Owner: Backyard Birding URL:http://backyardbirdingblog.com Join Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:41:24 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: The great outdoors is sometimes a little far and a little difficult to navigate, especially with young children. Here, we bring a little of the great outdoors to you, in your own backyard. Just turn off the tv, look out the window, and enjoy the great bac Site statistics:Click here
The great southward migration 2007-09-24 01:00:54 As many North American birds prepare to fly south for the winter, many species may be in your area for a short time that you are not normally able to see. Some may even stop at your feeders for some needed calories on this arduous flight. During migration, our birds stick to four main flyways which correspond fairly closely to major topographical features of North America: the Atlantic Flyway, the Mississippi Flyway, the Central Flyway and the Pacific Flyway.
Because the birds follow these features for the most part, you may notice some interesting things at this time of year. We used to live a bit south of the Missouri River and the geese in our area used the river as a sort of road to the Mississippi Flyway. So every fall we saw great flocks of geese heading north for the winter. They seemed confused to us, especially since we did not realize at the time they were flying to the Missouri to follow its course.
Watch your birds as the season changes. Some species will become sca
Identification practice, more little brown birds 2007-10-08 22:31:48 This little
fellow was a bit of a challenge for me and in attempting to identify her, I did something I have never done before. But more on that below.
Remember, when you come across an unfamiliar bird, do not reach for your field guide first. The bird is unlikely to sit still for the comparison process, and you will likely forget what the bird really looked like before you find it. Instead, sketch or make mental notes of key identification features and get a picture if possible. These are some of the most important things to makenote of:
Coloration
The tail coverts are dark, almost slate colored. Underneath is white. In fact, when I first looked at this bird, all I really saw was her tail and my first thought was, “The juncos are back?” My second thought, as i moved to a better window was, “What on earth is a junco doing on the platform feeder?” I have never even seen them even as high as the ground feeder unless the snow is deep. But the view from th Read more:Identification
Seasonal treats for your backyard bird 2007-10-06 09:03:05 ‘Tis the season for harvesting and baking. While you are busy with season favorites, don’t forget about your birds! Fruits and nuts are a little too expensive for me to purchase just four our birds, but even these coveted treats
can be offered on a budget. Here are a few ways to take advantage of seasonal items to attract birds to your yard:
1. Squash and pumpkin seeds.
Whether you are carving a field pumpkin, or preparing a pumpkin pie, set aside the seeds. Lay them out on a cookie sheet in a single layer and place in a warm oven. This will speed the process, but they will eventually dry on a counter as well. Store them in a bag in the freezer until you are ready to use them. Nuthatches love them, and many other birds will eat them as well. You can try laying out a slice of pumpkin. At least the squirrels will enjoy this fruity treat,
2. Dried apples.
If you pick apples, set aside a few that are bruised or damaged. These make good applesauce, but there are a nu Read more:backyard
Natural food supplies may be scarce this winter 2007-10-05 00:23:34 I recently joined an internet forum for birders in my state. A recent discussion turned up the fact that red breasted nuthatches seem to be turning up in larger numbers than normal. I am quite excited about this because I am yet to attract one of these perky little fellows to our feeding station. Apparently, this is not occurring only here in Nebraska, but in other parts of the country as well.
“Red-breasted nuthatches are here in huge numbers,” which is unusual, said ornithologist Mark McKellar, who operates a feeder supply store and tracks bird trends through customer reports. Kansas City Star
While this fact may be exciting to those of us anxiously awaiting our winter
visitors and the increased activity at our feeders in inclement weather, the reason for the increase is not so pleasant for our wildlife.
People may see more of hungry birds, bears and mice this winter, experts say.
A late freeze in April and drought in August zapped the nut, fruit and seed production on many Read more:Natural
, supplies
Our trip to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park 2007-10-19 20:43:13 As we drove into the Smokey Mountain
s, how they got their name was obvious. It looked like the clouds were ascending from a thousand vents in the mountains as they took their place in the sky. Other days, a haze hung over the mountains as if they were covered in smoke. Some of this haze is caused by clouds. Some is from pollution, both natural and man-made.
The Great
Smokey Mountain National
Park is unique in that it was carved out of private land. Donations were made so that the federal government could purchase large tracts of land from lumber companies as well as from farmers. Many of the old buildings remain, including the remains of stone chimneys
and a graveyard outside a church.
Because of varying altitudes, soil types, moisture levels and light levels, the Smokes boast an incredible diversity of plant and animal life within a relatively small geographic area, including approximately 200 species of birds. There are also trails throughout the park. Some carry you to Read more:National Park
I’m back 2007-10-18 10:27:39 A finicky wireless connection combined with the general exhaustion of long days hiking in the wilderness kept me from posting as often as I had hoped while we were away. Ok, from posting at all while we were away.
But I am back now and will share some of our trip to the Smokies after I sort through all of these pictures!
Building a Bottle Bird Feeder 2007-10-22 22:08:24 Chatting with a reader awhile back, she mentioned that her son had made a bird feeder from an old soda bottle. I asked if he would like to write a guest post to share his experience with my readers. Here it is, complete with a problem not exclusive to home made feeders. Enjoy!
Building
a Bottle Bird Feeder
by Jacob Deckard age 9
One day my mom took out our wooden bird feeder. I thought I could make one out of a bottle! Here is a good way to make a bird feeder.
1. Gather supplies.
You need:
A plastic bottle with a cap
Sharp scissors or knife
A stick
A rope
2. Our first feeder’s seeds sprouted, because the moisture did not drain, so poke small holes in the bottom of the bottle. Be careful not to cut yourself.
3. About 1-2 inches from the bottom of the bottle, make holes for the perch. Insert stick and make holes bigger, if needed.
4. Cut holes above the perch for the birds to get the seeds. Holes should be slightly bigger than the seeds.
5. Tie teether or rop
Checking the condition of your bird seed 2007-10-23 22:21:48 When providing seed for wild birds, it is important to regularly check the condition of your seed. Even if you have a feeder designed to protect the seed from the effects of wind and rain, nothing is guaranteed to work in all conditions. Wind, rain and dew can all bring moisture into a feeder, causing the seed to either sprout or mold. In The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible, author Sally Roth mentions that moldy seed is not really a health concern for wild birds. Unlike a caged bird who has no choice in what seed to eat, a wild bird will simply choose to forage elsewhere. When your birds forage elsewhere, however, you do not get to see them in your yard which is the whole point of providing the seed in the first place.
No feeder is immune to this problem. During a recent trip to the Hitchcock Nature Center in Iowa, we found this feeder which had obviously been neglected for a little while at least.
To keep this from happening to your feeders, take a moment to check the condit
Seasonal decorating is for the birds 2007-10-22 06:03:35 Seasonal decorating this time of year generally includes a number of items related to the harvest: sheaves of wheat, pumpkins, gourds, bails of straw and Indian corn are all popular. Because harvest time is well represented by just about anything that can be harvested, it is relatively easy to create decorations which will please both human and avian visitors to your yard.
Millet sprays.
These may be hung in small groupings on a fence, on a door or anywhere else they are visible and accessible to birds. They have the same general visual effect as hanging sheaves of wheat, but more of our native songbirds will seek out millet than wheat. They can also be woven into a wreath. The millet is knocked off the spray pretty easily so one of the best places to make your wreaths is over the ground feeder.
Indian Corn.
This seasonal favorite is also a favorite of squirrels. In fact, I noticed several places where homeowners were complaining about the squirrels eating their Indian corn decor
Feeder Notes, October 15-21 2007-10-21 16:26:19 The birds are showing every sign that winter is on its way. We have seen our first red-breasted nuthatches which, from my understanding, are only occasional visitors to my area. Others have reported increased numbers of these feisty little birds. I cannot believe how tame they seem. Yesterday, we had three in the yard at once. While filling the feeders, they darted in and out of the feeding station, collecting the black oil sunflower seeds and returning to the pine tree to crack them open. They seemed completely oblivious to my presence, landing just two feet from where I was standing. I wondered at the likelihood of one taking a seed from my hand.
Two days after hearing rumors that the juncos had arrived, I caught sight of our first junco of the season. My daughter claimed there was one at the bird bath but it was gone before I got there. Twenty minutes later, I startled one by the bath. Hopefully we will soon have small flocks of them gleaning seeds from under the feeders. Read more:Notes
, October
The childhood of John James Audubon 2007-10-24 23:26:33 Lieutenant Jean Audubon introduced his son, John James
Audubon, to an early love of nature and especially of birds. He brought back specimens from his voyages, calling special attention to their behavior, their form and their seasonal habits. As Audubon writes in his journal, “He excited me to make me study them.”
When Audubon began school, he was perpetually truant, preferring answering the call of the open field rather than his school master. He returned home with his school basket filled with birds’ nests, birds’ eggs, lichens, flowers and pebbles. His father was much pleased with his son’s curiosity and collections…until he found out what work had been neglected to obtain his specimens.
Yet as a child, he began drawing the birds of France, collecting around 200. Disappointed with the products, he went to his father who gave him a book of illustration.
Although the pages were not what I longed for, they gave me a desire to copy Nature. To
House Finch Eye Disease 2007-10-28 20:50:12 After posting the identification practice with a house finch that had an eye disease, the bird returned. This time, I had two house finches on the platform. I got the camera to be able to compare the two and turned out with something more interesting. It seems I know have two house finches infected with HouseFinch
Conjunctivitis:
This disease first appeared in wild bird populations in the winter of 1993-94 among house finches on the East Coast. It has since spread rapidly. Although the disease does affect some other species, this is rare. Why it is so prevalent among house finches is unknown, but some speculate it is due to the lack of genetic diversity among house finches in the Eastern Region.
It is characterized by red, swollen or puffy eyes which produce mucous. It can also affect the upper respiratory system. Some birds do survive to become healthy again, but since it effects their vision, it seriously compromises their survival. As the disease progresses, they can becom
Our home made “suet” 2007-11-08 22:28:28 Suet is a much loved treat for insect eating birds. It provides them with the protein they need and helps insect eating birds such as woodpeckers through the winter when insects are scarce. Suet is actually the fat from around the kidney and can be served as is (although it will turn rancid) or rendered. You can also purchase it in pre-made blocks or plugs which will frequently be flavored and mixed with fruits, seeds and nuts.
You can also make your own suet substitute. Here is the basic recipe we use:
1 cup peanut butter (The cheaper the better. Cheaper peanut butters have higher oil contents.)
1 cup shortening or lard.
1 cup whole wheat flour.
1 cup whole oats
2 cups mixed fruits, nuts and seeds (approximate)
For the fruit mixture, I dice raisins, nuts, coconut, and frozen or dried apple pieces together with some mixed birdseed. Feel free to substitute what you have on hand.
Stir this all together until it is the consistency of a really stiff cookie dough. It should stick t
Providing water in winter, on a budget 2007-11-07 03:11:54 Night time temperatures have been dipping a bit in my area of the country, leaving an icy reminder of the coming winter
on the edges of my bird bath. Water will soon become a much coveted resource as available sources begin to freeze. Before we got our bird bath heater, I would watch the Robins peck holes in the ice to get to the water
underneath. When they were finished, the finches and sparrows would flock to the free water to drink and bathe. After we purchased the heater, we had a small flock of Eastern Bluebirds hang out in the yard for a few days in December as they were getting ready to migrate.
Birds need water as much in the winter as they do in the heat of summer. Temperatures may be cooler, but their ability to stay warm is dependent on clean feathers. Since most shallow water freezes, there is almost no water available. Many birds will eat snow to remain hydrated, but this cools their bodies.
There are a variety of bird bath heaters which will keep your bath free o Read more:budget
6 ways to offer suet to your birds 2007-11-12 08:35:46 There are a number of specialty suet feeders on the market which make feeding your birds suet very convenient, especially if you purchase it. There are rectangular cages to drop in suet cakes and wooden tubes to insert suet plugs into. Some are quite decorative and others are very plain.
This is not a necessary purchase, however, if you want to offer suet to your birds. These also work for homemade suet substitutes like the recipe I shared last week.
1. Smear it right on a tree. Many of the birds which are attracted by suet are woodpeckers and they naturally spend a great deal of time searching under pieces of bark looking for hiding insects.
2. Drill a hole in a large branch or small log. Fill this with suet. If you drill the whole one inch in diameter, you will also be able to use commercially prepared suet plugs.
3. Put some in a used mesh bag. After eating all your oranges, onions, etc., wash the mesh bag in warm soapy water, rinse and fill with suet. This is great for
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