller birds to perch.

Clean your existing bird baths with a stiff-bristled brush and a 10% bleach solution (like the one used to clean your feeders in #1). Rinse thoroughly and allow them to completely air dry. Refill your bird baths with fresh water at least once a week.

 

Carolina Wren love mealworms (and Suet Snacks!)

4)  Serve Birdfoods that Contain Bugs and/or Fruit

In spring, a bird’s need for protein increases dramatically. And many insect- and fruit-eating birds like Gray Catbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, wrens and others are returning from their winter homes. Yet fruits and insects are not naturally abundant yet.  You can help by serving birdfood that will help birds until they can transition to eating natural sources of fruits and insects.

Loaded with protein, mealworms can help you attract insect-eating birds like bluebirds or wrens. Many bird parents like the bluebirds will often bring their offspring to mealworm feeders and feed them.  Offering live mealworms will create a flurry of activity of birds, and some of our resident birds like chickadees and titmice will also feast on them. 

Birdacious® BugBerry™ Blend or BugBerry Stackables™ are full of dried mealworms and four different kinds of fruit. They have added calcium, that helps promote stronger eggs and healthier bones for mother birds and their babies.  Other birdfood choices with dried insects include our WBU BirdBugBites Suet.

Fresh and dried fruits are popular with a number of birds and help provide proper color pigments for new feathers and other nutritional needs.  You'll find fruit in WBU Suet Snacks, Cranberry Fare cylinders, and in Fruit & Nut Stackables.

 

Peanuts are a favorite of these Red-breasted Nuthatches

5)  Add Peanuts to the Menu

Loaded with protein and fat, peanuts provide birds with the necessary energy to defend territories and raise healthy families.  Peanuts out of the shell are an absolute favorite of the nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse.  Peanuts in the shell will be taken by jays and woodpeckers.  It's especially interesting to watch jays take a whole peanut, tip back his head to send it to his crop, then take ANOTHER whole peanut before flying away to cache them.

These are five easy steps you can take this spring to help our returning and resident birds make an easier transition to warmer weather.

Based on material provided by WBU, Inc.

Wings on Wednesday

More attempts at in-flight bird photography, Blue Jay-style!

Likes?  Dislikes?  Suggestions? 

Bluebirds by the Numbers

5    height in feet that an Eastern Bluebird house should be mounted

1970    the year the Eastern Bluebird was named the New York state bird 

1-1/2    diameter in inches of the ideal opening to a bluebird nestbox

70    percent of the bluebird diet that is animal matter, mainly insects

30    percent of the bluebird diet that is vegetable matter such as fruits

#1    way to ensure bluebird safety in nestboxes: 

            MONITOR THE BOX

Wordless Wednesday

BLUSTERY BIRDS

Common Redpoll

Black-capped Chickadee

Winter's Grip

It's mid-March and clocks have been sprung ahead, yet winter refuses to release its grip.  Here's a few images taken during yesterday's morning snowfall.

 Northern Cardinal

 
American Crow through the snowflakes

 
 Blue Jay

 
A Northern Cardinal brightens the day 

 

Twist & Shout Redpoll

Well, shake it up, redpoll (Shake it up, redpoll)
Twist and shout (Twist and shout)
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, redpoll, now (Come on redpoll)
Come on and work it on out (Work it on out)

You know you twist little girl (Twist little girl)
You know you twist so fine (Twist so fine)
Come on and twist a little closer, now (Twist a little closer)
And let me know that you're mine (Let me know you're mine)

Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now
(Shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now
(Shake it up baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now
(Shake it up baby)

Twist and Shout actual lyrics written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns