This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Grandview seed feeder.  The unique feature of this feeder is that each of the seed compartments can be filled with a different type of seed, inviting more variety of birds to feast!

The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds in North America.  Males and females share the same markings (completely white with black wing tips). They spend their winters along the Pacific and Gulf coasts and summer inland, breeding in Canada and along the northern American West Coast.   

One interesting quirk of the American White Pelican is their reluctance to fly over the open ocean on migration.  They will fly over deserts, mountains and vast expanses of land, but avoid the open water. 
Some White Pelicans have been blown off course by hurricanes and found themselves in the Eastern Caribbean and Eastern South America.

Unlike their more-famous cousin, the Brown Pelican, the American White Pelican does not dive underwater to hunt.  Instead they dip their heads under the water to catch fish, and herd together to push fish to one another.

After suffering a large population decrease in the mid 1900's thanks to industrial pesticides like DDT, the species has come back strong and populations are thriving throughout North America. 

This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Glass Oasis hummingbird feeder.  It features a glass lid and feeding ports, along with a decorative metal basket and hanger.  (Good tip… oasis style feeders are great for deterring bees and wasps, as they can't reach the nectar!)

When a bird flies into a window, it thinks the window is not there (obviously!). You can easily stop bird-window collisions by making the window more visible.

eHow.com has a couple suggestions on how to do this:

1)    Move birdfeeders away from any large windows. If the birds aren't around, they won't try to fly in!
2)    Hang decorations outside the window.
3)    Put stick-on silhouettes of birds-of-prey on your windows.

If a bird does hit your window and falls to the ground motionless, it might just be stunned.  To protect it from predators place a box with air holes or a colander on top until it recovers.

Happy birding!

Water is an important element for attracting birds to your backyard, so this week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Cobalt Blue Terra Cotta birdbath.  It can be used as a hanging or standing bird bath.

1) Pick a bath

Anything that's about a foot across and can hold water will do:

•    Garbage can lids
•    Clay pots
•    Pie pans
•    Hubcaps

The water inside your containers should be about 1-2 inches deep.  Angle the bath on a tilt to give it varying depths for different types of birds.

2) Pick a post

•    None – place your birdbath in a depression in the ground.  This placement is not a good idea if you have cats or other predators.
•    Traditional – a post with a thickness of 3 inches or more will work. Make sure you can fit the bath steadily and securely.
•    Hanging – Your hanging birdbath configuration needs to handle the elements in your climate and the weight of the birds on top.  

3) Pick the right location

The best birdbath location is in partial shade with some low vegetation underneath.  Preferably there should be a shrub or tree nearby to provide cover in case a predator is nearby.  Out in the open isn't desirable because of hawks and other flying predators, and too far into the thicket is scary too – something could be lurking.  

Install and Enjoy!
 

This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Antique Bottle Hummingbird feeder.  This unique feeder offers a beautiful and classic touch to your backyard.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University is a terrific reference on all things birding, and they had this to say about the hummingbirds, “As you know, bird populations can fluctuate considerably from year to year.  Only if this trend were to persist on a much wider scale for multiple years would it likely indicate a larger problem for the species.  It is also true that what is happening in one location isn't necessarily indicative for the species overall.”  This is a great sign! 

They further say, “When birds migrate, where they stop is highly dependent on weather patterns.  Because they're in such a hurry to get to their nesting area, if they don't need to stop, they won't.  And that means that sometimes they're not in a particular area.”

We also took this question to Scott Weidensaul, who is an expert of bird migration.  He gave us the following explanation, “Most of the emails I get in June and early July about ‘where are my hummingbirds?’ stem from the females being tied up with incubation and chick-rearing, the usual early summer lull that always makes people panic. They remember the hordes of hummers they had last year (not realizing it was in late summer, after the chicks had fledged and the migration was underway) and compare that with the normal, low-intensity activity at their feeders in early summer and assume the worst.”

So in the end, we’ve concluded that all hope is not lost.  Keep those hummingbird feeders full of the good stuff and your much anticipated visitors will show up.  Feed them… and they will come!

This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Deluxe Upside Down Finch Feeder.  An amazing way to watch the goldfinches feed.

US east-coasters know all about the Baltimore Oriole.  But you might not be as familiar with the Bullock's Oriole, which inhabits the left-half of the United States. 

Like our previous post on the Rufous-capped Warbler and its relative the Chestnut-capped Warbler, it can be tough to tell the two species apart. East of the Great Plains you'll see Baltimore Orioles exclusively, likewise with the Bullock's Oriole West of the Rockies.  Their territories overlap in the Midwest though.

Here's a primer on how to tell the species apart:

Male eye colorings: This one is easy.  Baltimore Orioles have an all-black head, Bullock's Orioles' heads feature a mixture of black and orange with a black eye line along each eye.

Female wing bar: The Baltimore Oriole female has a smooth upper wing bar as opposed to the serrated kind found on the Bullock's Oriole.

These two species' territories overlap in the Great Plains, so if you see a bird that resembles both you might have found a hybrid!

Before you break ground on a new backyard garden, take a moment to think of the birds.  Here are some simple things you can do to make birds happy and keep them coming back. 

1) Use What You've Got

If you live in rural Arizona, it's probably too expensive to build a lush marshland to attract Red-winged Blackbirds or Kingfishers.  Use what you already have.  When your backyard is dry semi-desert, use arid-friendly plants for the foragers.  If you do have a marshland, focus on using the native habitat to your advantage and attract the rarer forms of water birds. 

2) Keep Old Vegetation In

Some weed-like plants actually provide helpful cover for various bird species.  When building a bird-friendly garden, keep as many undesirable plants as you can tolerate until you see how your birds become accustomed to them.  If the birds do not use them, feel free to rip them out as planned.

3) Plant Native Plants

Birds are accustomed to plants they recognize.  When you use native plants in your new garden you're giving birds a taste of home.  They will be more likely to stay and come back if they feel they're in their native habitat.

Do you have a bird-friendly garden?
 

Simple Homemade Suet

11 oz. leftover bacon grease
1 jar chunky peanut butter
1 cup raisins
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup Special K cereal

Cool bacon grease. Mix in peanut butter.  Add raisins, sunflower seeds, cereal.  Freeze overnight in suet-size square container.

Happy Birding!
 

Last week a blog poster asked why we weren't giving away "the Perky feeder".  Well ask and you shall receive.  This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our classic and best-known Perky Pet® Four Fountains feeder. 

Be the first to post a comment and it's all yours!

Good Luck!

I read a very touching story today about a young Grosbeak who was born with no beak. Author and birding enthusiast, Diane Miller recently wrote in Bird Watcher's Digest about the young Grosbeak "Billie" who frequents her backyard and the hurdles this bird overcame living without a beak to grow into a happy, healthy bird. This Grosbeak is one tough cookie!

Click here for the issue of Bird Watcher's Digest and click "A Beakless Grosbeak" on the magazine cover. And maybe have some tissues handy!

This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Hibiscus Hummingbird Feeder.  This bright and fun feeder will bring out the hummingbirds and bring a smile to your face.

This week's Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our Clear Window Feeder. 

There's no better way to get a close-up view of the feeding birds!

This Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our nautical themed Avant Garden™ Yacht Race Hummingbird Feeder! Is this feeder cute or what… this little guy thinks so!

A blogger, who calls himself Mr. Grass, found a nest of finch eggs in the rafters under his roof and installed a webcam to watch the baby birds as they hatched and grew. 

The live feed is long since over, but he put together a collection of images from the most important moments in the birds' lives on this page.  All of the action takes place over two weeks from May 27, 2008 to June 9, 2008.

Mr Grass goes into amazing detail, and supplements his webcam feed with high resolution images taken with a digital camera.  I found myself caring deeply for the little chicks and identifying with the struggles of their parents.  The saga takes a heart-wrenching turn, and the lives of all the birds are changed forever.

If nothing else, the story is a stark reminder just how unforgiving life in the wild can be.  Even when it's in your own backyard.

You can find more pictures and video of the house finches here.

Below are list of birds you may encounter at the beach:
•    Gulls -  Including Laughing Gulls, Herring Gulls, and Ring-billed Gulls
•    Terns -  Including Royal Terns, Caspian Terns, and  Common Terns
•    Sanderlings, Dowichers & Willets
•    Herons & Egrets – Including White Herons & Egrets, Grey / Blue Herons
Oystercatchers

Two years ago I visited the beach, Fort DeSoto Park in Florida, and was able to spot: Terns, Plovers, Skimmers and Oystercatchers, all of which nest on the beach. 
Oystercatchers are found on coasts worldwide, aside from polar and tropical regions of South East Asia & Africa. 
I recently read there were fewer than 400 pairs of Oystercatchers in Florida; making it one of their rarest birds.
Many of these birds make their nests out of sand, shells and pebbles, which are often times disrupted and destroyed by beachgoers.

Vacation Birding 101
Before you and the family venture out to enjoy the beach and marine life, be sure to remember these beach birding tips:
•    Be sure to follow any posted signs about beaches being closed during bird nesting seasons. 
•    Keep your dog on a leash at all times to ensure he / she does not injure juvenile birds.
•    If you have a picnic on the beach, be sure to pick up and dispose of all trash and food.
•    If fishing on the beach, be sure to throw away any used fishing line, as well as any plastic items with holes.
 

Rufous-capped Warbler 

Coloring and Markings

As you can see from the photo above, the body is typically an olive-gray hue with a striking yellow chest and throat. The head is an earthen brown with a white eyebrow line extending from beak to neck.  The wings are round and short, and the tail is long and often flicked upwards sharply. 

Habitat

In their native Mexico, Rufous-capped Warblers live in the tropical highlands amongst the shrubs. American individuals can usually be found at the bottoms of canyons near running water.  They stay low in the vegetation to forage for river bugs, which makes human sightings very rare.

Feeding Habits

The Rufous-capped Warblers' diet primarily consists of spiders and bugs.  They are foragers that scan close to the ground for movement.  Unlike other birds their size, they rarely go fly-catching from perches.

Differences with Close Relative the Chestnut-capped Warbler

Chestnut-capped Warblers live in Central and South America, further south than the range of the Rufous-capped Warbler. Until recently, the two were categorized as a single species.  The primary difference is the much more extensive yellow coloring on the Chestnut-capped Warbler (see below).  This yellow extends nearly to the tail.

All of you Texans: have you seen one of these little birds?

Capture the Beauty of your hobby by entering your best photo in our Perky-Pet® Capture the Beauty Photo Contest. Enter now – the contest begins today, June 9!

This Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our 'beachy' Avant Garden^® Sea Shore Seed Feeder! This feeder resembles a beach umbrella in the sand… a great escape for our feathered friends!

This Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our MAGNIFICENT Avant Garden^® Suncatcher Hummingbird Feeder! This feeder has a transparent sun that catches the daylight and creates a gorgeous reflection.

This feeder is also one of our dish-style feeders, which makes it very easy to clean and refill.

Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our BEAUTIFUL Birdscapes^® Copper Meadow Seed Feeder (One of my favorites!) This feeder has a gorgeous copper finish and trust me when I tell you – the birds love it!

Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our convenient Perky-Pet^® Window Hummingbird Feeder. This little feeder is perfect for attaching right to any window for your viewing pleasure!

We have our winner for this week and will be contacting them via email. Thanks to everyone who played and for all you're wonderful comments – we really enjoy reading them all!

WIN 2! In honor of Mother's Day. One for you and one for Mom.

Hey Guys! Here is the Wild Wednesday Giveaway! This weeks giveaway features our elegant Fairy Dust Hummingbird Feeder.

We have our winner for this week and will be contacting them via email. Thanks to everyone who played and for all you're wonderful comments – we really enjoy reading them all!

WIN 2 – one for you and one for Mom!

Hey Guys! I'm a little late this week, but here is the Wild Wednesday Giveaway! This weeks giveaway features our elegant glass Deluxe Rose Petal Hummingbird Feeder.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, formally called Campephilus principalis, wasn’t spotted in North America for about 60 years. Last seen in northeastern Louisiana in 1944, it wasn’t spotted again in North America until 2004. That’s when it was seen flying in the Big Woods region of eastern Arkansas.

This species of woodpecker is one of the largest woodpeckers in the world with a length of roughly 20 inches and a 30-inch wingspan. Its shiny blue/black feathers feature white markings on its neck and back. There’s extensive white on the trailing edge of the upper and underwing. Adults have ivory bills, but juveniles are chalky white. Adults also have a prominent crest, while the juveniles are ragged. In females and juveniles, the crest is black. But in males, the crest is black along its forward edge, but then abruptly changes to red on the side and rear.
Two of the best identifying factors are the laterally flattened bill tip, similar to a wood chisel, and the large, triangular white shape on their lower back when perched.
How many actually remain is a mystery. They’re classified as “definitely or probably extinct.” There may only be one! So if you think you’ve spotted one, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Have you spotted this rare bird? If so, contact us with details!

1.    Positioned in the shade: during the summer months, it can get toasty.

2.    Thick house walls of untreated wood for insulation: we don’t want to live in a house made of toxic materials

3.    Drainage and ventilation holes: a nice breeze is a joy on a hot summer’s day

4.    Extended or sloped roof: to keep the rain out

5.    Tidiness: we don’t want a house with someone’s leftovers in it (which can cause unwanted guests, such as parasites, that could harm us)

6.    Well-grounded: we prefer not to swing and sway in our houses

7.    Protection with a baffle: although we’re friendly, we do prefer to keep out some house guests, especially your cat or the local garden snake.

8.    Location: located at least 20 feet away from windows. We don’t want to crash into your windows when we’re trying to come home

9.    Perchless models: unless you want to attract house sparrows, we don’t need the perches

10.    Nearby amenities: bird baths and birdfeeders nearby make for an easy commute

Wild Wednesday Giveaway features our 3-pack Perky-Pet Hummingbird Planter Feeder. This little feeder is perfect for planters or flower boxes.

Get prepared for the summer months so you can make living easy for us in the hot season.

1.    Keep plenty of fresh water available. Get yourself a birdbath, or two, and make sure to change the water every other day. We’ll reward you for your efforts with a great show – we love to bathe!

2.    Keep the food fresh. As our natural foods, such as insects, nuts and fruits, are readily available in the summer, traffic to your birdfeeders will slow down. The bird seed and suet will begin to spoil. Be sure to keep a fresh supply. And if possible, position the feeder in the shade so the seeds and suet don’t spoil as easily.

3.    Don’t forget about fruit. We like fruit. Since fruit is in season, try sharing some with us. Lots of my bird friends, such as blue jays, chickadees, robins, house finches, orioles, cardinals, mockingbirds, thrashers, and woodpeckers, love fruit.
 

Here are some ways you can help out your feathered friends by making it harder for squirrels to get at our grub:

1.    Baffle them: If you’re putting the birdfeeder on a pole, use a baffle. Many look like a large plastic dome suspended on the pole above the feeder, and it should help deter the critters from reaching our food.

2.    Get crafty: Try mounting the feeder on a long wire that extends from your house to a tree in your yard. Then, stick a bunch of stuff all along the wire…like empty plastic soda bottles, film canisters, hose pieces, spools of thread. Essentially, you’ll want to put any object on the wire that will make it difficult for them to get to the birdfeeder. The goal here is to get them to fall off the wire.

3.    Get slippy: If you’ve got birdfeeders on posts, make sure the posts are made from metal or PVC piping. The squirrels have a harder time getting up their smooth surfaces.

4.    Feed them: Sounds counterproductive, but sometimes if you put out food they really like, such as whole dried corn, in an easy-to-access feeder (something like a tray feeder), they don’t bother trying to get our food.

5.    Outsmart them: Get a squirrel-proof feeder. They work – and we birds love them!
 

Being able to identify the birds that frequent your yard can make you a better host by offering the right type of bird feeder and food or planting the right types of shrubs and plants.

A bird guide or field guide is a logical place to start when you want to identify your mystery bird.  Additionally, the Internet offers a number of websites you can visit to help you learn the species of birds you’ve been viewing.  Birdfeeders.com Wild Bird Library is a great place to start for a quick reference on your common backyard visitors. Find out more.

When you are outside this spring, you might run across what appears to be an abandoned baby bird.   But in reality, most times the bird is not abandoned at all, and his parents are probably close by keeping a watchful, parental eye on their little one.

Take a closer look at the baby bird.  Does he appear to be injured?  If he does, it’s best to take the bird to a local veterinarian or wildlife center.  If the baby does not appear to be injured, look around nearby trees or bushes for a nest.  If you can find it, simply place the baby back into the nest.    If you cannot find a nest, the most important thing is to get the bird up off the ground.  You can place him in a shrub or tree.  It is a myth that if a baby is touched by human hands the parents will no longer care for it.  Birds have a weak sense of smell, so do not worry about handling a baby bird.

More than likely, this is all the help the baby needs and his parents will appear soon.  You can watch for the parents’ return from a safe distance.  Parents should return to their baby within 2 hours.

If you’re considering trying to raise a truly abandoned bird on your own, you might want to reconsider.  These babies sure are high maintenance…

-baby birds must be fed every 14­20 minutes from sunrise to sunset

-an adult robin makes about 400 trips every day to feed its young

If this is the first time you have a bird feeder in your yard, you may have to wait several weeks for birds to discover it. It may help if you put a shiny pie pan with some seed in it underneath the bird feeder to attract birds flying through your yard. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite among most birds. Water is also a natural attractant.

Hang your bird feeder away from trees, bushes, fences or buildings. Squirrels and other predators may climb or jump onto the bird feeder. If you must hang the bird feeder on a tree, keep it at least six feet from the trunk or the tree limbs.

Add a squirrel baffle over the bird feeder to prevent squirrels from climbing down the wire used to hang the bird feeder. If you decide to use a free standing pole, it should be 5' high and 10' from the nearest tree.

Hummingbird feeders should be hung out of direct sunlight, since the sun can spoil the nectar.  Hummingbird feeders should be hung away from windy areas and out of reach of cats.

You may also want to place the hummingbird feeder in and around trumpeting flowers. This will help attract more birds to your hummingbird feeder.

This small bird of prey is 9.5-13” long with a 20-26” wingspan. When compared to other smaller falcons Merlins are considered robust and sturdily built. Males weigh on average 5.8 oz, while females tend to weigh in at around 8 oz.

The males are blue-grey black with some subspecies ranging from almost completely black to silver-grey. The undersides are buff to an orange shade, with some black to reddish brown streaking. Females and juveniles are brownish-grey to dark brown with white-colored buff undersides spotted with brown. To make this even more challenging, their faces are less strongly patterned than other falcons.

Merlins are listed as rare for all seasons in Montana. Your best bet is to look around in areas with a mix of low and medium-height vegetation. Stay out of the forests because they don’t like dense areas.

Have you spotted this rare bird? If so, contact us with details!
 

1.    Incessant Pisher
Pishing is the sound humans make to attract birds. Sometimes it really works. And sometimes it is overworked. Make sure you’re not annoying your birdwatching buddies by constantly pishing. I’ve noticed some ask the group if they’re ok with a little pishing. That’s a nice step to take to avoid any nasty glares.

2.    Overpacker
Sure, you may need some equipment. But sometimes it can just be too much. When you’re hauling around cumbersome equipment, you’re distracting your fellow birdwatchers. And most likely scaring away the birds.

3.    Constant Field-book Checker
The birds in the books won’t fly away. We, however, will. So get your nose out of the field guide and enjoy what you see.

4.    Loud Talker
Yes, we know it can be exciting to spot us. But try and contain yourself for the sake of the group and us birds! When you get loud, we fly away. Then you’re left with a bunch of unhappy birdwatchers. If you spot one of us, use silent gestures and whispers to point us out to others.

Although, it does make me wonder… since winter appears to have shifted a bit by ending later and later each year, I’m wondering if my hummingbird friends and I have been affected by this lag?

Hummingbirds.net does a wonderful job of tracking us Ruby-Throats via the help of hummingbird enthusiasts. After looking at these maps over the past few years, there does seem to be a very brief delay in the first sightings of our kind, however, it has not affected the numbers of us hummingbirds migrating, which is great news!

Take a look at the most recent sightings of our beautiful species and see for yourself!

… And don’t forget to put out your feeders. When we reach your yard we’ll be hungry!

1. Do a little spring cleaning on our birdhouses
We don’t like a messy house as much as the next. But more importantly, it’s unsafe. A birdhouse with last season’s old nesting material can also contain some unwanted houseguests: harmful parasites.

2. Offer a welcome home dinner
And when I say dinner, I mean an all-you-can-eat buffet. We’re hungry! Our favorite yards are the ones packed full of sunflower seeds, peanuts, nyjer, millet, suet, etc.

3. Protect us from ourselves
Spring fighting is inevitable as we compete for our mate. We can even get so out of control we attack our own reflection! To protect us from flying into your windows, please add some decals or tape strips to the glass. And, if you could mount our homes away from any glass areas, that would be great.

4. Run a bath for us
It’s been a long trip. We need fresh water. We’re tired of scrounging around for unfrozen water sources during the winter months. Your birdbath is heaven for us. And if you add an electric heater…that’s even better!

Typically, we use our songs to communicate whether we’re looking for a mate or defending our territory. As the warmth of spring approaches, we become very vocal, each with a distinct call. Male birds can also can get angry, and reflect that in their calls, as they compete with others for a mate.

You’ll also notice in spring we’re our brightest, especially males. From the brilliant yellow in warblers and finches to the bright blues in jays and indigo buntings to the fiery red in cardinals and tanagers…we’re out to attract our perfect mate with our flocks.

Even those considered “bright” in the dark winter months become even brighter in spring.

So enjoy the sights and sounds of my friends and me as we celebrate spring!
 

But, boy, is spring a busy time for the birds!  Most are just finishing a long, exhausting migration back North.  But there is no time to rest!  Now they must stake out a space they can use for mating and building a home for their baby birds.  Think about it… humans have nine months to prepare to bring a new baby home.  Birds have to find a mate, build a home, care for their eggs, care for their newborns and prepare for their autumn migration back South, and only have a few short months to complete the process.  Talk about stress!

Making your backyard a welcoming place for the birds can be extremely helpful.
• Clean out your birdfeeders and birdbaths with a soap and warm water solution.
• Fill your feeders with fresh seed or nectar.  If you’ve been storing seed over the winter, check it for any mold or insect presence.
• Consider a suet feeder.  This high protein, high energy food can really help birds whose bodies are quickly losing energy during this stressful time of year.
• Offer a fresh water supply.  Even if natural food sources are abundant in your area, offering water is great way to attract birds.

And remember, those baby birds that you help provide a good home for this spring, may very well return to your yard again for years to come.

As a quick added note… The hummingbirds have reached the US!  Residents in Florida, Texas and other Gulf states have been seeing them for weeks now.  Have you seen the arrival of the hummingbirds?  Join us on Facebook and keep us updated!
 

Not only are the festivals a fun event shared by fellow hobbyists, festivals support wild bird conservation efforts.

These events are held in order to highlight the vital role that birds play in the balance of our ecosystems as well as their relations to humans. Bird festivals are a great opportunity for you, the bird enthusiast to get involved with bird awareness, have fun while doing something to help conserve our planet!

Each festival has its own unique theme and time frame. Some festivals run all month long, some a week and some just over the weekend. Each one celebrates birds in various ways with various activities such as nature walks, seminars, lectures, films, crafts, artistic exhibitions, and much, much more!

So, lend a hand to mother-nature and check the festivals happening in your area. Visit the festival schedule on Birdfeeders.com or view the American Birding Association website for a complete list of bird festivals. You can search by state and by month. You can even learn how to organize your own festival on the site by downloading their festival guide.

When you see a bird, don’t rush to the bird book or field guide to identify it. Remember, the bird isn’t going to stick around for you. It will eventually fly away. The photo in the book will remain, but the actual bird will not. So relax and study it, noting what you see.

Some things you might want to jot down about us include:

• Shape and size: Is it plump or slender? About the size of a robin or larger?

• Body parts: Do the legs look long or short? Is the beak short or skinny? Does it have a crested head or maybe a forked tail?

• Color and Markings: Are there prominent bands of color or eyestripes? Does it have a speckled breast?

• Movement: How does it fly? Does it glide or swoop? How does it do on the ground or on a branch? Does it run or hop? Does it bob its tail?

• Location/Season: Where did you see it? What was the habitat like? What was the weather like?

1. Don’t buy bags of mixed birdseed. They contain filler, like red millet, that we won’t eat. It’s not a bargain. We’ll kick it to the ground where it rots. Stay away from mixed birdseed.

2. When you first put food out for us, be patient. It takes some time, as long as several weeks, before word spreads it’s there. And make sure you keep them filled, even if you don’t see us. Often we may come when you’re not looking, or those squirrels will help themselves to our feast.

3. Store the seed in a cool, dry place, in a rodent-proof, metal can. Seed doesn’t last forever, and we’re not fond of old seed. Or any questionable seed. If you think there may be mold, do us a favor, pitch it!

4. If it’s winter and you’re going on vacation, please have someone fill our birdfeeders. We depend on your food source, especially in the winter!

5. Don’t forget the drink! We need clean water to wash down your tasty seeds. Check out this cool seed and water feeder at birdfeeders.com.

For the birds who do tough out the harsh winters without migrating to sunnier locations, they can use a little help from us along the way. Consider these tips when filling your birdfeeders for the remainder of the winter:
- Location, location, location: Place your birdfeeders out of the wind. Position your feeder near cover, but out in the open so birds can watch for danger.
- Offer the good stuff: In the winter, high calorie, high fat foods are better for the birds. Oil sunflower seeds, peanuts and suet are good options. These food types will also appeal to a wide variety of bird species.
- Drinks on us: A heated birdbath is a great addition to a wintery backyard. While not used for actual bathing during the winter, this will provide a much needed water source for birds to drink from.
- Provide cover: In the forms of rousting boxes, bird houses or even trees and shrubbery

If you have any other tips for making winter a more comfortable season for our feathered friends, please share them with us!

Well, you’re a wild bird watcher if you keep a list to track what you see. You may use a journal, but it isn’t scientific. It is just your observations with your naked eye. You enjoy watching birds like me, and you do it as a hobby.

On the other hand, you know you’re a wild birder if you’re really serious and passionate about watching us. You don’t just do it as a hobby; you do it as a scientific study. You compare what you’ve seen with research done by scientists. You live and breathe birds like me. And you’re willing to spend the money on some serious equipment and tools to get a good look. You meticulously document everything about us.

So, which are you? A casual “wild bird watcher” or a more serious “wild birder”?

The most wanted bird in California is my friend the California Condor. The scientific community will recognize him by the name Gymnogyps californianus.

The California Condor isn’t just special in California; he’s also considered one of the world’s rarest birds. Only 351 are known to be living, as of 2009, including only 180 in the wild.

In the 1980s, the California Condor was near extinction because of the things birds like us despise: poaching, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction. After a captive breeding program in 1987, dozens have been released back into the wild, beginning in 1991. Now they only live in the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, California’s western coastal mountains and northern Baja California.

How do you spot this good, feathered friend of mine? Well, considering the sparse population, it’s not going to be easy. You’ll know you’ve spotted one if you see a large black bird (ranging from 42-55 inches in length and a wingspan of 8.2-9.9 feet) with a large triangular patch or bands of white on the underside of the wings, grey legs and feet, a frill of black feathers around the base of the neck, an ivory-colored bill, and skin color varying from yellowish to reddish-orange.

Have you seen this rare bird, with the largest wingspan of any North American bird? If so, contact us with details!

This feeder is SO easy and fast to fill – it’s Hummingbird Fast! Watch it now

Just go to your local library, school library, bookstore, or online – you will find a large array of bird books to help you in your quest to find out more about our little feathered friends who give us hours of joy and benefit our natural world at the same time. I’ll be taking a look at some of these wonderful books in this blog, so “stay tuned!”

But I’m already in a spring state of mind, looking forward to the flowers blooming, the sun shining and the return on some of my favorite feathered-friends, the hummingbirds.

If you live in the Florida and Texas areas, it might not be too much longer until the hummingbirds return. Their northbound migration has them reaching these areas in late February. And the rest of the country can look forward to their burst of color and energy to arrive in March and April.

Get yourself into a spring state of mind by preparing your backyard for the hummingbirds’ arrival. Visit www.birdfeeders.com to stock up on new feeders and nectar, and learn how to “birdscape” your backyard with the plants and flowers to which hummingbirds are naturally drawn. You can also use this site to keep track of the hummingbird migration map and see when they will arrive to a feeder near you!

Your first mission – feed the birds! If you’ve already completed this mission, tell us what you enjoy most about feeding our feathered friends.

Stay tuned this year for tons of great wild bird articles, tips, news, and special offers. Don’t forget to visit our website birdfeeders.com too.

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Enjoy this brief excerpt from the article, or go to Birdfeeders.com now to read more, or to find out where you can purchase one of Bill’s books.

One of the delights that I experience on a daily basis in my Wild Bird Center is introducing children to nature.  When I was a child in the 50’s, the outdoor world was close to our doorstep.  It is further away for today’s youth due to urban and suburban sprawl.

Additionally, there are many competing interests for a family’s time today: sports, video games, computers, etc.  Just getting kids outside can be a challenge.  When you see children outside, it is usually on a soccer field rather than being a field, enjoying the natural world.

I have found that birding is a great keyhole into the natural world for families.  Birding was the pathway that I followed.  I began that journey watching my mother throw out bread crumbs for the birds. Read more.

Bird feeders are a great first step, but there are birds you may be missing out on because they are not seed or nectar eating birds. Many types of birds prefer to eat berries, fruit and insects. You can reach these birds by creating a more bird-friendly backyard.

Other dangers include larger birds who will kill and eat smaller birds, squirrels who raid the bird feeders, insects who invade hummingbird feeders and windows which appear invisible to birds in flight.

Here are some ways to combat the problematic situations, making your birdfeeders some of the most popular and most frequented in the neighborhood, resulting in hours of bird watching fun for you and your family.

It has been often times proved that a water source in your backyard is a simple and effective way of drawing in birds. Birds need water for not only drinking, but also for cleaning their feathers so they can fly properly.  By providing a fresh source of water, you can attract many species of birds that may otherwise fly on by. Check out the Perky-Pet® Sip & SeedTM Feeders –serve both seed and water!

To attract cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches: Sunflower.

Put your sunflower seeds in hanging feeders to keep squirrels and raccoons at bay. Black sunflower seeds (sometimes called oil seeds) are a better choice than striped sunflower seeds that people eat because they’re higher in oil content, their shells are softer and they cost less.

To attract goldfinches: Nyjer.

Nyjer is like 5-star dining for goldfinches. They love nyjer. Offering nyjer may end up with a dozen or more goldfinches feeding in your yard. The downside is goldfinches have expensive taste. Nyjer is one of the most expensive bird seeds. As to not waste it, buy a hanging feeder with tiny holes, especially made to keep these light, tiny seeds from blowing away. Goldfinches don’t mind being watched so place the feeder close to your house to get full enjoyment of these delightful birds.

To attract chickadees, titmice, chickadees, and downy woodpeckers: Safflower.

Safflower has an added benefit for bird-lovers…squirrels don’t like them. These white seeds, slightly smaller than black sunflower seeds, are bitter. Grackles, blue jays and starlings also don’t like them.

To attract sparrows, juncos, and mourning doves: White millet.

As the least expensive bird seed, feel free to scatter it on the ground to attract the birds. No specially designed birdfeeder needed.

To attract woodpeckers: Suet.

Known as a special treat for woodpeckers, suet is beef and venison fat and provides much-needed energy, especially during winter. They cost a little over $1 each. Since they can attract mammals, always hang suet.

When the tropic region became overcrowded with hummers, making food and shelter supplies slim, these little explorers decided to journey north to take advantage of the abundant preserves of insects and flowering plant life. Because these types of preserves can not survive in cold temperatures, the hummingbirds must travel back to Central America during winter months in order to live.

The mass of Ruby-throated hummingbirds spend their winters between southern Mexico and northern Panama. Because hummers are solitary birds, individual birds migrate anywhere within this range.

Amazingly enough a few hummers have been known to lag behind and there have been various species reported along the east coast during winter. It is believed this is due in part to global warming. Because of these reports some folks have chosen to leave their hummingbird feeders out straight through to January!

So, keep your eye out – you might be surprised by what bird you see outside your window this season.

One of the most common pieces of birdwatching equipment is binoculars. Since birds scare easily, maintaining a large distance between you and the birds means more opportunities to see them. Binoculars give you the advantage. There are many types of binoculars available in all price ranges, some specially made for birdwatching.

Another common item is a notepad. Birdwatchers use the notepad to make observations and sketches. This helps improve their observation skills and later identify birds.

A bird book or field guide can also be extremely helpful when birdwatching. But beware; it can also lead to missed bird sightings. Use the book sparingly when birdwatching or you’ll miss the whole point of it: watching the birds! Use the bird book to identify the birds later.

More advanced equipment includes a spotting scope, which is a small portable telescope with added optics, and a tripod. Spotting scopes are a step above binoculars because they offer increased magnification, helping locate birds farther away than those observed with binoculars.

For the avid and experienced birdwatcher, recording and reproduction devices help locate, watch, identify and even sex birds. With improvements in digital technology, these devices are compact and easy to use. Every birdcall heard on a trip can be stored and later played.

Finally, hides or towers offer the serious birdwatcher an advantage of improving viewing conditions. Being concealed from birds gives the birdwatcher the opportunity to observe birds at a closer distance.

The first step is to think about what type of seed or nectar you would like to serve. Secondly, what types of birds would you like to see? Thirdly, what type of surroundings do you have outdoors – do you have lots of trees and bushes?

After these questions are answered you can begin to think about what type of feeder you need. If you do decide to feed hummingbirds, note that there are several types of hummingbird feeders as well. Most people who feed hummingbirds want something easy to fill and easy to clean – in this case we would recommend the Top Fill hummingbird feeder.

If you’d like to find out more, read the full article on Types of Bird Feeders at our website, birdfeeders.com.

Spish, also referred to as Pish, is the sound you can make to entice birds to come closer. They’ll wonder what the noise is and come to investigate. No one knows for sure why the spish sound works, but most believe it’s an alarm-type signal for the birds and they can’t resist checking out the source.

The sound can attract a variety of woodland and backyard birds, from chickadees, sparrows, warblers, and jays to nuthatches, titmice, catbirds, and wrens. Even woodpeckers respond to the sound.

How do you spish?

Techniques vary. With your teeth closed, hiss. Another technique is making a long, loud, drawn-out spish-h-h-h sound. Do it three or four times in a row. It will sound as if you’re making a shushing noise but with an extra sp in front. In a steady rhythm, do it repeatedly. After practice, you’ll find your spish voice.

When should I spish?

If you’re alone, spish-away. When in a group, it’s polite to ask how your group feels about the sound. If they’re fine with it, then go for it. If they admit to finding it annoying, keep quiet. And if someone else in the group is doing it, don’t do it. Too many spishers is not a good thing. Also, avoid overusing during times when birds are already stressed, such as winter or nesting season.

Firstly, fresh water is very important. Winter freezes most water supplies for birds, giving you a chance to offer a resource they’ll have trouble finding anywhere else. On a daily basis, make sure to de-ice water supplies you’ve provided. Or, try a heated bird bath.

Secondly, provide a variety of appetizing foods. During winter, birds hunt for reliable food sources in preparation for dropping temperatures and lack of natural food supplies. Offering a continual, yummy food resource establishes your yard as a bird sanctuary. The birds that stick around in cold weather are used to eating seeds because insects aren’t on the menu this time of year. To attract wild birds in winter, offer bird seed.

Birds need to consume 1/3 – 3/4 of their body weight daily to gain the energy needed for winter survival. Offer a variety of seeds: black oil sunflower, nyger, safflower, white millet, and suet. Be sure to keep your birdfeeders filled. Even if you’re guests haven’t yet arrived, having a constant resource of food will ultimately spread the word and bring in a crowd.

Finally, winter means all animals are searching for food, including squirrels. To keep squirrels away, mount your feeder poles at least 6 feet from the ground and 6 feet away from any nearby trees or roofs. This will ensure they can’t hop onto any of your feeders and steal the seeds.

Certified bird banders do. Their banding season peaks in mid-to-late January when the maximum number of hummingbirds are present in various southern states. So, forget the myths that hummingbirds are strictly warm friendly animals – it’s obvious these tiny creatures are around all year!

Naturally you can understand why hummingbirds are being reported throughout winter in the southern states – it’s warm there as opposed to the northeast. However, believe it or not several species survive in the eastern U.S. each winter. The most common western species seen is the Rufous Hummingbird, with over 1,000 currently reported annually!

The Rufous specie is not the only winter drifter… here are just a few that continue to be spotted all year long.

• Ruby throat
• Broad-billed
• Black-chinned
• Anna’s
• Calliope
• Allen’s
• Broad-tailed

The best way to increase your chances of spotting one of these winter wonders is to keep your feeder up! Remember to keep it filled with fresh nectar, and to change the nectar every few days. If you are feeling really ambitious keep it up December through February too!

Now, before you put your plan into action, let us help you debunk a few myths. Leaving your feeders out will not signal hummingbirds to migrate. Their hormones tell them when it is time, not the presence of food. If they fatten up for migration in fall, and then decide to stay, their hunger instinct will kick in causing them to begin a search for food. Removing your feeder doesn’t hurt them, but it doesn’t help them either. Keeping your feeder out doesn’t guarantee you’ll see any, but there is a chance you will, and wouldn’t it be great to keep watching these beloved creatures as long as possible?

Do you want to help the bird banders find out more about hummingbirds, and are you are interested in learning more about them? If so, the next time you spot a hummingbird after November 15th here are a few sites that allow you to report your sightings. These sites will also help you to learn more about vagrant hummingbirds.

www.Trochilids.com
www.Hiltonpond.org
www.ebird.org

One drill to improve your binocular skills is the “reference point” drill: Find a focal point (a bright leaf, distant tree or certain spot on a building) with your naked eye and lock your eyes on it. Identify another feature or landmark nearby and note where your focal point is in relation to where the other feature or landmark is. Without moving your eyes from your focal point, bring your binoculars up to your eyes and into alignment with your view. Use your reference point to help get your binoculars into place. Many people have difficulty locating a bird using binoculars, even when the bird is stationary. Practicing this drill will improve your birdwatching abilities.

Another way to improve your binocular skills is the “quick drawl” drill: Identify something moving in the sky with your naked eye; a bird or a plane. Now, with your binoculars at your side, raise them as quickly as possible, find the target, and follow it across the sky. With practice, you’ll become proficient at quickly finding your target. This skill is important as birds are often only visible for a few seconds.

For parents, the excitement when their young one identifies their first bird or sees a bird they were hoping to find is the reward. And the time spent together forms bonds and lasting memories.

Here’s a checklist of what you need to help get you and your kids get started on your new hobby:

1. Kid binoculars: they don’t have to be expensive, but they do have to fit your child. Make sure to take your child with you when selecting a pair. It will help foster the excitement for the upcoming birdwatching adventure.

Before you go: make sure to practice using the binoculars with your child. This gives you the opportunity to teach your child the best use and care practices, including using the neck strap at all times and how to clean the lenses properly.

2. Bird book: the book will help your kids identify the birds and improve their observation skills. They’ll start to hone in on the bird’s appearance, color, size, and shape… great opportunities to strengthen vocabulary.

Before you go: identify the common birds in the area and make a list of what you may see on your birdwatching adventure. This gives your child a chance to study the birds so they’ll be more likely to identify them in the wild. Comparing the birds is a great way to improve their observation skills.

3. Camera: not only great for capturing the memories of the day, it also gives your kids another way to become involved in the birdwatching, or developing another hobby…photography! You can make it a fun challenge by seeing how many different birds they can capture on film. Try to break the record each future birdwatching trip.

Before you go: review the camera’s features and how to take photos. That way, your child will be spending less time fiddling with the camera and more time birdwatching.

4: Notebook and pencils: your child can sketch the birds they see, improving their observation and drawing skills. Or, they can write down what they see, helping to identify birds later, if needed.

Before you go: review what types of things your kid should focus on and record so the birds can be identified.

Being prepared makes for a more rewarding trip. Plus, it gets your kids excited about birdwatching.

A bird guide or field guide is a logical place to start when you want to identify your mystery bird.  Additionally, the Internet offers a number of websites you can visit to help you learn the species of birds you’ve been viewing.  Birdfeeders.com Wild Bird Library is a great place to start for a quick reference on your common backyard visitors.

However, turning through pages and pages of your typical field guide or looking at picture after picture on a website can be an overwhelming and time consuming task.  But here are a few facts about the mystery bird that you can gather to make identification easier:

Size:
To quickly judge a bird’s size, ask yourself: “Is it roughly the size of a robin or a sparrow”

Color:
Pay attention to the overall color, but also the colors of different body parts.
What color is its back?
What color is its underside?
What color are its wings and tail?

Tail:
The tail can be the main giveaway to the bird’s identification.  It can help you tell the difference between types of sparrows, swallows or other look-alikes.
Is the tail long, stubby or in between?
Does the tail have a deep fork or notch in the middle?
Is the tip of the tail pointed, rounded or square?

Surroundings:
Where birds hang out can also be a good indicator to their identity.  Shy sparrows stay in the brush or grass.  Filed birds want more open spaces and woodpeckers always hanging from a tree or branch.  You can check this information in the Habitat section of your reference guide.

Field Marks:
Field marks are details that can seal the deal on your bird’s identification.  Field marks are unique to birds and can make it much easier to zero in on your mystery bird. Here are a few questions to consider:
Are there streaks or dots on its breast and/or belly?
Are there thin stripes or wide bars on its wings or tail?  Is it a single bar or two bars?
Does the tail have a different colored band at the tip?
Is there a stripe or distinct ring at the eye?

Of course this is a lot of information to take notice of in the minute or two that the bird sits at your feeder or bushes.  If you’re not comfortable relying on your memory, keep a digital camera nearby to snap a quick photo of the mystery bird.  You’ll then have a fresh image to refer to as you search your bird guide.

Eating Hot Spots
With limited space, one of the best ways to incorporate a bird feeder to your outdoor space is with a window feeder.  Perky Pet® offers both nectar and seed feeders that are very easy to install and mount to your outside windows with suction cups.

If you have even a small amount of backyard space, you might also want start with a more traditional tube feeder.  There are several feeders that hold smaller quantities of seed and will take up less space.  The smaller tube feeders can be inexpensive, decorative or highly functional. If your backyard space does not have a lot of trees to hang your feeder, a simple mounting pole will do the trick, without overwhelming your yard.

Floral District
Birds are naturally attracted to flowers, so adding some brightly colored plants and flowers in small potted plants, window box or hanging basket is another way to draw them in.  Hummingbirds in particular are attracted to deep orange and red blossom.  Many other birds are attracted to plants that grow small berries.  Additionally birds will use shrubbery and plants for shade and protection from predators.

Like many of us birds are creatures of habit.  Once they learn that you have food, water, shelter to offer them, they will continue to return. And bring with them a little bit of nature to big city living.

1. Good for Your Body
The obvious benefit is physical exercise (as long as you’re not birdwatching from your window). But, birdwatching is more than that. Like meditation, birdwatching can lower your heart rate, improve your blood flow, steady your breathing and reduce the stress hormones in your system. All ways to keep you feeling your best (and feeling younger).

2. Good for Your Mind
Focusing your mind on the details needed to identify birds uses parts of your brain that would otherwise be left under-exercised. Just as crossword puzzles have shown to improve brain’s functioning, so can birdwatching. The new connections made in your brain as you search, find, observe and identify birds will ultimately improve the health of your brain.

3. Good for Your Relationship
Having a common hobby or trying something new gives couples a connection, something to talk about. Birdwatching, when done together, offers a unique way to enjoy each other’s company, work together, and share in the rewards when you see that rare bird.

4. Good for Your Soul
In today’s age of non-stop information overload, taking time to be disconnected in the woods gives you the opportunity to decompress. After you birdwatch, your mind will be clear, your mood will be elevated and your outlook will be brighter!

Now get out there and birdwatch! Doctors orders!

The “PA’s Most Wanted” bird is the Boreal Owl, also using the alias Tengmalm’s Owl in other parts of the World. Identifying one takes a pro as the coloration varies widely between individuals. Some have reddish-brown hues, while others are more grayish. It has a white face, surrounded by a dark rim with small white spots. Another identifying feature is the small dark marking between the eyes and the base of the bill. It has a yellowish horn bill and eyes range from pale to bright yellow. Its length is 7.9-11.8″

Considered endangered in some areas, the Boreal Owl is, needless to say, difficult to spot. And since it’s nocturnal, it makes the challenge all the more exciting. Have you seen this PA’s Most Wanted? If so, contact us with details!