Archive for June, 2009
Chickadees Are So Cute
I suppose that I am one of many who consider the Black-Capped Chickadee CUTE. They have this tiny little body, stubby short neck and oversized head and what fun they are to watch.
I was delighted when they took over one of my bird houses this year. I have always enjoyed the wrens who usually occupy the house, but I must say that I have enjoyed the change. When I hung a small little bird feeder this spring and filled it with peanuts, they were the first to find it. On a windy day, they don’t even seem to mind that the little peanut feeder is blowing and waving in the wind.
They seem to have a natural curiosity about everything, including me. I have to laugh when they just watch me when I am sitting on the patio. They are frequent bathers and I find them frolicking in the birdbath several times a day.
My patio is surrounded with small flowering bushes. I would love to know the name of the game when a group of them are jumping in and out of the potentillas and spireas. It is so much fun to watch as they are so acrobatic, and yes, so small and cute!
Cleaning Up After The Storm
“Poor indeed is the garden in which birds find no homes”. Abram L. Urban
Last evening brought a huge storm to our area. We had winds, and copious amounts of rain and hail - it wasn’t a twister. They are calling it a flat line windstorm. I will admit that I have never heard of one, but I can tell you, without a doubt that I hope never to be anywhere near another one. The electric and cable was out all night and into this morning, so I missed being here.
We spent the day cleaning up the yard. We were extremely fortunate not to have sustained any major damage. Our neighbors were not quite as fortunate. I lost a large number of my Purple Cone Flowers when they were ripped right out of the ground, a Rhododendron bush which is gone - roots and all, and my biggest loss was my Finch Bird Feeder, which we never did find. Watching the Goldfinches at that thistle feeder is one of my favorite passtimes, so it had to be replaced - and of course it has been and is covered with my Golden feathered friends as I write this.
So many plants in the gardens had taking a real beating, and during our clean-up efforts we found several bird nests that were thrown from their hiding places during the storm. The robin’s nest was in our neighbor’s yard. The sparrow’s nest was at the other end of the garden. All in all we found 4 of them, and I become more and more grateful as the day went on for 2 things.
First, that their breeding is complete, and if they are going to have a second or third family, then they will build new nests. For now, they are all out of the nest and aflutter about the yard. The second thing I am grateful for is that I have such a rich garden, and that so many birds and their families found my humble abode, my bushes and grounds and gardens suitable for their most important role of their feathered lives. Abraham L. Urban was so right when he said,
“Poor indeed is the garden in which birds find no homes”.
Outsmarting the Squirrels
There’s little doubt that people who have tried to feed birds in their backyard have ended up, on more than one occasion, simply feeding the squirrels. This has driven many frustrated bird lovers to invest in squirrel proof bird feeders. But even with these devices, those tenacious and persistent squirrels can still end up draining your feeder of seed. That’s why it’s important to combine the specialized feeder with some common sense tips.
For one, always make sure your squirrel proof feeders are placed in an area that is either limited on squirrels or difficult for squirrels to reach. You also want to make sure that you carefully select your birdseed. Many combinations are particularly tasty to squirrels, while others are less desirable. To that end, choose something like safflower seed. Birds often go crazy for this meal, but squirrels are less thrilled. In a similar vein, you can also feature thistle or suet cakes. This combination of tactics and equipment will go miles to deterring your pesky neighborhood menaces.
Let Your Garden Help You Feed Them
Bird Feeders are great, and I have to admit the delight I get at seeing the birds eagerly gather at the bird feeders every time I fill them. But you can grow a garden full of plants that will bloom and produce fruit, seeds or nuts that attract more and more birds to your backyard habitat. Add the plants to your bird houses and feeders and your bird bath and your back yard will be a true habitat for the birds.
When choosing the plants, you should choose plants that are native to your region. Checking with your nursery or your government agricultural agence, will help you decide which plants will be the best for you to grow depending on where you live. The are lots of perennials and vines, shrubs, trees and grass that will provide food for your backyard birds.
Here is a list of some of the most common to most areas of the country
Perennials - these provide some fruit, seeds and nectar
- Coneflowers provide seed
- Fireweed provides nectar
- Helianthus seeds are another favorite
- Phlox has a wonderful nectar
- Strawberries - birds love fruit
- Sunflowers provide seeds
- Black-Eyed Susans - more seeds
- Blazing Star - seeds again
- Common Evening Primrose - and again seeds
Shrubs and trees - most provide fruits and berries:
- Crabapple: fruit, flowers and seeds attract a large variety of birds
- Dogwood: the red fruits that grow in the late summmer will provide fruit until fall
- Mulberry: July and August berries are a real treat
- Serviceberry: fruit appears in summer
- Viburnum: these hardy plants produce red, yellow, black and blue berry
- American Elderberry: midsummer fruit is sweet and juicy
- Black Cherry: more fruit
- Chokecherry: even more fruit
- Northern Bayberry: bring on the bluebirds, catbirds and tree swallows with the berries
- Raspberry: yummy for the birds, just watch out for the flight paths, it stains!!
Grasses - all of these will produce seeds
- Prairie Dropseed
- Buffalograss
- Little Bluestem
- Big Bluestem
- Gama Grass
Discouraging the Undesirables
Now, what in the world do I mean by that? I consider my back yard habitat as very simple and yet, I offer a well rounded feeding selection. I have a platform bird feeder, a thistle bird feeder, a seed tube bird feeder, a suet feeder, a caged tube feeder and a tube bird feeder for peanuts. I have several Hummingbird Feeders and of course, a bird bath (make that 2).
I recently noticed that the seed tube feeder was being overrun by Red-wing blackbirds and Grackles. (the “Undesirables”) They would show up again and again in large numbers and contort themselves to see if they could get into the feeder for the seed. They also terrorize the smaller birds and keep them away from what is really theirs.
I have learned that using the tube bird feeder is indeed the right type of feeder. However, I also learned that by filling it with a seed mixture, I was really inviting the undesirables. I switched the seed in the tube feeder to black oiled sunflower seed, and the Grackles and Red Windged Blackbirds have almost totally disappeared. I only fill the caged tube feeder with the mixture and it doe not allow the larger birds access.
Wowee - the Cardinals sure love the Safflower seed!
Birds Chorale
I watch and feed the birds for many reasons. For me it provides solace and peace. Watching them build their nests and have their families gives me insight. It is not only educational, but enjoyable. Watching them splash in the bird baths, and sit on the fence to dry brings a smile. Watching them at their bird feeders, sometimes sparring for the same perch, is comical and gives me satifaction. Bird Watching can be an education. It can relieve stress and make you forget for a time, or it can be an inspiration that can provide memories for years to come.
Please enjoy this inspirational article that was written for me by my dear friend Alain Dequire. And, thank you Alain, for sharing your inspirational story with Bird Essentials Blog.
Birds Chorale
This article was especially written for my wondrous friend Judy and the Bird Essentials Blog. I share a little of my own experience and perspective concerning Bird Watching.
Bird Watching is a very enchanting activity for most people. We get to learn about a great variety of species and observe so much beauty that it adds bells and whistles to our daily routines.
Bird Watching is the easiest way for people to get into contact with Nature. There is great diversity among bird species, all adapted to distinct habitats. This allows observing various species of birds subject to the environment in which we find ourselves in the moment. So, we do not get to see similar birds being near a city, a marshland, a forest, a mountain or the sea. As other forms of Life, birds are sensing the energy we radiate. Their distinction resides in that they fly… allowing them to get very close or far away in a bat of the eye. The more LOVE emanations they feel, the closer they get… very often creating a mystical encounter. In special occasions, birds from different species combine to create a unique moment and make a wonderful spectacle just for us… sharing back their LOVE!
This is exactly what happened to Judy and her grandson Griffin on that early morning of Saturday June 13, 2009. Countless pretty birds decided to connect with them. This explains why Griffin was so touched by the experience and why, afterwards, the visit to the zoo unconsciously felt so colorless… He was still totally illuminated by this outstanding experience!
When this kind of mystical experience happens, we often times have a really hard time believing they are all there for us… showing so much LOVE! It blows our mind away!
I still remember the first time it happened to me…
On a Saturday morning, NO, it doesn’t happen just on Saturday mornings 
… about 10 people were meeting in a forest clearing to do Tai Chi. During time off, I walked away from the group following a trail in the forest. Unexpectedly, birds started flying around me while singing their melodious songs. So many bird species were present, some rarest than others, that I could not remember them all to list here. Among others were Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jays, Black-Capped Chickadees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, American Robins, Dark-Eyed Juncos and some Warbler species. In this unique moment, all circling around me and singing in such a harmonious way as if a choir of birds was performing a show just for me. Not realizing or, better said, not accepting that this marvellous exhibition was just for me, I ran back the trail to get others and bring them back to witness. But, guess what… when we got back to the magical spot, there was not a single bird left. In that moment, I realized my mistake! They were present and performed their LOVE anthem just for me… and, nobody else… in that specific moment. What a great lesson from the Universe I had just learned.
In essence, if we ever find ourselves in such a blessed occurrence, we do not run away. We feel the LOVE that is being shared with us by Nature and, we let it slowly seeks into our Heart and Soul; we enjoy fully and, we say THANK YOU! GRATITUDE is the absolute best way to attract more of these Nature manifestations into our Life.
I wish you all get to experience Birds Chorale!
© Alain Deguire, 2009
Should You Clean Out the Nesting Boxes
My Bluebird fledglings have now left the birdhouse. Yes, I will be cleaning out the nest. There is a high probablility that another family will want to use the box, but it is highly unlikely that they would use the existing nest.
Sometimes we see as many as 3 families during the summer, though 2 is more normal. Once the second or even third family of bluebirds has left the bluebird nesting box, I will clean it out one last time and will fashion a new one from dried grass. This will give winter birds roosting in the box a bit of added insulation.
Baked Eggshells For the Birds
Artline feeder 2571
So, why do you offer your backyard birds eggshells? Birds eat the eggshells for the calcium they provide. During the egg-laying season female birds need to replace calcium lost in egg production. Eggshells are a great source of this important mineral.
Back the eggshells in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes to kill off any bacteria left from the egg residue. The heat kills off any nasty stuff that might make the birds sick.
I place the baked eggshells on the ground under the bird feeders and in a small container near the birdbath. It’s a lot of fun to watch them peck away at them. Surprisingly, they all seem to disappear especially at this time of year.
Does Your Hummingbird Nectar Get Cloudy?
I have been feeding the Hummingbirds for years. The Hummingbird Feeders are always one of my first priorities in the spring. Yesterday, a neighbor stopped by to ask the question, “Why is my hummingbird nectar getting cloudy? Yours never gets that way.” I thought since she needed to know that were others who might like to know as well, so I am sharing the answer I gave her.
The cloudiness in the hummingbird sugar water solution is caused when bacteria builds up. This development is hastened by sunlight shining on the slowly fermenting sugar water. Impurities in the water and the sugar are the beginning of the fungal and bacterial development.
One way to slow the process is to add the sugar to boiling water instead of using lukewarm tap water. Stir in the sugar and wait until the solution comes to another boil before turning off the heat and letting the solution cool to room temperature. Any excess solution should be stored in your refrigerator in a clean plastic container for up to 2 weeks.
The solution should be 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. There are a few other things you can do to help too:
Hanging your feeders in the shade will keep a lot of the sunrays out and slow the bacteria build-up.
Run your birdfeeder through your dishwasher once a week (don’t use the high heat setting if your feeders are made of thin plastic)
Get easy to clean hummingbird feeders. Sometimes the bacteria can hide in the crevices, scratches and hard to reach places
Consider filling your feeders with less solution, enough for a day or two, so the hummer drink it up and it doesn’t have a chance to spoil.
Soak your hummingbird feeders in hot soapy water every time you refill them. Use a feeder cleaning brush or pipe cleaners to get all the gunk out of the feeder ports
I have one hummingbird feeder hanging in the shade. I only have to change the nectar and clean that feeder once a week. The two hummingbird feeders that I have in partial sun need to be cleaned and filled with fresh nectar every 2 or 3 days. I never fill those two feeders full. I hope this helped.
Away With The Terrorists
Much as I love my bird watching hobby, I must admit it has its challenging moments. There are some days when the terrorists eat me out of house and home. Well, not literally, as I have found some solutions.
Who are the terrorists? They are the house sparrows, crows, black birds, grackles,and even sometimes starlings and pigeons. They just barge in and terrorize the pretty songbirds away and eat everything they can get to in a few short minutes.
Now, over the course of the years, I have watched it happen over and over and I am fairlly well protected, but for some reason I still insist on putting out a tube bird feeder that is unprotected and filled with a mix of seeds and sunflower seeds.
Here is what works and keeps the terrorists out. A caged bird feeder is a sure way of keeping them away. You can fill a caged bird feeder with anything you want and the cage around the tube only allows the small birds and pretty songbirds in to feed. NO TERRORISTS THERE! My caged feeders are filled with black oil sunflower seeds and a seed mix laced with fruits.
The Hopper bird feeder is usually filled with Safflower seed. The Cardinals, Nuthatches and Chickadees love it, and the the terrorists don’t and so they really do not bother that either.
There are 2 tube bird feeders out there that have nothing but nyjer seed in them and I will assure you that all of the Finches adore them and they are never scared away. And then there are the two uncaged and a perfect invitation to the terrorists.
So tomorrow I will be removing the two feeders from the yard that invite the terrorists - or I will fell them with one of the foods that will not be an open invitation for them to come around.