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 self-planted garden 2007-07-27 00:19:03 Whether pro or con is a matter of personal preference, but one side effect of putting out so much seed for birds is the inevitability of some of it germinating in your garden. This spring, our little feeding station was completely overtaken by sunflowers…and two corn stalks. I happen to love sunflowers, so I was quite happy. Our attempt at planting a “wildflower in a box” did not work out very well, and most of the area had been overtaken by dandelions and thistle anyway.
Last week, my children dissected a sunflower which was very interesting. We discovered an entire microcosm on the head of the plant. Numerous tiny insects were crawling over it, and one had burrowed into the stem. We saw the developing seeds and wondered how long it would be until they matured.
That question seems to have been answered. Our garden was full of American goldfinches today, busily combing over the sunflowers, looking for seeds. I wasn’t able to get a good picture because
A beautiful day, enjoying our backyard 2007-07-26 03:07:55 This afternoon, I nursed the baby under a tree while my other children searched over the sunflowers growing under the feeders for insects. The birds would not come to the feeders with so much activity, but they gathered in the trees, waiting for us to leave. I love these times. Although we do not get to see the birds very well, the yard is filled with their song. Whether it is the harsh “twack” of the red-headed woodpecker, the soft gurgle of the brown-headed cowbird or the melodious whistle of the cardinal, each brings its own special instrument to the symphony of our backyard
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I am just beginning to learn the songs of the less shy of our feeder birds, but hope to learn more. One of the resources we found at our local library was Birding by Ear, a CD with a collection of bird songs to help you learn to identify birds by their song. My children love going to sleep with it playing in the background, but I am yet to use it to systematically learn the calls of our local
Identification practice: the importance of behavior 2007-07-24 22:57:38 Nothing is quite so exciting in bird feeding as discovering a new visitor, especially if you are not sure what kind of bird it is. Today, we were lucky enough to attract this beautie:
As discussed in my first practice, I resisted the urge to immediately run for the bird guide, and began to take mental notes on what I saw. The appearance of the bird did not give me very many clues in this case.
Size: About the size of a blue jay
Color: Black with distinctive white patch on rump with black stripes. The head is more brownish. White underside with light streaking.
Beak: Seems large for the bird, like a jay or woodpecker. All black.
Behavior: The bird flew in and landed on the large branch outside the window. It seemed tame and curious. When my daughter ran in asking what kind of bird I saw, the other birds at the feeder flew off but this one stayed. It hopped up the branch like a woodpecker, watching the feeders closely. A red-headed woodpecker arrived shortly afterwards. Read more:Identification
Raptors on the rise, protecting your feeder birds 2007-07-24 01:38:32 Raptors are making a come back in some urban environments. Such large birds of prey generally require large open spaces for their hunting, and are among the first birds affected by urban sprawl. Some seem to be adapting, however.
“It’s a very positive development for conservation and mankind,” said Daniel E. Varland, co-editor of the book Raptors in Human Landscapes. Varland lists peregrine falcons, red-tailed hawks, osprey and Cooper’s hawks as among those birds of prey that are surviving in cities. In some parts of the country, he said, small falcons called merlins have moved into urban areas. projo.com
I love these magnificent birds. In fact, I often pause in my night time blogging to step out on the porch and listen to the Great Horned owls. Watching the red-tailed hawks hunt in the field is always interesting And one of the most exhilarating moments of our birding hobby was when one swooped down low over our backyard, close enough to see those eyes as they surveyed e
For your finches: Nyjer seed 2007-07-23 09:30:00 Nyjer seed is a popular seed for finch feeders. Our gold finches, house finches and purple finches love it. We offer it in a traditional tube feeder, but it is also available in sort of sock that the birds can hang from while they eat. House sparrows will also eat this seed, but there are ways to discourage this, which I will discuss later.
Nyjer is frequently referred to as thistle seed, but the two plants are not related. While finches do love thistle, and use the down to line their nests, they actually seem to prefer Nyjer when it is available. It has a high oil content which is important for wild birds.
This seed actually is imported from Egypt and thus has been heat sterilized. It is unlikely that this seed will sprout because of the heat sterilization, but seeds do occasionally survive the process. If you find one of the lovely little yellow flowers in your garden, you should remove it immediately. They can be quite prolific and you do not want to introduce a non-native s
Feeder notes: July 8-20 2007-07-20 02:57:27 It has been an eventful week in bird feeding. We were forced to bring all of our bird seed back inside because of the raccoons. With that gone, they figured out how to get the dog food container open. Unfortunately, it also rained, turning all of it to mush.
We also cleaned our feeders, prompted in part by the decision to post about the importance of cleaning feeders. I am not very good at cleaning on a regular monthly schedule and have decided I had better begin actually scheduling this monthly chore. Otherwise I put it off.
We allowed our ground feeder to go empty for a few days to see if that would help some of the sparrows and grackles disperse for awhile. It seems to have worked for the moment and we have more house finches than ever. Unfortunately, we suddenly have starlings. They came over the winter and mobbed the bird bath, but this is the first time they have eaten at our feeders. They predominantly are interested in the suet. After it is empty, I am not going to re
Keeping your bird feeders safe 2007-07-19 10:27:27 Bird feeders are a wonderful way to attract a variety of birds to a yard. We all enjoy the color, sound and life this hobby brings to our yards. But can it be detrimental to the birds? If you do not clean your feeders regularly, they can become a means for spreading avian diseases. In order to limit the spread of disease at your feeders, consider the following:
1. Feeders should be cleaned once per month, year round.
2. Use a mild bleach solution to clean all of your feeders, one part bleach to nine parts water. Immerse the feeder completely for three minutes and allow to dry.
3. Clean up droppings regularly.
4. Change the water from your bird baths regularly, and clean it as necessary.
5. Provide space. Multiple feeders and perches for waiting birds brings a greater diversity of birds. It also allows them space to limit transmission of disease.
6. Clean up excess seed, especially when it is wet. Damp seed molds. Check your feeders after a rain to make sure the seed is d
Caught on camera 2007-07-17 23:47:37 Last week, I wrote about an elusive pest which was responsible for the loss of over ten pounds of sunflower seed in a single night. “Bandit,” however, is not a he, but a she. And she has quadruplets.
She may be adorable, but we cannot afford to feed her growing family. For the moment, we have brought the seed inside.
backyard birding, birding, raccoons, birdwatching
Read more:Caught
The lazy days of summer: important to your health 2007-07-16 22:27:28 A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” James Dent
The last time my husband went to the wild bird store to get seed, he picked up a little surprise for me. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Through poetry, interviews and research citations, he presents a powerful argument for allowing children some time to simply explore nature on their own terms. He demonstrates the psychological, emotional and physical benefits of time spent outdoors in unstructured play.
As a child, I owned our neighborhood. I knew everyone in the neighborhood, knew all the pets by name and had several “secret” hideouts. The other children in the neighborhood and I filled our lazy days of summer building forts, exploring the creek that ran through the neighboring edition and riding our bikes. One year, we startled a bird on her nest. She took off running, faking an injury. We went to the tuft of grass
Going on a Bird Walk 2007-07-16 05:46:07 I try not to post things which are too regional in nature, but since i have written a little about urban birding, I thought this was interesting: Bird Walk in Central Park. New York City is not a place I would naturally think of to go birdwatching. Pigeonwatching, maybe. But even in the most urban environments, many species have found a way to adapt and even thrive. Even some raptors, such as the American kestrel, have made cities their home.
Wherever you are in the country, it is worth checking with your local nature centers or birding societies to see what events are planned. These make wonderful day trips for a family and you can learn more about the birds in your own area and what they are up to when not at your feeders.
Last year, we had the opporunity to attend an event sponsored by a local nature center. A local birder was there answering questions and his enthusiasm for the subject was infectious. I learned a lot about our native sparrows, and he held the ateention of m Read more:Going
What to do when a bird falls from the nest 2007-07-29 23:06:54 It is not uncommon to find a young bird that has fallen from its nest. In fact, I remember it as an exciting opportunity to get a closer look at the wildlife around our home. Like many children, we took the birds home, tried our best to raise them, and discovered just how attentive parent birds must be to their nestlings when we struggled to keep them fed. But what should you do if you find a baby bird out of the nest?
Chances are, the best bet is to do nothing at all. The mother bird is likely close by, watching her young bird. If it has developed feathers, it is likely a fledgling just learning to fly. Fledglings often struggle with early flight and fall from the nest. Parents stay nearby, continue to feed the baby bird and often do their best to ward off predators. Observe from a distance, keep dogs, cats and children away, and you likely will see the parent shortly. It won’t be very long until the bird finds its wings and flies.
If the bird does not yet have feathers
Product review: Squirrel Logs 2007-08-01 01:33:19 To appease our squirrels, we have a homemade squirrel feeder consisting of a board with two large screws in it. This is nailed to the tree where they nest. Ears of corn slide neatly onto the screw and it is fun to watch the squirrels hang out on the feeder, defend it from one another and occasionally take time to actually eat from it. The blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers also love the corn.
To save a little on corn, we decided to try out a Squirrel
Log, which promised to be the equivalent of 12-24 ears of corn. They slid onto the screws in the feeder nicely. It took a few days for the squirrels to sample it, but they seem to like it just as well as the regular corn cobs. The blue jays haven’t touched it, but the red-bellied woodpecker still frequents the squirrel feeder. And our white-breasted nuthatch has returned! I haven’t seen it since Spring began and now it visits the squirrel feeder daily.
The only difficulty we have had is that the squirrels tend to eat Read more:review
Back to the drawing board, any ideas on resisting squirrels? 2007-07-31 09:13:33 After it was becoming clear that our (four!) squirrels were eating the majority of the sunflower seed we were putting in our hopper feeder, we purchased an Opus Top Flight Fortress Bird Feeder. It holds five pounds of seeds and has a wire cage around the seed tube, allowing smaller birds to insert their heads, but blocking larger birds.
Our woodpeckers have no difficulties feeding from it, which is good, and one persistent jay seems to have worked out how to get to the seed. The grackles have not bothered trying, so far as I have seen.
But the squirrel, too, has figured it out. It hangs upside down from the top wire, inserts its little paw through the cage into the feeding tube and extracts a seed. He then munches it while hanging upside down and tries again. For the moment, we are thinking of rubbing Vaseline all over the pole to make it slippery. This is a young squirrel, and he seems to have a lot more trouble climbing the small pole than his mother did. Of course, that will Read more:drawing
, ideas
Feeder Notes: July 28 - August 2 2007-08-03 01:04:28 We have had a bit of excitement at our feeders with the regular attendance of a family of blue jays. Their raucous youngster delights in its loud calls, and demands its parents continual attention. They dutifully bring their youngster seed after seed, despite the fact that it is sitting in the middle of the ground feeder, surrounded by seed!
A little catbird recently made an appearance. They are delightful birds. I spent some time playing with one in the woods when I was younger. I would call, and it would answer with its imitation. This one we merely watched from the picture window as it hopped about the base of the sunflowers.
A little house wren has also begun frequenting our little garden under the feeders. It is full of insects for it to hunt. It is quick, but not at all shy, making it a delight to watch. I have not been able to get a good picture through the window, yet.
The red-headed woodpecker and its fledgling have also made a few return visits. I am looking forwa Read more:Notes
, August
Species profile: the house wren 2007-08-02 09:35:57 We had a new visitor to our feeders this week, and it has been coming regularly: a little house wren. These are not really feeder birds since they are insectivores, but they are quite a common site to backyards in North America. Our little house wren is looking through the forest of sunflowers for insects. Wrens are cavity nesters, and are very easy to attract to nest boxes. If you would like to set up a nest box for local birds, this is a good species to begin with. Your chances of success are great, and since the house wren is so small, a small hole is all that is needed to keep out sparrows and starlings.
House wrens will investigate several likely cavities before selecting the nesting site, and will defend them all. They often will pierce the eggs of other species in nest boxes and either take over the nest box, or nest nearby. The male adds sticks to the cavity for the nest and then attracts the female who makes the nest cup and lining. I found it interesting that young m Read more:profile
National Wildlife Federation Certification 2007-08-06 21:43:12 The fifth edition of Learning in the Great Outdoors is up. One entry that caught my attention was My Backyard Wildlife Habitat. Tiffany takes a look at getting her yard certified as a Wildlife Habitat from the National
Wildlife Foundation. She even shares a slide show of her habitat. To be qualified you need several things in your yard. I’ll highlight what is in our habitat:
* Food Sources. For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
* Water Sources. For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
* Places for Cover. For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse (shrubs, woodpile)
* Places to Raise Young. For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
* Sustainable Gardening. For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
If you are interested, check out the National Wildlife Federation
’s website and get started. There is a $15 registration fee, but there are other benefits besides the plaque to h Read more:Certification
451 Pess is having a contest! 2007-08-06 09:47:37 451 Press is having contest!
What would you buy with $300? Or even $200 or $100? Now is your chance to find out! Comment on any 451 Press site during the month of August and you could win! Three comments will be chosen at random to win a cash prize of $300, $200 or $100. The more you comment the more chances you have to win. So start reading and let those fingers fly.
You could visit some of the other blogs and talk about Lindsay Lohan, or politics or even parenting toddlers. But why would you do that when you can talk about goldfinches, bird seed and cleaning bird baths?
Here is a topic to get you started:
Would you ever consider aggressive measures to control house sparrows such as trapping?
Feeder Notes, August 4-9 2007-08-09 21:56:12 “Mom! Mom! There’s a bird stuck under the fence!”
The children burst into the house to solicit my help in an avian rescue. Trying to figure out how a bird could possibly be stuck under a fence, I followed them out.
Sure enough, there were little brown tail feathers poking out from under the privacy fence.
“Are you sure it is alive?” I asked.
“Yes!” my daughter said. “It was moving.”
Doubtful, I walked around to the other side of the fence. His body was pressed against the ground with wings spread slightly. He was completely motionless but clearly alive. I reached slowly toward it and it darted out from the small depression it was nestled in and under another board.
I smiled and brought the children inside to give it some peace. It was a fledgling house finch. Although it hadn’t yet learned to fly, it had obviously learned to take cover and our fence was providing some much needed cover from boisterous children.
back Read more:Notes
, August
The platform feeder 2007-08-16 02:51:49 We have a Heath Multi-Purpose Platform Feeder, made of redwood which has been one of my favorite feeders. That may not be a very meaningful statement coming from me, however. I love all my feeders. Let’s say it was a surprise to me just how much I would like it. It got added to my wish list after reading several books on bird feeding, although I had never previously seen much use for one. What does it offer that is not offered by the hopper feeder and the ground feeder?
I may not see much of a difference, but the birds certainly do! Ours has a large screw in the middle of the feeder to hold a corn cob. The squirrels do not pay very much attention to this obvious ploy to fill their tummies with something besides sunflower seeds. Blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers, however, seem to love it. When the orioles first arrived, I tried placing orange slices on the screw, but this did not appear to be successful. The male oriole seemed to prefer to eat sunflower seeds off the
Suet feeders 2007-08-15 02:13:00 There are a wide range of suet feeders on the market, some merely functional, others decorative as well. The one pictured here is our favorite for the obvious reason that it is home made. My husband and the children spent some time going through our woodpile looking for promising branches large enough to drill a large hole through. The hole is one inch in diameter in order to accommodate commercially prepared suet plugs.
Our homemade suet feeder has attracted a variety of birds, including:
1. nuthatches
2. downy woodpeckers
3. hairy woodpeckers
4. red-headed woodpeckers
5. red-bellied woodpeckers
6. orioles
7. northern flickers
8. one hummingbird
I think the hummingbird was inspecting the suet feeder for insects, or perhaps it was just curious. It actually chased off a downy woodpecker in order to investigate further.
We have tried a variety of types of suet in the feeder, including my homemade imitation suet, commercial suet plugs and even suet cakes. We just cut the cake
Our feeding station 2007-08-14 09:19:22 I thought I’d take a moment to share our feeding station. You can see I am not much of a gardener! This area is now full of sunflowers, but it has been too dark and rainy recently to get another good picture.
We have two more suet feeders and a squirrel feeder in other areas of the yard, but this is where most of the birds come. The various feeders are not real clear in the picture, but over the next week, I’ll share some close ups of each feeder and talk about the birds they attract, and the advantages and disadvantages of each feeder.
Just off to the left is a large bush where the birds dart for cover or wait for their turn at the feeders. In the winter, we hang extra suet in it and the nuthatches love it. There is also a large pine tree that fills with goldfinches just before they descend, squabbling to the feeders. The backyard can get pretty loud when a flock arrives! After coming in only very small groups all summer, we are now getting larger groups, again. W
How to clean your birdbath 2007-08-13 08:42:48 Perhaps even more important than cleaning your feeders to your birds health is regularly cleaning the birdbath. As I was preparing to write this, I was surprised at how much conflicting advice is out there for maintaining a clean and healthy birdbath, so I will stick to the advice given us by the kind people down at our wildlife habitat store.
It is important to note why birdbaths get so disgusting so quickly. The water is warm, shallow, still and deprived of oxygen. These conditions are perfect for the growth of algae and bacteria which are naturally floating in the air all the time. They can also be introduced by the bird droppings. Once they take home, the water in your bath turns stagnant quickly, becoming a health hazard for your birds.
Changing these conditions can slow the growth and keep it more manageable. As tempting as it may be, however, never add detergents, bleach or other additives to the water. Even chemicals safe for an aquarium may not be safe for birds.
The
Backyard birding story problem 2007-08-20 09:16:13 Backyard birding math, from Journey North:
Last time you read Be Mine! Robins and Their Mates. We said that one scientific study showed that about 75% of all fledgling robins die before November their first year. Of those that survive that long, about half die before the next November. About half of all 2-year-old robins die each year, and about half of all robins of every other age die each year, too. If this is true, what’s the answer to…
Challenge Question #9:
“If 200 robins were fledged in a town one year, how many of the fledglings would be alive in November? How many would be alive the following November? How many would be alive the November after that? How many years would it be before all these fledglings had probably died?”
The numbers in the study surprised me. No wonder robins generally raise two broods every year. Then one bird might survive the winter!
Don’t forget the comment contest going on for the month of August here at 451 Press. Ever Read more:story
Backyard birders with an exciting find 2007-08-23 07:12:23 Backyard birding is an exciting
hobby for a variety of reasons. The color, the sounds, the pleasure of new friends and old acquaintances and the bit of wildlife in your own backyard are all important factors. But the dream of every birder, whether they travel the world or merely watch from their patio window, is to discover the unusual. When rare birds appear in an area, whether endangered or just out of range, the backyard birder rejoices. It is shared in forums. If you look, you will probably even find a rare bird alert that will notify you of these events in your area. And birders from around the state will travel to see the rare or unusual bird.
Wanda and John Darby have had just this kind of experience in their own backyard in Boone County Missouri. Their backyard feeding hobby sounds similar to mine: an average pair of binoculars, a digital camera and several feeders, although nothing too elaborate.
The Darbys have a pair of bluebird houses at the rear of the yard, three
Attracting hummingbirds 2007-08-22 06:00:03 Hummingbirds are a favorite of many backyard birders. They are fascinating to watch as they flit about, searching for nectar and insects, and as they hover over a flower or feeder. Surprisingly tame, they will often approach you if you are wearing brightly colored clothing and seem unconcerned about your Hummingbirds are a favorite of many backyard birders. They are fascinating to watch as they flit about, searching for nectar and insects, and as they hover over a flower or feeder. Surprisingly tame, they will often approach you if you are wearing brightly colored clothing and seem unconcerned about your presence as they expend their energy trying to keep the competition out of their territory. If you are quiet, you may even hear their quick, aggravated chirp as they aggressively pursue each other.
Here in Eastern Nebraska, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummer we see and then typically only during migration. But it is worth planting some nectar producing flowers and p
Backyard birding participates in the Carnival of Homeschooling 2007-08-22 01:13:15 As I have noted before, I occasionally submit posts to a variety of carnivals. A carnival is a sort of blog magazine, with links to entries from several authors on a common theme. I submitted my post on getting your yard NWF certified to this week’s Carnival
of Homeschooling
, because I thought some families might be interested in pursuing this as an educational opportunity for their children. If you have children (or are just curious about homeschooling), the Carnival of Homeschooling is an interesting carnival to browse.
Identification practice, small but important details 2007-08-21 06:00:42 Deb from Let a Woman Learn sent me this photograph of a bird her family found on their porch, wondering what it was:
She mentioned that she thought it was a robin at first, but the markings led her to believe it was maybe a thrush or a thrasher.
When you have a dead bird, the general rule to take notes before reaching for the bird guide is not relevant. You have plenty of time to refer to multiple entries and even search online for the bird that best matches the one you have found. Remember that there can be quite a bit of variation between individuals within a species and when you throw seasonal plumage and differing life stages, even the best bird guides may leave you without a certain identification. For the practice, here is the process I go through when identifying a bird: (more…)
Read more:Identification
, details
How backyard birding is changing 2007-08-27 07:00:34 The BirdWatcher’s Digest has an interesting article on how backyard
birding has changed in the last twenty years. I set up my first feeder fifteen years ago, a standard hopper feeder with cheap, mixed seed. I attracted a ton of sparrows, some blue jays and an occasional cardinal. I remember how excited I was when I finally was able to tell the difference between a male and a female house sparrow. And how the trees filled with birds when I got home from school because that is when I filled the feeder. I think we were the only people in the neighborhood feeding birds. I read in a book about how suet could attract titmice and chickadees, but I did not know where to get suet.
Now I am presented with a wide array of feeders and feed selections at WalMart. We even have two specialty shops devoted to the hobby. Suet is readily available in cakes or logs to be dispensed in feeders designed just for suet. I even have a recipe for an imitation suet to offer in the winter. Severa
Feeder notes, August 18-22 2007-08-24 07:00:05 Since we were leaving for Denver, we decided to let the feeders go slowly go empty. Every time I go out into my daughter’s room or walk by my bedroom window, I peak outside out of habit. But there is nothing there. The sparrows lingered the longest, checking each feeder for left over seed. They even hopped up to the back porch to see if any was spilled near the door. They investigated, chirped in dismay and left. Our neighbor’s feeder seems a little busier recently, so our house finches and goldfinches are well-cared for at least.
The yard seems so quiet now when I step outside. I am used to being greeted by the incessant chatter of birds squabbling in the treetops. I am learning to identify them by their calls, so I know who is talking even as they remain invisible to me. It is a cheerful sound, and has always added quite a bit to the enjoyment of our backyard.
I cannot wait until we get back, set up our feeders again, and can listen to our birds. I miss their Read more:August
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