The Zen Birdfeeder

How to Help 3 Nestboxes Full of Chickadees

I'm so thrilled to have 3 active Black-capped Chickadee nests in my yard. Each of those nestboxes has 7 eggs in them, for a total of 21 eggs!

While I love having 21 future chickadees in my boxes, and would LOVE to brag about them here, and on Facebook and Twitter, I'm always cautious because there are many things that could happen to those 21 chickadees before they leave the box (not to mention the dangers AFTER they fledge! But that's another post.) A few of those things are out of my control, but many are within my control.

I know there are some specific actions I can choose to do that will increase the likelihood that the nestboxes in my yard will successfully fledge their young. And I think I've done most if not all the things that I can. Here's what I've done:

• My nestboxes are mounted on poles placed outside the jumping distance of squirrels and protected with squirrel baffles.
• My nestboxes have port hole protectors so the holes can't be chewed or pecked larger and allow larger birds or predators inside.
• All nestboxes are in areas with little human disturbance. There are trees and shrubs nearby to provide shelter if needed.
• My nestboxes have drainage holes as well as ventilation slots to help keep the in-house environment safe for mom and babies.
• I provided an easy source of safe nesting material to help parent birds conserve energy during nest construction.
• I don't use chemicals on my yard or in my gardens.
• My cat is kept indoors.
• I provide a wide range of fresh, quality birdfood, especially those high in protein and fat, to help parent birds easily supplement their nutritional needs. I also maintain 4 birdbaths for an easy source of water to drink and bathe in.
• I will add live mealworms to my food offerings once the eggs have hatched, providing an easy source of supplemental protein for parent birds to feed the young nestlings.
• When conducting nestbox checks for NestWatch, I check in the middle of the day, I avoid attracting predators, and I make my visits quick.

But things can happen that are out of my control that could make one or more of these nests fail:

• A parent bird could die, from predation, injury, or from natural causes.
  
  • Loss of the mother bird during incubation or in the first week or so after hatching could prove fatal to the eggs/nestlings since only the female will incubate and brood the naked nestlings.
  • Loss of the father would force the mother to spend more time off the nest which would endanger the eggs/nestlings.
  • A loss of either parent during the nestling stage could put the young birds at risk of starvation if the surviving parent can't provide enough food.
• One or more eggs could just not be viable, for whatever reason.
• Weather could turn cold and/or wet, which could make it difficult to keep the eggs or nestlings warm and dry. It might also reduce the availability of insects to feed the young.
• Insects could infest the nestbox.
• Weather could turn extremely hot, making it difficult for mom chickadee to keep eggs or nestlings at the proper temperature.

So while I'm very excited at the thought of seeing 21 chickadees fledge, I'll keep my expectations in check. I've done all the things I can do to ensure success, but it is a tough world out there and even my best laid plans could be set off course by bad weather or a skilled hawk. But I will keep you posted!

Shop Wild Birds Unlimited - Saratoga Springs NY or online for the safe nestboxes, port protectors, and mounting hardware described in this post.

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FAQ - Can You Use Dog Fur for Nesting Material for the Birds?

Top 5 Tips for Keeping Hummingbird Nectar Fresh

Hummingbirds will visit your feeders more frequently if the nectar is fresh. Here are some tips for keeping it fresh and healthy for the birds:

1. Change the nectar frequently.
   Daily is not too often! But if you don't change it daily, change it every 3-5 days. If temperatures are high or the feeder is in the sun, change it more often. If the nectar is cloudy or if you see black spots, change it.
   
   
2. Make sure the feeder is squeaky clean each time you refill.
   Any mold or bacteria left over from previous fillings will taint the new nectar and it will go bad fast.
   
   
3. Do not add fresh nectar to old nectar.
   
   
4. If possible, hang the feeder in a shady spot.
   Nectar in feeders in the sun will go bad faster. If a shady spot doesn't work for you, try a rain/shine guard over the feeder.
   
   
5. If you're throwing away a lot of nectar, don't fill the feeder full.

Male Grosbeak Displays for His Girl

Spring is one of the best times to watch bird behavior. There are a lot of special shows going on as birds establish territory and engage in courtship.

When the female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks return shortly after the males, the males get about the business of attracting a mate. Here's one male's approach to impress a female at the birdbath.

Well, I'm impressed!!

FAQ - Can You Use Dog Fur for Nesting Material for the Birds?

Q. Can dog (or cat) fur be used for nesting material for the birds?

A. Some birds use animal fur they find in nature to line their nests. It provides a soft surface for the nestlings as well as acting as an insulator from cold and wet.

You can help those birds by providing fur from your dog or cat. By doing so, you might help their nesting success as they conserve energy by taking advantage of an easy source of animal fur.

However, you should not use any type of animal fur that has been exposed to flea or tick treatments.

Still a Great Way to Learn Bird Song

The technology, three CDs packed in a jewel case, may seem outdated but the contents of Birding by Ear are still modern.  That's because the bird songs and calls and the lessons contained within never grow old or outdated.

Every spring, as migration gets underway, I bring out my Birding by Ear sets for a number of reasons.  First, I want to take a refresher course on the bird songs and calls I already know (or think I already know).  I often end up picking out something a little different even on the commonest of bird song, just helping to further reinforce those connections.

Secondly, I try to add to the repertoire of songs and calls I know.  I'll really focus in on those birds that I'll be most likely to see and hear in my "regular life" and try to add a sound or two or three to those I am able to recognize and attach a species to.

Birding by Ear is the top CD we recommend in our Wild Birds Unlimited shop to anyone coming in wanting to LEARN birdsong. These are INSTRUCTIONAL CDs, with creators Richard K. Walton and Robert W. Lawson sharing cues and clues to help in your learning before playing the songs and calls. Birds are grouped to aid in the learning process. For example,they group the "sing-songers" - robin, tanagers, grosbeak and vireos - to help distinguish between their similar songs.

The third CD concludes with groupings of birds by their most likely habitat, which I use to switch my mindset to rule in / rule out birds based on where I might be observing them.

While I try to listen to the whole first set of Birding by Ear every spring, I also try to listen to the second 3-CD set as well, More Birding by Ear.  Using the same learning style, it adds 96 more species of birds, and not just rarer, unlikely birds. Fairly common birds such as Red-breasted Nuthatch, Great Blue Heron, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker are covered, adding more learning opportunities to my bird song knowledge.

I'll play the CDs at home or while I'm riding in my car, since I still have CD players in both locations. But, thinking ahead to the day when CD players are not around any more and when the shiny discs are used only to string up to prevent bird strikes, I have downloaded these to my iPod. I see myself using these for years to come, each spring listening to them to refresh my ear and add new songs to my repetoire, one by one by one. For me, slow and steady is the way to go.

Nuthatch Display

It's early in the nesting season here in upstate New York, but our White-breasted Nuthatch pair have been sticking close to each other since late winter. The other day, I saw the female displaying in a tree with wings and tail feathers spread.

After just a few moments, the male approached.

I thought maybe I'd see them mating but instead they just flew off, her first, followed shortly by him. Love is in the air!!

Mystery Egg on a Feeder

Here's an interesting conversation we recently had on our Wild Birds Unlimited Facebook Page:

June:
Who might have laid an egg on my flat feeder??? Help!!!!

WBU: 
How interesting! First time I've seen that!
Well, because it is still really early in breeding season, because it is at a birdfeeder and a flat surfaced one, I looked up Mourning Dove.  Doves are prolific breeders, starting early and finishing late every season. They lay a white egg which is just over 1" long.
Now why it got laid here is unknown! Kind of like having a baby on the way to the hospital? Or did a nest-robbing predator bird deposit/drop it here?
A very interesting observation, June!

June:
I went to show my husband the egg and it had been moved to the corner and surrounded by seeds and a morning dove had just been on the feeder.

WBU:
Any chance you've seen their nest nearby? Try to watch where they fly or listen for a "coo" call. If it's low enough, you could try placing it in the nest.

The next day....
WBU:
June, any luck or news to report today?

June:
After my last text to you, the dove was back and when I looked again, the egg was gone. Could it have taken it? It wasn't on the ground because it would have hit our blacktop driveway 2 stories below if it was pushed off the feeder?

WBU:
Most likely some bird removed it. I wouldn't venture a guess who.
The egg initially could've been laid by an inexperienced bird. Hopefully she'll choose a better spot next time!

Thanks to June S. for sharing her observation and pictures. It was a very interesting observation!

Ready, Set, Migrate!

Spring migration is well underway!

A single male Red-winged Blackbird kicked off the season on March 28th with female blackbirds returning about three weeks later.  Seven other species have returned including:

• Song Sparrow (April 10)
• Common Grackle (April 12)
• Fox Sparrow (April 12)
• Purple Finch (April 13)
• Brown-headed Cowbird (April 18)
• White-throated Sparrow (April 20)
• Chipping Sparrow (April 22)

 

Purple Finches

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Sometimes we get so wrapped up with the arrivals of spring migration, we fail to notice or mark the departures.  We were sad to see our Common Redpolls and American Tree Sparrows head back north to their breeding grounds.  And we continue to see an isolated Pine Siskin every now and then as they continue their migration as well.

American Tree Sparrow

The next few weeks promise to bring many more birds - some to stay an breed and others just passing through!  I can't wait!!

 

 

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