Wild Bird BlogNews and observations of a backyard birder.

I am taking time today to share with you some questions that have come up repeatedly  from our customers recently. As summer fades out quickly in Nebraska (it was 48 degrees overnight on Monday! BBRRRR) we have a lot of birds already returning to your feeders – and bringing their babies with them! It is a good time to reevaluate what you are feeding your birds as well as a chance to enjoy the different and changing birds you get coming to your yard. Below are a few of our lastest questions:

All of my cardinals look mangy and diseased lately. Is something going around?

Those aren’t mangy cardinals. They’re cardinal teenagers. These guys don’t get the acne and the braces but they do go through a really awkward looking molting period. For a couple of weeks following summer they will lose their fledgling feathers and grow in their adult coats. A good way to tell if a patchy cardinal is a juvenile is to look at the color of their beak. It will usually be brown still. It may take a while longer for the beak to change to the bright orange color of their parents. This isn’t always the case though, like the example below:

If you give them some time they will be as beautiful as their parents and will share the feeder with them through the winter!

When do the goldfinches leave for the winter?

I get this a lot and the answer is two part.

First, if you live in the continental United States, goldfinches are around all year long. They just might not be the same goldfinches. Goldfinches range all across the US and up into Canada but come winter their range shifts south. Most everyone in the lower 48 will continue to have these guys in their yards while Canada will lose them until spring comes around.

The second part is what really applies to the customers I get here in Bellevue. The bright yellow male that is so eye catching in the spring and summer loses his color and fades to a very sparrow like olive brown for the fall and winter. It helps him blend in during the drab cold months. He can be especially hidden from the people that love to feed him during the summer. Don’t worry they are still around. Here is a shot of one on my Yankee Whipper last December:

Goldfinches are prevalent winter feeders and will amass at any well stocked feeder. Remember they like small seeds like nyjer and finely crushed sunflower hearts.

Why do I need to feed a different bird seed? My birds empty my bird feeder in just a couple days. They must like the bird seed I am giving them.

This question may take a little explaining. We provide a lot of different kinds of bird seed and bird seed mixes at our store but they all serve different purposes and are preferred by different birds. A few of our lower priced mixes have ingredients in them that aren’t as desirable to birds, as say, a bag of black oil sunflower would be. The tricky part for people that love to feed birds is that they see their feeders empty rather quickly and think the birds must really be feasting. Nope. Watch closely. You will see the birds actually kicking and throwing filler seed out of the feeder onto the ground. A quick investigation will show that seed is sitting on the ground waiting to sprout, get eaten by doves, or worse, attracting mice and voles.

I find this often happens to people who want to feed cardinals. I recommend a seed called safflower for them because cardinals eat it up! Other birds that like it include house finches and doves but almost as important are those that hate it: grackles AND squirrels. Safflower isn’t too much more expensive but you will find that even with more birds eating, that it will last longer because they aren’t throwing any out. A good quality seed is worth it in the long run, especially when attracting some backyard favorites like the cardinal, blue jays, nuthatches and chickadees.

I seriously love answering questions about birding and bird feeding. Please leave any questions you have in the comments or shoot me an email at forthewildbirds@gmail.com

Here is the resolution to a strange case I have been reading about out of Bloomington, MN. Craig Brown, avid bird feeder, has settled with authorities to pay $500 in court costs but will have all charges dropped and maintain a clean  record after one year of probation. Charges were brought up after he was repeatedly reported feeding bird feed on the ground by neighbors. By settling he avoided a trial by jury in county court.

The articles about this story have created very heated comment sections filled with “bloated government” this and “personal freedoms that” but the most disconcerting part of this story as a bird lover is one of the last quotes from Mr. Brown:

“ …I have long ago taken all of my feeders down and I am done feeding the birds as long as I live here in Bloomington…“

It is sad to see someone have such a beloved hobby ruined for them. It is ESPECIALLY sad being able to relate to the joy bird feeding brought this man and how he feels he has to stop. I am sure his birds will miss stopping by as much as he does.

Source: Bloomington bird feeder settles his case: One year probation

As we enjoy the last week before Labor Day, and the official transition to an autumn mentality, I am saddened at the thought of my Hummingbirds no longer zipping around, the Orioles no longer singing while eating their grape jelly or my Rose-breasted Grosbeaks absent at the safflower feeder. Then I thought, “They aren’t gone yet. In fact there are quite a few more birds coming through my yard then usual as they travel south on their migration routes.”

As September begins we have almost the entire month to take in the spectacle of baby hummingbirds moving south with their mothers. I love how you can tell the adults from the young because they are almost only half as big as their parents! The hummingbird feeder shown below is one of my personal favorites. Everyone I have recommended it to has loved it as well. This photo was taken just this weekend!

Orioles will be fighting at the feeders as they compete for resources. If you are feeding, I recommend putting out 2 or more feeders on either end of your yard or putting some orange halves on fence posts or tree branches to give multiple birds places to eat.

I advise filling up your feeders more diligently then you were during the summer. Fall feeding lets first time migrants know where they can stop for food or maybe even where to nest when the it comes time for the return trip next spring. This is an excellent approach to filling your yard with birds next summer.

It is also important to keep food fresh during this time. Rancid nectar or jelly may actually do more harm than good to birds trying to get south on limited resources.

I must be living under a rock because I had no idea that a major motion picture set around competitive bird watching was on its way to theaters. The Big Year is based on the 1998 book of the same name and features some really big Hollywood players. Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson will portray the male leads and screen legend Anjelica Huston and Rashida Jones will also play roles.

I know I am behind the curve here – info about the film has been circulating the web for nearly 18 months but I am still excited to hear about this and share it with you guys. The silver lining in this situation is that I only have to wait two more months to see it in theaters. The film is scheduled for release October 14th of this year.

Just enough time to read the book beforehand

This weeks Get This In Your Yard features the Goldfinch. Also known as the American Canary, the American Goldfinch is just about the brightest flash of color you can get at your feeder and they often sing a beautiful song  – even in flight! Another plus for this bird is just how easy you can get a whole flock at your feeder!

Goldfinches are social birds that inhabit nearly all of North America year round. Naturally seed eaters, these guys can be found in open fields, the edges of forests and backyards.

Experienced bird feeders will recognize the goldfinch as part of a group known as “clingers.” These birds prefer not to use traditional perches but will cling at all angles to get at their food source. This is an important consideration when choosing feeders for these guys. Other notable clingers are woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches.

These birds naturally eat small seeds so thistle (nyjer) is one of their ultimate favorites. You can also feed them finely crushed sunflower hearts by themselves or with thistle mixed in. Mine love the nyjer and hearts mixed together.

Good feeders for these guys can have specialized perches or spirals running the length of the feeder or have a custom design that only goldfinches would use.

Aspects actually makes a tube feeder with the seed ports below the perch. Goldfinches don’t take issue at all with having to feed upside down and you keep birds such as sparrows and house finches from taking over and forcing the goldies out.

Another great way to feed them is with a thistle sock. Just fill the sock with thistle, hang it and enjoy! Anywhere from 4-12 birds can cling to the sides and feed depending on the length of the sock.

Mesh feeders are a more and more popular way of providing food for goldfinches as well. The fine mesh walls of these feeders both provide a great place to latch onto while feeding but the seed is also held securely in the feeder but easy for the birds to pluck out with their beaks. I included a picture of a Birds Choice mesh feeder below.

Their mating behavior is also a little different from other birds. They prefer to nest in mid to late summer instead of in the spring. This is because they time their young to hatch when the thistle seed is ready to eat. Goldfinches can be found nesting through August. Providing nesting materials in your yard could encourage them to take up residence nearby!

As I said earlier, goldfinches stay in most of their range all year round but a lot of people don’t realize they are still around. The finches actually lose their bright yellow color in the winter and turn a nice shade of olive brown. A lot of people just assume they are sparrows. Goldfinches will actually come to your feeders in much larger numbers in the fall and winter in search of food so its a great time to get large flocks of them!

If you guys have any other good tips for attracting goldfinches please share them in the comments!

Yesterday on The Today Show, Matt Lauer had a close encounter with one of their guests – a scarlet ibis! After taking flight in studio the bird ended up landing right on his head.  Lauer took it in stride, joking that the ibis “mistook me for a turtle.”

This clip from Mediaite captures the insanity.

I am starting the Get This In Your Yard feature with my personal favorite: Woodpeckers. I feed mine all year long and proudly share my spruce tree with 2 pairs of Downy’s and a solitary male Red-Bellied.

As August flies by, summer’s natural abundance will drop off for all of our favorite birds and we prepare for autumn feeding. With their flashes of red, yellow and white, woodpeckers always make a great impression hanging at all angles from your feeders.

Woodpeckers are a wide ranging group that can be found just about all over the world (sorry Australia and Hawaii). Here in North America they can be found in forests, swamps, deserts, and best of all, in your yard.

You can attract these guys using seed feeders you already have. Woodpeckers are clinging birds and really like to perch on the sides of mesh and wooden feeders but they will also hang on regular perches if they see something that looks good. They love black oil , shelled sunflower, all varieties of nuts and even unshelled peanuts. Try putting out pumpkin seeds as well. Your woodpeckers will love you for it!

If there is one thing these guys love, it is suet! You can feed a variety of different suet in pre-made blocks or by mixing it and applying it yourself in hollow feeders or spread on trees. If you are afraid of squirrels getting at it you can buy special suet with cayenne pepper in it. Personally, I have had quite a few customers tell me that squirrels will stay away from the pure suet since there are no tasty nuts or fruit in it. The woodpeckers will still love eating it and it’s a great source of energy during the colder winter months. If you are feeding these guys in warmer states, make sure to get “no-melt” suet that remains solid in temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. C & S Products suet are almost all “no-melt”.

I recommend suet to a lot of our customers right now because of the high seed prices. It is relatively cheap and feeds the birds for quite a while. As an example, I feed my 5 usual woodpeckers plus chickadees, nuthatches and any other guests from 2 suet ball feeders. I can fill those for $6.50 each and have them last easily 4-6 weeks. It is pretty economical considering I have a bird or two on it all day everyday!

Having a lot of mature trees in the neighborhood is a huge plus in getting these guys to your feeders. Woodpeckers will use these trees to drill holes for nesting as well as looking for insect grub during the spring and summer. You can get nesting boxes specially made for woodpeckers as well but they also may appeal to other bird species like screech owls.  You may have to keep guard for unintended residents.

If you are lacking some animated little flyers in your yard or just want to increase the frequency of their visits the above tips should get you results in no time.

“Hmph?!”

 “These ain’t the same as the last time I was in!”

 “Wow…this is unbelievable.”

No, these responses are not about gas prices or the ever ballooning cost of a gallon of milk (although those increases also lead back to our same problem). These frustrations are all real reactions to the price of…bird seed.

Yes. Bird seed. Over the last few years, and especially over the last six months, the price of some of our bird’s favorite foods have reached champagne and caviar prices (I have witnessed our wholesale price of black oil sunflower seed double in the last six months). We have had so many people in the store curious about what’s going on that I had to write this up to explain what’s happening and how this affects birding stores everywhere.

What I didn’t realize before I got into the bird feeding business is that all the crops that end up in our feeders are the same crops that humans and livestock also depend on. Bird feed is a commodity and its prices don’t just stay level and adjust with inflation; they are subject to a roller coaster ride of government regulation, famine, war, and dramatic shifts in climate.

I’ll start with corn. I am from Nebraska, the cornhusker state. I live in a town of 1500 people surrounded by acres and acres of corn. The growing popularity of ethanol for fuel has caused farmers (a.k.a. smart business minds) to grow more and more corn for its higher profits. The acres and acres of corn I mentioned a second ago? Well all the land dedicated to corn in the last few years has increased. This has caused farmland dedicated to sunflower, and to a lesser extent, safflower to decrease. Lowering supply and raising cost. You can put quite a few of your cost-of-living increases on corn and ethanol as well. More expensive corn translates to more expensive meat and dairy from corn-fed livestock.

Who would of thought that corn could be this big of a problem?

Next, we have war and famine. If you flip over to CNN you will see all sorts of revolutions and government overhauls across the globe. This causes people like speculators to hold on to more and more food in case of lean times. They hold on to high energy food stuffs like seeds and grains as insurance against catastrophe.

The seed they are holding onto of course is of a lower quality than what would usually make the cut for human consumption. This low quality seed is what would have ended up in those 50lb bird feed bags we have delivered to the store every Thursday. So now we have less seed crops being grown AND more of what’s available is being saved for human use.

Of course we can’t forget to give credit to the crazy weather we have been experiencing all over the world. According to a recent article in Birding Business Magazine, the land dedicated to sunflower crops was actually up 3% in 2010 compared to 2009, but in another bad break for birders looking for lower prices on black oil and safflower, production numbers were hurt by flooding, late spring snow storms and delayed harvests. All the extreme weather has experts predicting higher and higher seed prices beyond the 2011 marketing year.

Just about worth its weight in gold.

The three items I talked about above are just the tip of the iceberg for why you seem to be spending more money on feeding your birds than on feeding yourself lately. I spend a large portion of my day talking to customers and our distributors about this and I could have probably written four or five pages discussing all the factors in detail but I will hold myself back and break it into more “blog-worthy” chunks spread out over the next few weeks.

What really stings the most to me is watching people who love their birds have to cut back on either the quantity or the quality of what they are feeding. Bird feeding is my biggest passion (seriously, look at my yard) and I hate to see it go from something anyone could find joy in to being something that is gated by its ever growing price tag. The silver lining is that there are a variety of ways to attract your birds to your yard beyond feeding seed and that by switching up what you currently feed or how you feed you can actually save money and get more birds. Stay tuned for these tips in the near future.

Hi! My name is Addison and this is my first post as a Bird Blogger. Actually, it’s pretty close to my first post as any kind of blogger.

I am not going to lie, I work for a wonderful little wild bird shop located in Bellevue, NE (the best spot for birding in NE in my humble opinion) and make my living selling bird houses, feeders, seed and all manner of backyard birding paraphernalia. I love it.

Talking to our customers and answering their questions about everything going on with their birds and their yards is the best part of my job. The purpose of this blog is to have a go-to source for our answers and suggestions on different topics people have been asking us about.

The blog also allows me to post good stuff others have shared and put up  some of the great birding pictures taken in and around our area.

So check back in soon for timely posts on summer feeding and soon enough autumn tips and migration info. I’ll try to teach you something new in each post.

-Addison